Owl Chapman
Owl Chapman is considered one of the fathers of the short board revolution. He pioneered board riding with early designs on Oahu by Dick Brewer, including the minigun. The school of surf that Chapman originates from is different from the Australian and South Africans who are best known for Bustin’ Down The Door. Their philosophy of western competitive traditions has been argued by other surf pioneers such as Gerry Lopez and Owl Chapman, as being respectful of the Hawaiian culture. Chapman, on the other hand, worked within the Hawaiian community, as a resident of the North Shore, to further the short board revolution.
KEY: O= Original, R= Repaired, RF= Refurbished. Condition of board rated: 1(worst)-10(best)
Length: 7′ 0″
Width: 18″ 3/4
Thickness: 2″ 5/8
This is one of my favorite mini-gun 1970’s pintails in my collection. Just look at the lines on this board. Very striking that screams out SPEED! Classic multi-laid up fiberglass fin. Note the tail battle wound that indicates great speed which resulted in a heavy leash drag thru the rail. The Famous Owl Chapman Lam. This board is all original and very light. Only a repair on the tail and gloss and polish. Nordine Collection purchase. (o) 8
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Early sat. morning Jan.1972,Larry Bertleman & I are walking to check out Makaha pt.,we see this guy carving out this huge bottom turn in the Makaha bowl,Larry says to me,who’s that ? it was Owl Chapman !
Growing up on Long island,NY, Larry Bertleman was one of our skateboarding heros. Back in the 70’s I was also proud that when he was featured in an advertisement in Surfing magazine riding a Surfing’s New Image Yellow board with Purple rails- I had the exact same board! Mine was a 6-8 rounded pin, not quite the Owl super pointed minigun above but still a real screamer in it’s day; narrow and not much tail rocker. Funny, but on a bad wipe out I somehow sent it directly into the shoreward travel of a head high wave which had it’s way with my surfboard! It has the exact same scar as the board pictured above; where my leash’s nylon cord mount ripped through the rail!
I still have that board.
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