Bonzer

The term first appeared in print in 1904 in The Bulletin magazine where the meaning and origins of the word were discussed over several issues. Various derivations have been suggested including:

• from born star
• a corruption of the French words bon and toujours --'always good'
• derived from the Spanish 'bonanzo' or 'bonanza'. The gold rushes being responsible for a number of Spanish words coming to Australia from California and Mexico

As the term was used interchangeably in the early twentieth century with the words boshter and bosker, the derivation from the Spanish 'bonanza' seems less likely.

In New Zealand the term appeared about the same time as in Australia but was spelt as bonser or bonsor until 1937.

Surfboard

A bonzer is also a variety of surfboard created by the Campbell Brothers. It is a shortboard with three or five fins with double concave channels. The channels create a venturi effect which guides the water off of the surface of the board through a narrowed passage, increasing its acceleration and speed.

References

External links

• Bonzer: An interpretation @ worldwidewords.org
• Honolulu Weekly Cover story: Bonzer surfboards
• Campbell Brothers Bonzer