Surf World Says Goodbye To Donald Takayama

by The Editors on November 10, 2012

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The Junior Seau Amphitheater at the Oceanside Pier in California was packed Saturday morning, November 10, 2012 as the surf world gathered to remember legendary surfer and surfboard shaper Donald Takayama.

Under sunny skies and buffeted by a strong north wind, music was played, surf legends talked story, and people shared their stories. Members of the Takayama family spoke, two-time ASP World Longboard Champion and Hawaiian Pro Designs team rider Joel Tudor spoke, but it was two-time world surfing champion Nat Young (right) who wrapped things up.

111012 Ip  11659“Donald Takayama was welcome always every where around the world because all he did was just give,” said Young, becoming emotional. “And I tell you, over the years I’ve head a lot of people talk about aloha spirit. And not a lot of people live by that code, but Donald was it. You know. And he’s always treated everybody the same because he had respect for everybody. And he believed that surfers were like a true brotherhood and we talked about this many times, you know. I just hope that infectious DT character and his whole spirit filters down to the young ones who carry on this activity.”

After a short break close to 200 surfers paddled out to give Takayama the classic surfer’s send off. Follow the jump for more photos from the day.

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There are never good days for memorial services but for Donald Takayama it was beautiful.

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Members of the Takayama family carrying flowers out onto the pier.

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The Oceanside Pier was packed two and three people deep all the way out to the end of the pier with people whose lives had been touched by Donald Takayama.

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