Goodbye and Aloha Donald Takayama
Today on behalf of the Bing Surfboards family, we say goodbye and aloha to legend shaper, Donald Takayama. He was an icon of our industry who played a historical role in Bing’s history and we owe him a great debt of gratitude. Thank you Donald and may your memory live in the hearts of all your family, friends and loyal fans!
Photos: Bing Surfboards Fifty Years of Crafstmanship & Innovation, Board Room Legends of Surfboard Shaping
Also in Bing Surfboards Blog
THE LEGEND OF TOOTHLESS JOE
Working with Bing is so much more than I ever expected out of “work”. The entire Bing team has not only pushed me to be as creative as I can be, but it’s given me a sense of family in a new place. I have moved all over the world in my life and I’ve never felt such a warm welcome before. Their collective positivity and warmness has brought me so much inspiration in the few months that I’ve had the pleasure to work with them. I can’t wait to see where these friendships will take us all. I’d like to give a special shout out to a guy who’s inspiring positive attitude and willingness to give a random toothless guy from Delaware a chance, Grey Lockwood aka “Team Dad”
THE REUNION
On a Saturday afternoon Bing and David gave a group of friends, surfers, surf historians and surf-stoked groms fascinating insights into what it was like surfing and building surfboards in Hermosa Beach in the 60’s and into the 70’s.
MUY BUENO
I surfed the Church + Middles zone a lot when I was in San Clemente. I definitely clocked a few magic sessions in that part of the coast. I have always kinda been allergic to the crowd factor in California…. But this season I feel like I had a few sessions that felt like I was in the Baja. Maybe 6 people out… all smiles and good vibes. So many waves! We did a morning meet up with the Bing crew and absolutely scored… glassy perfect waves. That was a standout session for sure. When I was staying in Venice I was surfing Malibu, which never felt like Baja, with 600 of my best friends or heading up the coast to Ventura to surf the beachies or Rincon. It’s always kinda fun to get into the mix at the Bu. You just have to think of surfing as a completely different activity. It’s more of a happy hour vibe all the time.