rodndtube.com's (OLD) MyPaipoBoards Forums. Reading but no posting on the OLD forums.

[HIpaipo]

http://www.downwindproductions.com/tours/surf/chawans.html

Article of an interview with Stan Tomita talking about his child hood that mentions paipo boards. The website also has information and history on many iconic Waikiki surf spots(click on the "return to surf" text).
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" NO SCARED UM, GO GET UM! "

[bgreen]

Hello HIpaipo,

I got in touch with Stan Tomita, so thanks for posting this.

Can you access the Honolulu Advertiser archives? I saw there was an old obituary on Paul Swanson listed that might be worth looking into. There were lots of hits in the newspaper archives for paipo but I ran out of time to check them out.



regards

Bob

[HIpaipo]

No problem, Im interested in the history of Paipo boarding as well. FYI, I don't have any connections to anyone in the Honolulu Advertiser. Looked in the archives(found out you must pay to view them) and found 2 articles, both about paipo's at the Buffalo Big Board Contest. Looked up Paul Swanson's obituary, and some articles came up, but I could not view them.
Found something else on the same website that mentions paipo boards at Cunhas (surf break). Went there earlier today, and there was infact many paipo boarders, although I was the youngest
Heres the url- http://www.downwindproductions.com/tours/surf/cunhas.html
_________________
" NO SCARED UM, GO GET UM! "

[bgreen]

HIpaipo,

When you say many, if I saw more than 2 paipo riders in a surf this would count as many? What sorts of boards were they riding? Might be some living history out there for your interest in paipo history.

Stan told me Cunhas used to be a popular spot for paipo riders and Jim Growney who I have exchanged a few emails with, describes surfing big waves around the south side (if I have my geography right).

Bob

[HIpaipo]

There was about 4 other riders(Alot,because I'm usually the only one). 3 with guitar pick shape boards, all made of wood, and one similar looking to a British bellyboard, but with no rocker(rounded nose, square tail). All of them were older men(probably in there 50's to 60's). One of them was riding Cunhas, the rest were near the wall.
The paipo rider at Cunhas was Harry, who I sorta know from talking to Bud Scelsa( On myspace, don't know if he's joined the forums) and a guy at Makapu'u. Harry makes his own boards out of plywood and somehow adds a "spoon" rocker(like on the front of HPD boards) as well as two channels on the bottom like a bodyboard, however I also heard (from the guy at makapuu) that he only makes boards for close friends and doesn't sell them.
There are a few big wave spots on the south shore that I know of such as Cunhas(breaks around 5 or 6 ft), Castles(Starts to break around 10ft I believe) and Steamer Lane(Swell has to be HUGE for it to break, as it's named because the lineup is in the old interisland steamboat lanes).
_________________
" NO SCARED UM, GO GET UM! "

[bgreen]

HIpaipo,

I exchanged a number of emails with Stan and I got the picture of paipo riding as something done in the early 60s by guys riding their own boards or like the guy you spoke to, having boards made by a friend. He also described making a board modelled on a Churchill makapu fin which he saw someone else riding. Other accounts I have come across have been of guys fixing handles to ply boards. Around the early 1960s the guitar pick design was developed. Jim Growney tells me this design was the result of collaboration with John Waidelich and Jaren Hancock, and then Val Valentine developed a mould with John, that streamlined the construction process. Previously, the nose area was built up from strips of plywood - sounding very much like the board that you saw recently. The current HPD design is a further development along the lines of these boards using newer materials etc.

It seems that the southside was where these boards were first ridden, then they were test piloted on the north shore, though films such as Surfing Hollow Days features bellyboarding at Waimea around 1962.

Jim tells me that he might set up a website & Rod is trying to organise an interview, though I probably need to change many of my questions as Jim has answered them in emails or an article he has written. In this article he also refers to the Greg Noll article in the August 1964 issue of Surfing Magazine (posted on the paipo forum as Petersen's Vol 1 #6). He has also mentioned to me his views on the origins of the name for the Valentine paipo boards which he might post on the proposed site.

What might add to the paipo story, is interviews/photos with some of these guys that you saw, if they & you were willing. What do you think? Alternatively, if they were agreeable I'd be happy to make email contact.



Bob

[HIpaipo]

Sounds good, if I see them again I can ask for an email. Sent Bud a message on Myspace, but he has'nt been on in a while. Would love to see Jim's website.
_________________
" NO SCARED UM, GO GET UM! "

[bgreen]

HIpaipo,

Sounds good. I'll see what Rod comes up with. It might be possible for you to go along. The website could take a while - I'll pass on your interest.

Bob