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We realize that Ben is not a "South
Bay Shaper" but his influence on modern surfing
has affected all of us. His major contributions to shaping
are such things as the ever so popular swallow tail,
the "stinger" and the modern longboard. Considering
his contribution we felt it necessary to do it.
Ben Aipa was born in Honolulu in 1941. The second oldest
of three kids, he excelled in sports. In high school
he was a "jock", playing football and swimming
competitively consumed his time. He swam close to national
times and played with the pig skin with great skill.
When high school was over he went on to play semi professional
football. His build (5’8", 240lb.s) at the
time afforded him to hold positions as linebacker, fullback
and center. His career in football ended with an injury
that occurred while at work.
Pissed off and looking for something to do in paradise
he and his cousin chipped in one day and rented a surfboard.
Ben was an accomplished swimmer and bodysurfer at the
time. "We flipped a coin to see who would try first,
my cousin won. After a few tries he gave the board to
me". In 1961 Ben paddled out for the very first
time at age 25. "I took off on my first wave, stood
up and rode it the whole way. That was it". At
the time Ben really didn’t know anyone who surfed.
One day a couple months later he got into a tangle with
a guy who was a really good surfer (who probably didn’t
realize he was picking an ex-linebacker to beef with).
From that point on Ben set out to be the best at his
new found sport. As Ben put it "learning to surf
was like playing football" implying that the punishment
was par for the course.
Ben surfed 365 days straight that year. He watched locals
like Conrad Conha who was a "hotdogger" at
the time. "He was one of the only guys who was
surfing his board as opposed to just riding it".
"The first outsider (guy from the mainland) that
caught my eye was Dewey Weber with his cutback. Wow!
During the next few years Ben spent some time with "Joe".
When asked what Joe’s last name was Ben replied
"He knows who he is". Joe was the one person
who inspired Ben. He got him interested in surfing overall.
Ben entered his first contest in 1965 at age 29. He
went on to win that contest (and many more).
In 1966 Ben began shaping. It was a time when surfing
was entering a time of change. "I was here, right
here and I saw everything happening right in front of
me". Boards were changing; guys were going from
the traditional "tankers" to shorter boards,
9 feet and smaller. That year Nat Young won the World
Amateur Contest on a 9-foot board.
By 1968 the Hawaiians, Californians and Aussie’s
all showed up in Puerto Rico with their versions of
the short board. "At the next World’s in
Bells Beach, circa 1970-71, Wayne Lynch won on a 6 foot
board". Surfing had seen a drastic change in boards
and style. Slide slipping a single fin was in.
The big change came when two kids that rode for Ben
made it to the World’s at Oceanside in 1972. "These
two kids sat off the left side of the jetty and made
it all the way through the finals to win on swallow
tails". Those "kids" were Michael Ho
and Larry Bertlemen. Ben explained that some people
had tried tails similar but he made them deeper and
more defined. "I picked the name swallow tail because
of the way the bird makes really fast turns".
One day in the mid 70’s Ben was watching some
guys surf and had a thought. Two days later Larry Bertlemen
was riding the first "Stinger" and ripping
it.
As years past Ben saw a need for a longer board for
guys who didn’t surf everyday anymore (family,
jobs, etc.). He began to implement his knowledge of
shortboards into a faster, more responsive longboard.
Today we see these boards everywhere, narrower, smaller
tails, fin placement, etc.
When asked about the current short board Ben believes
that most of them are all very similar. "If you
change the brand names around you can’t tell one
from the other". The last real impact was Al Marrick
and Kelly. "Al defining the double and single barrel
really forced shapers to work with rocker". "These
days guys are not afraid to go bigger, thicker, wider.
The beveled rail is a great example. People are able
to stay on the wave even after it dies out".
Ben could not be specific when asked about his best
surf trip. He only replied " there are too many,
they all had there place and time" ( I hope that
is my future response). His biggest life changing event
was the birth of his oldest son Akila, now 31. Ben has
two other kids Duke, 24 and Lokelani, 22.
First and foremost Ben owes it all to Mother Nature.
When asked who he would like to thank he replied "Duke
Kahanamoku and Rabbit Kekei".
Currently Ben still shapes boards in Honolulu. You may
have seen a few Aipa’s in the water. If not, you
may happen to see that green Honda van in the Porto
parking lot with the little white dog (who thinks he’s
a lion) protecting Andrew’s "Aipa Arsenal"(herein
after AAA). Check them out. I personally have ridden
one. The feel is true and they fly. What really impressed
my the most was Ben’s superior attention to detail
and how he makes a 3 inch thick board feel 2 1/2. They’re
not cheap, but neither is a Porsche.
If you are interested in an Aipa Board you can contact
Ben’s shaping room at (808)842-0822.
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