SURFTECH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH DONALD TAKAYAMA FAMILY TO LAUNCH IN 2016
Posted on September 10, 2015 - Filed Under Surftech Boards | By Surf Commission
SURFTECH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH DONALD TAKAYAMA FAMILY TO LAUNCH IN 2016Happy days ! – we have just received this Press Release from Surftech US – Fantastic news that Takayama surfboards will be back in the Surftech range for 2016. We will keep you updated as soon as we have more info. Hopefully some old favourites and some new models too.
PRESS RELEASE
Surftech the original board manufacturing company announced today that they have formalized a long-term partnership with the estate of the late Donald Takayama to continue the legacy of the iconic shaper with the production of select Donald Takayama Hawaiian Pro Designs boards. The new deal will reintroduce some of the most iconic shapes of the late shaper in the 2016 Surftech surf lineup and introduce some new favorites. “Our whole team is super stoked on the re-launch of Takayama’s brand within Surftech and getting to share our technology with Donald’s shapes to surfers from around the world.” Chris Dunn CEO of Surftech “We have big things in the works for the 2016 surf season and are extremely optimistic about the future.” Donald Takayama’s shapes have always brought out the best in the surfers who rode his boards and over the years his ability attracted the world’s best wave riders to join his team. He was a very hands-on shaper designer working diligently to refine and perfect his designs, never satisfied till they were perfect. The result was boards that to this day continue to define performance in surf around the globe. “Donald had always believed in Surftech and their technology. The consistent quality of the boards paired with durability made it a perfect combination for surfers around the world. ” Diane Takayama “We are very happy to be able to re-launch this partnership and look forward to great future together.” .
About Donald Takayama: Donald Takayama was a well-regarded waterman, an artist in his craft, and an ambassador to the sport of surfing. He started shaping his own surfboards at nine years old and soon became a shaper and team rider for world famous Velzy/Jacobs Surfboards. In the late 1960’s, Takayama’s focus on design and shaping was instrumental in the creation of some of the worlds most desired and progressive longboards including the Bing Nuuhiwa Noserider and the Weber Performer. Takayama founded Hawaiian Pro Designs in the late 1970s in North County San Diego, shaping shorter more progressive surfboards. 1984 he collaborated with professional surfer Joey Buran on his winning boards for the Pipe Masters. In the early 90’s, Takayama refocused his energy into longboards, mentoring a new generation of surfers including a young surfer named Joel Tudor. On Donald’s boards, Joel would go on to win 8 world titles and become one of the most recognized surfers in the world. Other team riders include Devon Howard, Brendan White, Noah Shimabukuro and Kai Salas all of whom have come to define the modern longboard movement. Sadly Donald passed away in 2012 due to complications from heart surgery, he is survived by his wife and four daughters.
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