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  Ben Aipa

Press release:

(DEL MAR, CA., DECEMBER 11, 2013) — — Attention surfboard aficionados: in the Spring of 2014 THE BOARDROOM will return to its roots, Del Mar, California, to honor legendary Hawaiian shaper, surfer, & coach Ben Aipa in the Icons of Foam Tribute to the Masters Shape-off. Two days of surf culture including the world’s most contemporary surfboards, designs, technological innovations, fins, wetsuits, board bags, leashes, cameras, techy gadgets and surf gear; plus live shaping & laminating, exhibits, demos, art, movies, music and good times. The dates for the THE BOARDROOM are May 17 & 18, 2014 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the Wyland exhibit hall.

“It’s such a privilege being the first Hawaiian honored at the Boardroom

Show,” said Ben Aipa. “The Aipa label has a lot of history in the San Diego area and it’s gonna be unreal watching these guys shape a classic Sting. Hey

guys, don’t wing it, STING it!”

“My staff and I are both humbled and thrilled to honor Mr. Aipa, a classic Hawaiian in every sense of the word,” said Scott Bass, producer of THE BOARDROOM. “His breakthrough surfboard design, his powerful Hawaiian surfing style and the classic Aipa surfboard logo represent an era of cutting edge performances — in the water and in the shaping bay. His design concepts are, to this day, utilized by surfboard craftsman all over the globe and his legacy is perpetuated by both shapers and surfers.”

From The Encyclopedia of Surfing:

“Ben Aipa, from Honolulu, Hawaii; a top competitor in the 1960s and early ’70s, and creator of the swallowtail and stinger surfboard designs. Aipa was born (1942) in Honolulu, the son of a sugar plantation worker, and didn’t begin riding waves until his early 20s, after an ankle injury ended his semipro football career. He trained for surfing with the single-mindedness he’d developed as a linebacker, not missing a day in the water for all of 1965, and the following year he was a finalist in the Duke Kahanamoku Classic at Sunset Beach. Aipa also finished fourth in both the 1967 Makaha International and the 1975 Lightning Bolt Pro, and competed in the World Championships in 1968 and 1970.”

“Aipa began shaping almost as soon as he began surfing, and in 1968 he made the board that fellow Hawaiian Fred Hemmings used to win the World Championships. Aipa Surfboards was founded in 1970, and Aipa soon came into his greatest influence as a designer, first inventing the double-ended swallowtail in 1972, followed two years later by the split-rail stinger; both designs were ridden to electrifying effect by a group of Aipa-led Hawaiian test pilots including Larry Bertlemann, Michael Ho, Buttons Kaluhiokalani, and Mark Liddell. Aipa served as an informal trainer/coach for these surfers, all of whom competed during the early years of the pro world tour, and he continued to coach in the decades to come, working with pro standouts Sunny Garcia, Brad Gerlach, Kalani Robb, Bethany Hamilton, and the Irons brothers, Andy and Bruce- just to name a fews. Aipa himself continued to enter contests, winning the grandmasters division of the 1989 United States Surfing Championships and the legends division of the 2000 U.S. Championships.”

“In 1998 SURFER magazine called him “the hottest 56-year-old surfer in the world.”

“Ben Aipa was nominated to the International Surfing Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2004, SURFING magazine named him one of the “Top Ten Shapers of All Time.”– Matt Warshaw’s Encyclopedia of Surfing

ICONS OF FOAM TRIBUTE TO THE MASTERS SHAPE-OFF

presented by US BLANKS

– Six shapers will each receive 1.5 hours in the shaping bay as they attempt to replicate a classic Ben Aipa shape.

– Selection process: Ben Aipa will chose three of the shapers; two shapers will be chosen in a random draw*; and 2013 West Coast champion Matt Calvani will defend his title.

– Each shaper will bring in his own tools; we will provide the blank & the outline template.

– The shapers will only be able to measure and/or touch the board during their allotted 1.5 hours in the shaping bay – which is strictly timed.

– Ben Aipa then judges the anonymous blanks, along with his sons Duke and Akila.

– The winning shaper receives $1K and their name etched on to the MIKE MARSHALL PERPETUAL TROPHY.

ICONS OF FOAM TRIBUTE TO THE MASTERS PAST HONOREES AND WINNING SHAPERS

2007 honoree – Mike Diffenderfer / Ricky Carroll

2008 honoree – Bill Caster / Ricky Carroll

2009 honoree – John Bradbury / Marc Andreini

2009 honoree – Dick Brewer / Pat Rawson

2010 honoree – Renny Yater / Wayne Rich

2010 honoree – Simon Anderson / Matt Biolos

2011 honoree – Doug Haut / Ward Coffey

2011 honoree – Carl Ekstrom / Wayne Rich

2012 honoree – Mark Richards / Ricky Carroll

2013 honoree – Rich Price / Stu Kenson

2013 honoree – Terry Martin / Matt Calvani

2014 honoree – Ben Aipa /

The Boardroom would like to thank all of the shapers that have participated. They do so out of respect for the honoree and the craft of surfboard shaping – a sacred craft. A craft passed down through the generations, beginning in Polynesia and carrying on here today, as the spirit and culture of surfboard building, design and manufacture thrives.

FOR INFORMATION ON EXHIBITING OR ATTENDING CLICK HERE NOW!

About THE BOARDROOM

The history of our lifestyle is the history of the surfboard. Nothing has defined the surfing experience more than that on which we ride the waves. Nothing defines the surfer more than his (or her) surfboard. So much more than a tool, the surfboard has become a philosophical icon, a sacred craft, a culturally pervasive symbol of freedom, adventure and enduring youth.

THE BOARDROOM is an opportunity for the entire surf industry to come together under one roof and share their boards, their products and their authentic passion with other surfers.

– ICONS OF FOAM TRIBUTE

– SURFBOARD DEMO DAY

– BEST OF SHOW

– CHUNK OF FOAM CHALLENGE

– AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS

– ART GROTTO

– MUSIC BY SURFERS

– UNDERGROUND CRAFTSMAN EXHIBIT

– WETSUIT & BOARD SHORT FESTIVUS

– SURFING HERITAGE & CULTURE CENTER EXHIBIT

– LAMINATING EXHIBITION

– BOOK SIGNINGS

– SHORT FILMS

– LIVE SHORT STORY PERFORMANCE

– LIBATIONS – INDUSTRY PARTY

– MUCH MORE

WHO: Surfers from all over
WHAT: THE BOARDROOM
WHEN: May 17 & 18, 2014
WHERE: Del Mar Fairgrounds, Wyland Exhibit Hall
WHY: Because surfers really only care about two things: 1) waves and 2) the equipment to ride them.