It was last month I believe on the day I was writing Mays Blog entry that Dick Brewer passed away. I didn’t know it at the time and found out when I saw a posting on Surfline   https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/rip-dick-brewer-1936-2022/152995  first of this month. Earlier this year I had heard that Dick had been ill and not doing well. Very sad to know he’s past.

Dick Brewer is one of the most influential figures in surfing history and surfboard design. When I worked at Hawaiian Blades Surfboards there were times when a few of his Guns would come through to be laminated. Usually for some industry name that would seek Brewer out for a board…. I’m guessing here. What I would hear is “if you wanted a really good board for waves of consequence you would get a Brewer if you could.”   Certainly, if you’re going to surf waves that can kill you it’s best to have the board that gives you the confidence needed for the situation I’d say.

Here’s a decent timeline history of Brewers story and some of his contributions to surfing.  https://brewermorgansurfboards.com/dick-brewer

Of course, after hearing he past you become filled with memories. What I remember of Dick Brewer was an easy-going guy, unassuming and comfortable to be around. Not that I was around him much. But I did work for him all totaled probably 3 years or so. Sometimes boards were delivered to my shaping bay at Hawaiian Blades in Lihue and sometimes I’d drive out to his place on the north side and shaped boards in is bay at his house. When I’d go out to his place it was an all-day gig and I’d usually do a dozen boards or so.

It seemed he liked Formula One race cars… at least one of the days I was out at his place had finished the boards I was there to do, it was getting late in the day and was asked if I’d like something to eat. I said sure and went upstairs for a frozen dinner and Dick was focused on a Formula One race that was on TV. My stepdad liked Formula One racing too so that scene stuck.

One of the last times I spoke with him…. which was maybe 2002… He called to ask if I could come out and get some boards done for him. I was on TDI at the time for a nerve problem in my left arm. I had to turn him down because even though physically I was capable to do the work, if the insurance company knew I’d done some work while on TDI? Not so good.

Here’s a fun story about one time I went out to get some boards done for him…. https://drsurfboards.blogspot.com/2011/10/    the last line, for me, tells what he was like.

R.I. P.  Dick Brewer.

D.R.

Nice pic of Dick below…