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Birds Secret Stash: T&C Twinny Part 2

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In December 2021, Bird Huffman sent his old Town and Country Twin fin back to the North Shore where it was born in 1981 by Dennis Pang of T&C. Watch as Craig and Dennis discuss the era and design of the twin fin. If you’re not familiar with Town and Country Surfboards, they are one of the original innovators of the modern surfboard industry. Cutting edge designs, graphics, team riders and marketing have made them a global brand that is celebrating their 50th anniversary. Enjoy.

BIRDS SECRET STASH: 1981 Town & Country Twin Fin Part 1

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Birds Surf Shed Presents: Birds Secret Stash

In this new series called “Birds Secret Stash” Bird shows us a classic Town and Country Twin fin that found its way into the Shed this past month but sometimes boards aren’t meant to be sold. Theres one true cornerstone of “The Shed” and thats if someone finds an old board of theirs in the stash, they can have it back.

Well this one shaped by Dennis Pang in the mid 1970’s is one of those boards that needed to return to Oahu to the sacred halls of Town and Country.

Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon.

From The Vault: Bird Huffman Interview 2013

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From Episode 39 http://www.korduroy.tv

For those who know him, Bird Huffman has become synonymous with surf culture and the surfboard in San Diego. Growing up on the beaches of La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and Sunset Cliffs, Bird’s knowledge and connections to the legends in the southern San Diego area like Skip Frye, Steve Lis, Bill Caster, and more are undeniable. He has also amassed one of the most incredible collections of surfboards, which hang from the rafters at his surf shop “Bird’s Surf Shed.”

Each board has it’s own unique story behind it, which Bird will happily share with you as you stare in awe at the various pieces of our sport’s history. Also, as host of 91X Authentic Surf Report, you may recognize Bird’s voice as he shares what he feels is a surf report similar to what one of your buddies would share with you, rather than an embellished, over-promising report that we so often receive from various other surf reports. In this episode of Innerviews, Bird candidly shares what it was like growing up in southern San Diego, and how he views the state of surfing right now. http://birdssurfshed.com/

Who is Eric Huffman By Chris Ahrens

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Who is Eric Huffman?

There was this guy Bird whom I met decades ago while surfing the La Jolla reefs that he rode with passion, regularity and, often, brilliance.

I first met Bird when he was the shop gremmie at Select Surf Shop in Pacific Beach. Even then, in his mid-teens, he was becoming the go-to guy for all things surf.

I had never before seen anyone so surf stoked, or who had ridden such a wide variety of surfboards.  His working knowledge of everything from Vee Bottoms to mini guns, eggs, fishes, longboards, their origins and builders was then and remains unparalleled.

From the ’70s onward, most anytime I surfed in the Windansea area, Bird was there, usually riding some new styled surfboard and explaining the subtle differences in how the board performed due to outline, fin placement, rail contour, concaves, channels and other variations on the theme.

Bird may not be “The Man,” since that is a revered position reserved for many of his close friends like Skip Frye and our fallen brothers Chris O’Rourke and Billy Caster.

I sometimes think of Bird as “The Man in training.” He is a lifetime apprentice who has soaked up the wisdom of past masters and freely passes on that knowledge to each successive generation.

He reveals surf history to these newcomers without them realizing they are learning worthwhile life and lifelong lessons. While doing so, he tends to incorporate the gentleness of Frye, the courage of O’Rourke and the integrity of Caster.

I can honestly say there is nobody I know more qualified to get someone, anyone, onto the right surfboard, or loan them a classic board, than Bird. (It is possible that a greater variety of surfboards have passed through the Bird’s hands than anyone else in the world, and he may have the largest rideable surfboard lending library on earth.)

I don’t think Bird has ever had a job outside of the surfboard industry, and God knew exactly what He was doing when he placed him on Morena Boulevard where he became the proprietor of “Bird’s Surf Shed.”

The Shed, as it is fondly known, exhibits hundreds of boards that cover the walls and ceiling and go back as far as the days of redwood surfboards, rocketing forward to futuristic surf craft designed by Daniel “Tomo” Thomson and Steve “Pendo” Pendarvis.

Most of the boards in view have been built within the past 40 years. Among those on display are highly coveted Frye Fish, Ekstrom Asymmetricals, Caster pintails, Mark Richards Twin Fins and Simon Anderson Thrusters.

The Shed is one of the only places on earth where you can live surf history by riding one of these benchmark boards rather than simply viewing them from a distance behind a glass case.

I recently caught up with Bird at the Moores Legends and Luau Invitational, where he rode among the legends on a winning team. As his heat was about to begin, the announcer called for Eric Huffman to get his jersey. Upon hearing the name printed on his birth certificate, Bird turned to me and said, “Who’s Eric Huffman? My name is Bird!” Right. No explanation and no last name required. BIRD. PERIOD!

 

Since birds are known to go out on limbs, I’m going to do the same by contradicting my earlier statement and saying that Bird Huffman ranks among the few, the proud, the elite who have earned the right to be called “The Man.”

On second thought, I won’t do that because I know he would humbly decline the honor. Being Bird, the Bird, the owner of Bird’s Surf Shed and all that implies is enough for one person. Many blessings, dear bro.

-Chris Ahrens

Original Post September 8th, The Coast News