Yancy Spencer behind, and Mark Foo in front (pretty sure). This was at the Cross – January 1975. Two of the most surf stoked guys you could ever meet. There were a lot of passionate Pensacola surfers in the 70’s. Even though there wasn’t much surf media to keep us up to date we did have photographers like Dave Skelton and Tony Caruso documenting the times and getting great photos published in Surfer and Surfing Magazines. We had Hank Warner dropping by for extended visits bringing his new design ideas, stories from far, far away, and his boundless stoke. Brian Waters and Mike Bredesen were cranking out Islander Surfboards. Scott Bush had his shops and his surfboards, not to mention Dirk Wood and his brother Kevin on his team. Yancy, being a true surf star brought so much to the table with his surf shop, connections, talent, and zeal for the sport. Because of Yancy we had guys like Claude Codgen, Rich Munson, Jimbo Brothers, and Tony Humes coming through town, even Greg Noll, Nat Young and eventually Shaun Thomson. David Nuuhiwa and Mike Purpus spent some time here. Gerry Blanck, and then Dave Skelton added Bucks Surf Shop to the mix. Then there were so many good surfers who inspired the rest of us like Bzr Turner, JB Falbo, Jerry Babin, Gerry Blanck, Stephen Davis, Robin Martin, Brad English, Glenn Curle, Kendall Rooster, Scott Callicote, Lance Moss, Charlie Schuler, and so many more. Before his Pipeline underground days, Bruce Burton Hansel spent time here. There were other characters from around the Emerald Coast who added to the mix like Mark Rush, Tim Quigly, Tim Carr, Steve Shipley, Steve Horner, etc.
I know there were many more who added to the talent pool and who added so much to the rich texture of the time. Forgive me if I didn’t add you to the list.
Photo courtesy of Dave Skelton