Some of you might not know it, but Harold Walker was in the number two position to be called the King of Surfboard Foam. Walker‘s business was really hot in the 60s and 70s and Harold and Grubby Clark competed extensively.

I’d known Grubby for years and didn’t know Harold other than from the magazines. I was looking for my first studio space after I left Surfer Magazine. Upon mentioning it to Herbie Fletcher, he directed me down the alleyway to a ‘FOR RENT” sign. I called the number and arranged a meeting with the guy on the phone for the next day. He introduced himself and, right off the bat, I knew who he was: one of the two founding fathers of building surfboard blanks. He said that he was going to rent out the space because business had been slow and he wanted to change lanes and start working on the fishing boat he had just across the alley.

So Harold and I came up with an agreement with a handshake. One of the big problems with the space was the floor covered in dried resin, up to 3 inches deep in some places. It took a month of chipping and finally the floor was clean. We moved in and it was great.

I’d been in there for almost 2 years when I had a work trip out of country. My fisherman friend, Spanky, was looking for a place to stay for free for two weeks, so I told him he could stay there at the studio. The only problem? When I got back two late weeks later, there was a structure in the studio that had been turned into a loft with new shower and toilet. Spanky had moved in…it was time to go.

It was always a pleasure dealing with Harold Walker and the studio adventure. A good man straight up.

This image was taken in 1997 for an article in Surfer Magazine on surfboard design, in front of his factory in Long Beach. The article also featured Rusty Preisendorfer and Bill Stewart.

Aloha Harold Walker 1933-2019

Harold Walker

That’s Art Brewer

Matt Archbold, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia 2009 ⁠