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tumak · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 10:29 am Post subject: Opu Boards

Hey, one of my best vintage surf mags is the July 1968 issue of SURFER, with Corky Carrol tip-riding Cotton's on the cover...and on page 126 there's a Dave Sweet Surfboards ad which also pictures two "Opu" boards. "Opu," says the ad, is "Hawaiian for belly board." The two models pictured are called the "Concave Tunnel Hustler" and the "Step Deck Flexer." They're both twin-fin designs, and look really advanced for the period. Have any of you heard about these boards; anyone ever try one?
Also, what about this term, "Opu?" An alternative to the word "paipo?" This ad is the only place I ever saw the word "Opu" used...

Nels · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 6:14 pm Post subject:

I know at the time the term "bellyboard" and "paipo" were becoming interchangeable. Opu meaning stomach = belly...

Never got to ride one though. Sweet faded into the motion picture industry around then, as the other old companies were springing forth.

Poobah · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 9:20 pm Post subject: Opu Boards

Do they look anything like this board that was on ebay a while back. It didn't sell. And a bottom photo was never provided.

tumak · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:39 am Post subject:

That's it! That didn't sell? It looks mint! In the ad, they show top view and rear view - the tunnel hustler looks like it has a pretty flat deck and a whole heap of bottom concave. It also says something about these boards being the most advanced board design available (at the time). With the exception of Greenough's spoons, I would tend to agree, as everything else visible in mags of the period were pretty paleolithic by comparison. I'd like to find the person who has that for sale...

Poobah · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 10:28 am Post subject: Opu

It's not searchable on ebay any more, but maybe we could pull up the auction page if someone still has the link in an old e-mail from when the board was up for sale.

Birdie · Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: Location: so cal

I emailed Dave Sweet awhile back to inquire if he would make a bellyboard for me...

He has shaper working for him that makes his boards for him now.

Anyway, maybe if more people give it a go, he might be up for it.

Or, someone could email him for measurements, etc...

Cheers

Birdie

Phantom · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:44 am Post subject:

Seller is not responding.......move to plan B.