Zippy shredding units

Donald Takayama was probably the first professional surfer in the sport, according to Dale Velzy, notable longboard rider and board shaper. In the early 1950s, Velzy saw the young Takayama surfing at Makaha Beach on Oahu; Velzy told him that if he got to the mainland he’d have a job for him. At age 12, Takayama used his paper-route money for a flight to Los Angeles and went to work and lived in the loft at Velzy’s shop in Venice (Calif).

Shaping boards and surfing were young Takayama’s main responsibilities as long as he wore the Velzy-Jacobs surfboard shop T-shirt; Velzy-Jacobs was already the largest surfboard retailer around. He got five dollars to surf and promote the shop and was paid modestly for shaping. Takayama eventually worked for several board producers before founding his own company, Hawaiian Pro Designs, in the late 1970s in Encinitas. Some of his early boards that originally sold for $100 have gone for as much as $10,000 as collectibles. As a professional surfer, Takayama won the master’s division of the United States Surfing Championship three years in a row between 1971 and 1973.

Though Donald Takayama died in 2012, Hawaiian Pro Designs continues to produce surfboards.

Donald’s nephew, Guy Takayama, grew into the sport as the boards were shrinking into the smaller, zippy shredding units that became popular for maneuverability during moves like smacking the lip. He became an elite pro surfer while still in his teens.

Besides his uncle, other influences in the younger Takayama’s career include fin designer Larry Allison, Tom Nesbit of Nezzy Surfboards, and Maui shaper Les Potts. Eventually, after moving to the mainland to pursue his career in pro events, he established his own surfboard and accessory company 20 years ago, Guy Takayama Designs, located in Carlsbad.

This Friday and Saturday, in the surf alongside Oceanside Pier, the Guy Takayama Pro Noseriding Contest and the Guy Takayama Pro Open Contest will be held in conjunction with the Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club contest. Takayama will be there with his extended family.