Gerry Lopez
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| Gerry Lopez | |
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| Born | November 7, 1948 Honolulu, Hawaii |
Gerry Lopez (born November 7, 1948), aka Mr. Pipeline, is a world-renowned American surfer, shaper, journalist, and film actor.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Lopez was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, grew up in East Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii and attended Punahou School. He frequented the semi secret reefs in and around Aina Haina as well as better known surf spots in Metro-Honolulu. An early reference point for his sleek and precise style was the graceful Paul Strauch, whom Lopez still credits as "the most stylish surfer ever." Lopez became the Hawaii State Champ at age 14, and he and friend Reno Abellira began surfing Ala Moana Bowls frequently. It is here that Lopez began honing his casual style and masterful tube riding skills.
[edit] Career
Lopez and friends began to migrate out to Oahu's North Shore, where they watched surfers like Butch Van Artsdalen and Jock Sutherland ride the hollow waves of the Banzai Pipeline. As surfboard designs began to integrate "downrailer" edges, curve, foil, and rocker, the vertical drops and thick tubes of Pipeline became survivable. Not long after, performance levels at big Pipeline exploded, led by Lopez.
He was widely recognized as the best tuberider in the world, and won the prestigious Pipeline Masters competition in 1972 and 1973. The Pipeline Masters, recognized as the most prestigious professional surfing contest in the world, has been named the Gerry Lopez Pipeline Masters for decades in recognition and respect of his deep and hallowed association with this legendary wave.
Lopez played an important role in the industry of commercial surfboard manufacturing. Whilst in Hawaii, and together with other shapers, Lopez started the Lightning Bolt Surfboards brand of high performance shortboards. Lopez created the simple but eyecatching Lightning Bolt jag and every surfer in 1970's wanted one. This brand was the first one to sponsor team riders with free boards, partially because many of the riders didn't have the money to buy them.
Although Australians and other visiting surfers had been surfing it awhile before he arrived, Lopez and friend Rory Russell were credited with exposing and validating Indonesia and nearby areas as a comprehensive surf destination. Starting with the long, ultra shallow reef tubes at Uluwatu in Bali, Lopez and crew explored the immense surf potential of the ancient island archipelago. The undisputed crown jewel of their discovery was a long, peeling, and dangerous left pointbreak located in a natural reserve of Plungkung called Grajagan on the island of Java. Lopez an friends said that all else before paled in comparison to this wave with its relentless, walling tubes, and groomed perfection reeling over some of the most dangerous reefs in the world. As he is in Hawaii and around the globe, Lopez is revered as a legend in Indonesia where he has mentored many young local surfers.
Lopez is also an accomplished thespian, appearing mostly in films by fellow ex-surfer John Milius. In 1982 he co-starred in the film Conan the Barbarian with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Other film appearances include Big Wednesday (1978), North Shore (1987), and Farewell to the King (1989). He has also appeared in numerous surfing documentaries, including Five Summer Stories (1973), Tales From The Tube,Step Into Liquid (2003), and Riding Giants (2004). Lopez is an ambassador for Patagonia clothing company and has written at least one essay for their catalogs. He also appears frequently in ads and catalogs for Rainbow Sandals, and is a friend of the founder of the company and fellow surfer, Jay Longley.
Lopez recently authored a book called: "Surf Is Where You Find It", and is supporting its 2008 release with a book signing and speaking tour. He and good friend Jock Sutherland also appear on YouTube in the Patagonia sponsored "Talkin' Pipe" series, where they describe their harrowing and sometimes humorous early experiences at the Pipeline.
[edit] Personal life
Today, Lopez lives far from the long lenses of the surfing media, in Bend, Oregon, with his wife Toni and son, Alex. Snowboarding has become a passion for both father and son, and Gerry is now applying his talents as a craftsman to making snowboards. His surfboards also remain in high demand. He still surfs.
