heard that buzzy trent has passed on .came from Legendary Surfers site but there does not seem to be any other information or talk about the man .Anyone?
mpcutback
I heard the sad news also that Buzzy Trent passed away. I have not been able to find any more info either.He will be missed, I have a great Don James photo of Buzzy at sunset beach in the sixties.He was a great big wave pioneer, a hard charger.Aloha Buzzy, RIP.
Surfline has a brief news article posted on it. A great waterman. he will be missed.
yeah, surfline posted an article with a few pics yesterday. …worth checkin’ out.
One of the true surfing icons. I don’t have the words to express it. He was a MAN. Mike
yup
so sad to see how all the groms(like Mick/Taj) seem to have got the drinking and partying part down of the legacy but missed out on the most important lessons guys like this had to teach everyone about being a surfer.
The rain clouds and rainbows will fill Niu Valley soon
Oneula,
I was saddened to see this thread. Buzzy was a MAN among men. The surfing and diving experiences I shared with him, are all the more precious to me, now that he is gone. He and I spent many hours talking story. I don’t think anyone, with the possible exception of George Downing, could talk story like Buzzy. He was, in the truest sense, a waterman of exceptional skill. He was always willing to share his great depth of knowledge of the sea. I hope that there is a proper tribute to him by the Hawaiian surfing community, though I know Buzzy would not approve of such a thing. He was a strong family man, and had a quiet humility about his surfing accomplishments. We have all lost a special part of surfings history.
He was also a hanglider back in the days of bamboo kites.
I met him one day around 1971 or 1972 after a hanglider friend of his crashed into the cliffs above Sea Life Park. The kite was lodged about 1/2 to 2/3 up a 2000 foot cliff. The firemen were having a hard time deciding how to bring the debris down and Buzzy was going absolutely nuts. My uncle knew him so we went over to talk to him. He was saying that they thought the guy was still alive but no one was trying to climb up there. He tried a couple of times to go up on his own, but the police kept stopping him. I guess they all knew who he was because they didn’t arrrest him. Anyone else would probably have been arrested after the first attempt. When we first saw him the police were bringing him back down from the cliffs. He was still in good shape back then. My uncle said he thought that if Buzzy was allowed to, he would have gotten up that cliff.
After reading about him and seeing his picture in the Surfer’s Journal, i recognized him last year walking on the beach at Makaha at the Buffalo event. He had a presence that is memorable to me. He walked slowly…probably riddled with arthritis, but his upper body looked still powerful as it does in youthful pictures. It did not seem as though people recognized him as he walked around with a middle aged woman.
He ocurred as a man who was amused and content, while humbled by the gifts he uncovered here on Oahu.
Took a swim, watched the sunset and mused in the magic of Makaha last night.
How fortunate we are,
Roger
Roger,
You are right, Buzzy had a commanding personal presence. He was a gifted natural athlete. I think Buzzy would have risen to the top of any sport that captured his interest. I’m told he was offered a football scholarship to USC, which he walked away from to come to Hawaii to ride big waves. He had his priorities!
I have heard of buzzy trent through greg noll’s semi autobiography. All those old pioneers are men not boys like many of todays spoiled prosurfers. this is sad news. may he ride waves wherevere he endes up.
Any talk of a paddle out in his memory here on the mainland? If not, anyone else interested?
AF
Aloha Bill
I too was saddend to hear this. I also had the pleasure of knowing Buzzy and experiencing his unique energy. I seem to be loosing too many friends these days and yet don’t seem to be able to catch up with them all and touch base, before they slip away. Getting old sucks for this reason alone!
Aloha BB,
Amen to that. Growing old is NOT for the faint of heart!
Buzzy…you are truly free now !!!
some guys are just way ahead of the rabble.
Conceptually
and to where they travel.
seen 'Im paddle by
saw him on the lawn
at kbc.now 'es gone
an we can look to the sky.
Buzzy Trent has been an gone
an all we can do is Carry -on
ALL HANDS!, CARRY ON>>>
…buzzy trent…
if I knew you better I couldn’t have respected you more
…ambrose…
Buzzy Lives
when we speak kindly of 'IM
I heard about his passing. . . he’s up there passing along tips with all the legends (many we don’t even hear about) and watching us catch waves down here. . .
didn’t know him , but looked up to him. a true waterman and then some. had the pleasure of working with his beautiful daughter Anna in a now extinct surf shop in SLO.i had always hoped he would walk in the shop some day, never did(at least when i was around). Go Buzzy!
As I suspected might be the case, no service is planned for Buzzy. I’m sure it was his wish, however I’m informed that Peter Cole may be putting together something to honor his passing. I personally think it only fitting. ANYONE who went to the early to mid 50’s surf films of Bud Brown, WAS influenced by Buzzy Trent. He was the ringleader of many of the early surf film adventures. He put his stamp on the sport of big wave riding, and inspired a generation of surfers to make the pilgrimage to the North Shore. Me among them. I’ll pass along info as I learn more. Buzzy was one of those early
‘‘iron men on wooden boards’’ that pioneered this sport we all love.