Listen: The Dick Brewer Interview
A long time ago, fifteen years in fact, before the GFC and the WSL turned the surfing world in new and unexpected ways, Tim Bonython sat down with Dick Brewer - then aged 70 - to talk about his life.
The table of contents is brimming with delights but if you need to skip ahead, here's Tim's time check:
00.45 Big Wave Design - how its changed.
02.00 Wiamea Gun
02.25 Tow Boards with Darrick & Laird
05.05 The Beginning - the early days for Dick
06.10 building engines for drag boats in his teen years
07.20 Moving to Hawaii in 61 and starting SURFBOARDS HAWAII
08.22 You don’t refuse 'Buffalo’ Keaulana a board
09.45 SURFBOARDS HAWAII
10.05 Bob Shepherd
11.00 Bing Pipeliner with Bing, Butch Van Artsdalen in 1962
12.47 The most influential surfer?
14.11 Midget Farrelly - Joey Cabell - Fred Hemmings
15.20 Surfboards Hawaii
16.25 Jeff Hackman
18.08 Duke Kahanamoku
19.13 Buzzy Trent
19.37 Jim Mizel
19.53 Building concave boards for Vetea David - Teahupoo
20.07 Laird Hamilton, Darrick Doerner & Buzzy Kerbox - towing in at Backyards in 1992
20.33 Jaws
20.55 Poto/Teahupoo
21.15 Built a tow board for Laird/Jaws
22.30 Tow-in boards - the designs
24.06 Laird Hamilton
25.35 Eddie Aikau
26.06 Hackman and Hobie
26.26 Hobie
27.46 Bob McTavish
28.55 George Greenough
29.22 double barrel concave
30.35 V bottom
31.26 Ted Spencer and the mini malibu
33.40 Bob McTavish
35.22 Aussie square bottom
38.34 The short board revolution
39.14 Moving to Kauai
39.33 Test pilots - Reno, Lopez, Hakman then Terry Fitzgerald
40.05 Gary Chapman
40.20 Sammy Hawk
40.38 Reno Abellira
41.32 Pipeline boards
43.00 Mark Richards, shaping with Dick
45.37 Terry Fitzgerald
47.31 Business setbacks
47.51 Brewer sailboards
48.45 Tri-fin boards in 1971 - the 1+2 & the Ala Moana Bowls Contest
50.15 Calling Steve Pezman
50.56 Conversation with Hobie
52.00 staying in the background
52.25 Gerry Lopez - copying his tow fins and sold them to Future Fins
53.45 Going to start Lightning Bolt Surfboards
55.24 Tow-in movement
56.20 Darrick Doerner
56.50 The best thing about surfing?
57.10 The essence of surfing
57.59 What is surfing?
58.09 The experience of surfing
Comments
Love that pumping left hander in Dick's hairline - Rick Griffin would be proud.
I'm looking forward to watching this!
Well, that was awesome, certainly debunked a few myths about the short board revolution, brilliant interview, just simply allowed Dick to let all his thoughts just fall out of his mouth.
The surf industry has not change one iota, was back then and still is now, a ‘dog eat dog’ industry which really surprises me considering if you listen to all the replies from Dick when Tim asked him at the very end, what are the best things about surfing, his remarks almost contradict or don’t run true with his thoughts about what surfing ‘really’ is all about.
Surfing- his answers, ‘It keeps you young’,’you reach the highest level of consciousness when you surf’, ‘freedom’, ‘spirit’, ‘soul’, ‘humans need to play’, and the best quote of them all, ‘You’ll have more fun surfing than any other toy you’ve ever owned’. Brilliant, great interview Tim.
Pity to hear that about McTavish and not selling any boards stuck on wide tailed deep vees but great interview. So honest..But i've heard McT has got into punch ups with other shapers due to his beliefs in design, not sure how true that is but it is what it is..RIP D.Brewer.master craftsman..of boards i will never be able to ride..
Thanks Tim that was Unreal
Up the playback speed to 1:25
Certainly casts a different light on certain names mentioned within the industry! .... which does'nt surprise ... Great Piece Tim! ... and my hearts with Dick's ... 'freedom' ... 'spirit' ... 'soul' and the 'Best toys' eva! ...RIP
Pretty good to hear about Terry Fitz ripping and doing things in the barrel no one was doing...talented family.
this is GOLD
Good stuff tim.
Crew got to capture these tales before the remainders of time surpass us. So many incredible lives in and out of the water that are rarely tapped into.
Wealths of knowledge and stories to be had outside ripping what ever it may be.
Many characters of the sea. local to pro that always give insight or a lesson. Rad.
I’ve certainly lost a lot of respect for Lopez after hearing the truth. No wonder he’s ended up very financially sound compared to most of his era.
I’ve certainly lost a lot of respect for Lopez after hearing the truth. No wonder he’s ended up very financially sound compared to most of his era.
A Great Tribute to The Greatest Shaper of our time.
Freedom spirit and soul.
Dick shaped me a board in 2010. I told him 8-10 sunset and I weigh 170lb. A month later he handed me an 8'6". Its got amazing bottom curve just like he was saying about Sunset boards. Big Mahalo' s Dick.
Dirt Track. Have you got a picture, love to see that board ? Cheers.
An great insight into master surfcraftsman, evolution of board design & mischief, all on an Island surfing paradise.
Hope to ride one of his boards one big day. RIP Dick.
No-one likes being gazumped or copied without credit....
tangent time.... "Behind almost every important thinker or artist is a nurturing teacher...."
Verrocchio signed his paintings, though the angels were painted by his young pupil Leonardo (1500's)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci#/media/File:Andrea_del_V...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_del_Verrocchio
Leonardo got into engineering design and natural philosophy,
Leo designed helicopter parachutes & other military weapons for his patrons.
Definition of movin on....13000 documents & paintings (would of kept a patent office busy).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci
Bill Gates bought one of his notebooks for $53M.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Leicester
I loved the story of MR coming to him. An incredible collaboration, and he certainly does not pull short on giving Richards his credit on what that was in the design.
Thank Tim great interview, funny that I keep hearing things about G. Lopez that keeps eating away at his demigod status.
Apparently a lot of people were upset with him making a deal with Costco...who were responsible for some unethical things towards the environment...But i dont care, i love Gerry same as ever, seemed like a good fella and we all make mistakes.
full life - RIP Dick Brewer