Doug Mann passed away this week. He was a shaper, laminator and fin maker in Hawaii during the 80’s. He is credited with inventing the Football Fin in the early days of windsurfing. He had been living in Oklahoma and had been Kitesurfing on the lakes there until his illness. Doug taught me to shape when he was living in NC for a brief time. He has a son who is a Kitesurfing instructor in Miami and Cape Hatteras. regards, Dave
Sorry for your loss, and the loss to the surfing world of one of our own. A couple of people who were instrumental teachers in my life (not surfing related) have passed, and the loss is irreplaceable. The world is just a lesser place without them, and for now, we just have to move forward and try to do them proud, despite that fact.
I knew Doug, his shop was near mine at Log Cabins way back when. Sad to hear he is gone. Been losing far too many friends lately. I guess it is the price we pay for getting old and not dying earlier then our friends do.