George Rice passed away on 28 Feb. 2025.
Was a big part in Victoria's early surf history.
Valle .George..definitely an icon in Victorian surf history,like a lot of our aging shaper's,he enjoyed a second time around the block ,with the rebirth of cool long boarding,particularly the old log/ mal/comp segment,his boards were sought after in Vicco and nationally. As a plumber in a small coastal town on the surf coast I used to come across some beautiful boards under houses,that were pristine,covered in dust,and only ridden for a month over Xmas holidays,I used to enjoy telling the owners that the boards were sought after and valued by enthusiasts, just to piss off the beach score opportunist trying to cash in..George Rice definitely a brand synonymous with the very early days of Victorian surfboard history/craftmanship,thank you George.
Very sad to hear of his passing, George was always a very polite, friendly man with a warm smile. I first met George some 62 years ago in the garage at his mother's house, Arthur St. Fairfield, Vic. I visited often to watch and learn some of the finer points of surfboard manufacture. Subsequently, I made 3 boards, a 9ft balsa, a 9'4" twin stringer foam board and a 3'6" Paipo board. The F/glass and resin were purchased from George at Fairfield. Over the years I've ordered 5 custom boards from him, all foam. The first a 9'4" in 1962 when I was 19 then a 9'8" both from Fairfield. Next, a really good 9'10" board from Waterdale Rd. West Heidelberg which was stolen at Wilson's Prom. With the insurance payout, this was replaced by a 9'6" 'Competition Model' from High St Preston. Finally, in the transition period of 1969, Paul 'The Fox' Pascoe whom I knew from Point Leo, shaped my last GR board at High St Northcote. This was a fabulous 7'8", stringerless, something between a tracker and a mid-length. I rode this for 20 years then gradually moved back to longer boards. Now I alternate between 9'6" and a 10 footer. What a difference today's longboards are compared with the logs of the '60s. I used to enjoy reminiscing with George at Noosa during the longboard event, regretably that won't happen this year. ,
