In case you haven’t already been informed, a memorial for Miki Dora is being held at Huntington Beach Pier, Saturday, Jan 26… Arrangement, Gidget informs us, spearheaded by David Nuuihiwa family… including a paddle out, bring flowers, maybe say a few words, etc. Besides being the icon of our age, Miki Dora also was the first guy I ever saw to break the traditional paddling mold by paddling arm over arm (as most of us always do now) rather than plodding along using both arms at together. What a great thing to teach us all through his example. Duuuh (I can almost hear him saying as I write) Another of his innovation was tying the board on top the car skeg first so the wind would ever be tightening the hold by blowing the skeg a bit to the side. And later using only one rope just around the front. (Of course this was during a time before any kind of surf racks.) I have to confess that for probably the first 15 years I surfed, I’d roll down the windows and tie the board on through the car. Then climb in and out the windows. It seems we all did. Only later did I finally realize that the doors could be opened BEFORE tying the board on, then open and shut to enter and leave. (Double duuh, right, Miki? You probably figured that out on day one.) Chapin (who we knew him as for it seems decades) was also a model builder of significance and I remember him running a bitchin’ little speed boat from the pit. Forerunner of todays motorized model surfer. And a heck of an artist, remember how some of his boards were decorated? Then there was a day, borrowing his awesome Quig heavy black square tail with the ‘Dork’ fin. What a sweet board. And I was surprised he was so cordial in loaning it out. (That year was a kelp filled season at Malibu and unless you had either a ‘Half Moon’ skeg or one of these shallow but with extra hanging off the back, ‘Oooolie’ or ‘Dork’ fins, you couldn’t even move through the kelp. Even so, you had to wait until way late to take off, that way there’d be plenty of water in the wave lifting you out of the kelp. Miki, of course, was graceful as always on his even riding through this muck. What he seemed to teach is that you are ALWAYS on stage from the moment you hit the beach, so be aware and surf like a teacher not a pupil. And the millions of visual images of him just surfing. Wheew, to think he’s gone. Who didn’t take something from his style, his cut backs… and methods of getting waves for himself, then riding with more style than anyone else ever even considered necessary? Cheeks puffed, making it seem like this wave he was riding was just about the most important thing going on in the universe… greaser square cut hair while most everyone else is in white walls… always tan… prancing on the wave, on the beach, making us all kinda wish we were as handsome, as smooth, as knowledgeable, and with even an iota of his impeccable wave judgement. But I have often heard challenges of his social grace. Huh? Always the complete gentlemen, and not stingy with a complement either. One day I walk into the Malibu Inn and sit down with him for a burger. He goes, “Morey, they say you’re seven times as good as me.” (That would be the day!) Yet on the other hand, there’s the deal where you’ve met him by accident skiing, (I feel a bump, turn around and he’s there, like its totally accidental. Then as we’re talking, he’s circling so you have to keep turning to have him in his sights. Then there’s the rumors about him scamming. The only scam relationship I ever had with the man was with all of us having drinks at Virginia Macafe’s wedding in Laguna to which I’ve invited numberous surfers including Miki. And me brashly signing the tab with some fictitious name. Not him. Probably I was trying to impress the guy on how cool I was. (Youth!) Corky Carroll relates that when he was sick in the islands the only surfer who ever came to visit was Dora. But then every wave, if it’s lucky to travel so far, eventually starts turning white at the top then crumbles and vanishes. Yet it was only the sea and the wind doing its stuff. So I guess the same is true for us waves of mud. You’ll be in our dreams, Mr. Style. Tom Morey (or just Y)
In case you haven’t already been informed, a memorial for>>> Miki Dora is being held at Huntington Beach Pier, Saturday,>>> Jan 26… Arrangement, Gidget informs us, spearheaded by>>> David Nuuihiwa family… including a paddle out, bring>>> flowers, maybe say a few words, etc.>>> Besides being the icon of our age, Miki Dora also was the>>> first guy I ever saw to break the traditional paddling mold by>>> paddling arm over arm (as most of us always do now) rather>>> than plodding along using both arms at together. What a great>>> thing to teach us all through his example. Duuuh (I can>>> almost hear him saying as I write)>>> Another of his innovation was tying the board on top the car>>> skeg first so the wind would ever be tightening the hold by>>> blowing the skeg a bit to the side. And later using only one>>> rope just around the front. (Of course this was during a time>>> before any kind of surf racks.) I have to confess that for>>> probably the first 15 years I surfed, I’d roll down the windows>>> and tie the board on through the car. Then climb in and out>>> the windows. It seems we all did. Only later did I finally>>> realize that the doors could be opened BEFORE tying the>>> board on, then open and shut to enter and leave. (Double>>> duuh, right, Miki? You probably figured that out on day one.)>>> Chapin (who we knew him as for it seems decades) was also>>> a model builder of significance and I remember him running a>>> bitchin’ little speed boat from the pit. Forerunner of todays>>> motorized model surfer. And a heck of an artist, remember>>> how some of his boards were decorated?>>> Then there was a day, borrowing his awesome Quig heavy>>> black square tail with the ‘Dork’ fin. What a sweet board.>>> And I was surprised he was so cordial in loaning it out. (That>>> year was a kelp filled season at Malibu and unless you had>>> either a ‘Half Moon’ skeg or one of these shallow but with>>> extra hanging off the back, ‘Oooolie’ or ‘Dork’ fins, you>>> couldn’t even move through the kelp. Even so, you had to>>> wait until way late to take off, that way there’d be plenty of>>> water in the wave lifting you out of the kelp. Miki, of course, was > graceful as always on his even riding>>> through this muck. What he seemed to teach is that you are>>> ALWAYS on stage from the moment you hit the beach, so>>> be aware and surf like a teacher not a pupil.>>> And the millions of visual images of him just surfing. Wheew,>>> to think he’s gone. Who didn’t take something from his style,>>> his cut backs… and methods of getting waves for himself,>>> then riding with more style than anyone else ever even>>> considered necessary? Cheeks puffed, making it seem like>>> this wave he was riding was just about the most important>>> thing going on in the universe… greaser square cut hair while>>> most everyone else is in white walls… always tan… prancing>>> on the wave, on the beach, making us all kinda wish we were>>> as handsome, as smooth, as knowledgeable, and with even an>>> iota of his impeccable wave judgement.>>> But I have often heard challenges of his social grace. Huh?>>> Always the complete gentlemen, and not stingy with a>>> complement either. One day I walk into the Malibu Inn and>>> sit down with him for a burger. He goes, “Morey, they say>>> you’re seven times as good as me.” (That would be the day!)>>> Yet on the other hand, there’s the deal where you’ve met him>>> by accident skiing, (I feel a bump, turn around and he’s there,>>> like its totally accidental. Then as we’re talking, he’s circling>>> so you have to keep turning to have him in his sights.>>> Then there’s the rumors about him scamming. The only scam>>> relationship I ever had with the man was with all of us having>>> drinks at Virginia Macafe’s wedding in Laguna to which I’ve>>> invited numberous surfers including Miki. And me brashly>>> signing the tab with some fictitious name. Not him. Probably I>>> was trying to impress the guy on how cool I was. (Youth!)>>> Corky Carroll relates that when he was sick in the islands the>>> only surfer who ever came to visit was Dora.>>> But then every wave, if it’s lucky to travel so far, eventually>>> starts turning white at the top then crumbles and vanishes.>>> Yet it was only the sea and the wind doing its stuff. So I>>> guess the same is true for us waves of mud.>>> You’ll be in our dreams, Mr. Style.>>> Tom Morey (or just Y) All I know of Miki Dora is what I have seen and read in the magazines over the past 35 yrs. He seemed to be a stylish, unique surfer and that is all that I can remember him by, not knowing him personally. May his soul rest in peace. I would also like to say how stoked I am to see you Mr. Y, here on this site.
In case you haven’t already been informed, a memorial for>>> Miki Dora is being held at Huntington Beach Pier, Saturday,>>> Jan 26… Arrangement, Gidget informs us, spearheaded by>>> David Nuuihiwa family… including a paddle out, bring>>> flowers, maybe say a few words, etc.>>> Besides being the icon of our age, Miki Dora also was the>>> first guy I ever saw to break the traditional paddling mold by>>> paddling arm over arm (as most of us always do now) rather>>> than plodding along using both arms at together. What a great>>> thing to teach us all through his example. Duuuh (I can>>> almost hear him saying as I write)>>> Another of his innovation was tying the board on top the car>>> skeg first so the wind would ever be tightening the hold by>>> blowing the skeg a bit to the side. And later using only one>>> rope just around the front. (Of course this was during a time>>> before any kind of surf racks.) I have to confess that for>>> probably the first 15 years I surfed, I’d roll down the windows>>> and tie the board on through the car. Then climb in and out>>> the windows. It seems we all did. Only later did I finally>>> realize that the doors could be opened BEFORE tying the>>> board on, then open and shut to enter and leave. (Double>>> duuh, right, Miki? You probably figured that out on day one.)>>> Chapin (who we knew him as for it seems decades) was also>>> a model builder of significance and I remember him running a>>> bitchin’ little speed boat from the pit. Forerunner of todays>>> motorized model surfer. And a heck of an artist, remember>>> how some of his boards were decorated?>>> Then there was a day, borrowing his awesome Quig heavy>>> black square tail with the ‘Dork’ fin. What a sweet board.>>> And I was surprised he was so cordial in loaning it out. (That>>> year was a kelp filled season at Malibu and unless you had>>> either a ‘Half Moon’ skeg or one of these shallow but with>>> extra hanging off the back, ‘Oooolie’ or ‘Dork’ fins, you>>> couldn’t even move through the kelp. Even so, you had to>>> wait until way late to take off, that way there’d be plenty of>>> water in the wave lifting you out of the kelp. Miki, of course, was > graceful as always on his even riding>>> through this muck. What he seemed to teach is that you are>>> ALWAYS on stage from the moment you hit the beach, so>>> be aware and surf like a teacher not a pupil.>>> And the millions of visual images of him just surfing. Wheew,>>> to think he’s gone. Who didn’t take something from his style,>>> his cut backs… and methods of getting waves for himself,>>> then riding with more style than anyone else ever even>>> considered necessary? Cheeks puffed, making it seem like>>> this wave he was riding was just about the most important>>> thing going on in the universe… greaser square cut hair while>>> most everyone else is in white walls… always tan… prancing>>> on the wave, on the beach, making us all kinda wish we were>>> as handsome, as smooth, as knowledgeable, and with even an>>> iota of his impeccable wave judgement.>>> But I have often heard challenges of his social grace. Huh?>>> Always the complete gentlemen, and not stingy with a>>> complement either. One day I walk into the Malibu Inn and>>> sit down with him for a burger. He goes, “Morey, they say>>> you’re seven times as good as me.” (That would be the day!)>>> Yet on the other hand, there’s the deal where you’ve met him>>> by accident skiing, (I feel a bump, turn around and he’s there,>>> like its totally accidental. Then as we’re talking, he’s circling>>> so you have to keep turning to have him in his sights.>>> Then there’s the rumors about him scamming. The only scam>>> relationship I ever had with the man was with all of us having>>> drinks at Virginia Macafe’s wedding in Laguna to which I’ve>>> invited numberous surfers including Miki. And me brashly>>> signing the tab with some fictitious name. Not him. Probably I>>> was trying to impress the guy on how cool I was. (Youth!)>>> Corky Carroll relates that when he was sick in the islands the>>> only surfer who ever came to visit was Dora.>>> But then every wave, if it’s lucky to travel so far, eventually>>> starts turning white at the top then crumbles and vanishes.>>> Yet it was only the sea and the wind doing its stuff. So I>>> guess the same is true for us waves of mud.>>> You’ll be in our dreams, Mr. Style.>>> Tom Morey (or just Y) Thanks, i needed that, keep the faith…
Tom Morey (or just Y)…My bra Ray and myself will be there…in the usual Dora rebel style!..Hope you all can make it too!..Hey!no counterfeit jokes!!!Herb.
I’m not sure how much respect Dora deserves,But a paddle out at H.B. instead of Malibu is spitting on his grave!
I’m not sure how much respect Dora deserves,But a paddle out at H.B. > instead of Malibu is spitting on his grave! Well said, proneman!! What a pathetic, misguided gesture at at one of the absolute last surf spots on earth he would have placed any redeeming value! But, Miki would
nt have been surprised by the ultimate irony of such a pretenders sideshow. Da Cat certainly deserves much better.
I’m not sure how much respect Dora deserves,But a paddle out at H.B. > instead of Malibu is spitting on his grave! I’ve wondered a bit about that. Maybe if it’s the Nuhuwia family putting it on it was a just matter of them stepping up and doing something, rather than have his passing not memorialized at least in some formal fashion here in California. As for Malibu, well…whatever happens will be appropriate. The place is bigger than the people. Check the url for some photos of the imediate aftermath.
I’ve wondered a bit about that. Maybe if it’s the Nuhuwia family putting > it on it was a just matter of them stepping up and doing something, rather > than have his passing not memorialized at least in some formal fashion > here in California.>>> As for Malibu, well…whatever happens will be appropriate. The place is > bigger than the people. Check the url for some photos of the imediate > aftermath. Guess I didn’t have that pic url thing figured out… http://www.vagabondsurf.com/BuWall.html
Well said, proneman!! What a pathetic, misguided gesture at at one of the > absolute last surf spots on earth he would have placed any redeeming > value! But, Miki would
nt have been surprised by the ultimate irony of > such a pretenders sideshow. Da Cat certainly deserves much better. This video guy I know went to a paddle out at Malibu for Dora. He said only 25 people showed up.
This video guy I know went to a paddle out at Malibu for Dora. He said > only 25 people showed up. that’s probably 24 more people in the water at the bu than Miki would like.