Who is Donald Takayama?
Donald Takayama: Icon of Surfing Innovation
The Takayama Halo fin, named after it's designer, the legendary board shaper Donald Takayama.
The Halo Fins are designed so you can turn the board from the center and give you more speed. It's been our #1 Selling for over 20 years now.
Donald Takayama was born on November 16, 1943 in Waikiki, Hawaii. As a young child, he developed a lifelong passion for surfing on the island's famous waves. At just 45 pounds, Takayama struggled to carry the heavy 95-pound redwood surfboards that were standard at the time. After surfing at Waikiki Beach, he would bury them in the sand for safekeeping until his next session.
Takayama’s natural surfing talent was apparent from a very young age. While surfing at Mākaha Beach as a teenager in the early 1960s, he caught the eye of renowned shaper Dale Velzy. Velzy saw that Takayama and his friends were not attending school and encouraged the young surfer to come to California one day, telling him there would be a job waiting. [1] Ref: Surf Museum
At just age 12 in 1957, Takayama took up Velzy's offer and moved to California, beginning what would become a legendary career in surfing. He became one of the world's first professional surfers, getting paid by Velzy to shape and surf. Takayama initially shaped boards for the Velzy/Jacobs label in California.
As a surfer, Takayama competed throughout the 1960s, placing highly in championships with his smooth, stylish form. In 1964 at age 17, he entered his first contest - the Makaha International Surfing Championships - impressively placing 3rd. This launched his competitive career through the 60s and early 70s. [2] Ref: Wikipedia
During this period, Takayama won titles including the 1965 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational and the prestigious 1971 Pipeline Masters. He showed innovation by pioneering maneuvers like the reverse takeoff. Takayama won multiple U.S. Masters Surfing championships in the early 1970s before shifting focus to board design. [3] Ref: Surfing Walk of Fame
As a shaper, Takayama first made his mark at Velzy/Jacobs in the late 1950s and 60s. There he crafted boards for legendary surfers like Mickey Dora and created the iconic Donald Takayama Model longboard. Longboard Magazine later named this one of the most aesthetically and functionally appealing boards ever produced. [4] Ref: Surfboards by Donald Takayama
After the Velzy/Jacobs label split, Takayama went with Jacobs to Hermosa Beach and continued honing his board-making skills. He later shaped boards at labels like Bing Surfboards and Weber Surfboards through the 1960s.
During the late 1960s shortboard revolution, Takayama was one of few shapers adept at transitioning to the new high-performance designs. At Bing Surfboards he pioneered shorter, lighter boards for surfers like David Nuuhiwa that allowed tighter turns and greater speed. [5] Ref: Surfline
In 1972, Takayama moved to California and launched his esteemed surfboard brand Hawaiian Pro Designs. His precisely shaped boards focusing on quality and performance gained renown across the surfing world.
Takayama's innovative shortboard shapes fundamentally changed surfboard design and enabled a more radical, performance-focused style of surfing to emerge. As the longboard era returned in the late 1970s, Takayama drew from his early days shaping longboards to produce highly sought after models. [6] Ref: Santa Cruz Sentinel
Known for his meticulous craftsmanship, Takayama experimented with concaves, sipes, and materials like graphite while staying true to his roots. Some of his most iconic board models included the Fred Rubble, Donald Takayama Model, and the Egg and Fish shapes. [7] Ref: NY Times
Into the 1980s and 1990s, Takayama collaborated with longboard champions like Joel Tudor to revive the longboard style. His shapes helped facilitate the longboard resurgence during this era. Even up until his passing, Takayama continued to refine his board designs and innovations.
Beyond his immense contributions to surfboard shaping, Takayama was regarded as a true waterman and ambassador of the sport of surfing. From a young age, he exuded the aloha spirit and shared his wisdom with younger generations of surfers.
After an illustrious career spanning over 60 years, Donald Takayama passed away in 2012 at age 68 due to complications. His legacy lives on through the many surfers he influenced and the boards he crafted that have become cherished collectibles.
Inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in 1991, Takayama is remembered as one of the most creative and influential surfers and board designers the sport has known. From evolutionary materials to groundbreaking templates, his impact reshaped surfing. Today Donald Takayama surfboards, especially his vintage models, are considered valuable artifacts reflecting his lasting mark on surf culture. [8] Ref: Hawaiian Pro Designs
References:
[1] http://www.surfmuseum.org/archive-exhibit/donald-takayama-shaping-boards-and-lives/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Takayama
[3] https://surfingwalkoffame.com/donald-takayama/
[4] https://surfboardsbydonaldtakayama.com.au/about-us/
[5] https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/remembering-donald-takayama/41394
[6] https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2012/10/23/surfing-legend-donald-takayama-dead-at-68/
[7] https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/27/sports/donald-takayama-innovative-surfboard-shaper-dies-at-68.html
[8] https://hawaiianprodesigns.com/blogs/stories/in-memory-of-donald-takayama
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