the paddle out - everybody gathered in a circle and said a few words…
June 5, 2007.
Ben Shipman’s ashes were spread out over the kelp bed today.
Today would have been Ben’s 43rd birthday.
Rest in Peace my friend…
RIP BEN,
Ive had a picture of your yellow bonzer bonzer on my wall for ages. Deepest condolences to the family, and the shapers who were inspired by your work
Rest In peace.
There’s a ghost in the attic.
I’ve been browsing through the archives lately on varied subject matters from making swirls to fin placement and for some reason or another I see old posts of Shipman giving advice. It just gives me the chills. Although he’s gone I feel that his spirit is alive and well in the archives giving advice to newbies and to those seeking guidance on board design. So go ahead and peruse the archives from time to time and maybe you’ll get a chance to see the ghost in the attic.
Thank you Ben for all the advice,
Rio
Amen…
Our creator needed someone strong to watch over us.
I think between Ben And Ramon ,they keep the sways crowd safe and strong !
At times I can feel them very close to me…
…Telling me it not over,til it’s over.
Herb
Ben during the great, infamous “Blue Tarp debate”.
http://www.swaylocks.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=208320;search_string=jokes;guest=13947857#208320
Cool foto…ever seen the jungle shaping scene that Steve Bissell filmed in Panama? Santana soundtrack, handtools only, and empty waves t be conquered…those were the dayz.
Board update… I was surfing Calafia a few days ago when I saw a familiar board run down the beach. From about a hundred feet away I figured it looked like a Shipman. It was one of Ben’s green and blue 4 fin fish. I asked the guy about it and he told me about how he ordered from this awesome guy named Shipman. He said it was the best fish he ever surfed. He then went on to say that he has been shoting off emails for a few months in hopes of ordering another one. Thus I had to let him in on the bad news. We then traded Shipman stories for another few waves untill we drifted to seperate peaks. Thus not only is Ben still surfing but so are his boards…
Darren…there is truth to what you say…there’s a little bit of me in all my ‘children’. And it makes me pretty joyous when I see someone I’ve made a board for having a great day with it. Sometimes I feel like we are all artists out there painting watery strokes on cavasses of momentary blue.
[img_assist|nid=1030271|title=Ben Shipman|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=100|height=75]
Thanks for the photo Keith.
I downloaded it,if that’s okay w/ you.
Herb
certainly no problem, Herb - I didn’t mean for it to come out that small though… will try to get a bigger picture posted - that’s Ben at Big Sur/Sways get together a few years back by the way…this was his paddle out, or at least a part of it - hard to get a picture of the whole circle of friends.
.[img_assist|nid=1030289|title=paddle out for Ben|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=640|height=280]
I admired Ben’s work very much.
He was a beautiful person.
I hear him callin’ to me from time to time.
Knowing him,Made me a better person.
Herb
Thanks for sharing the stoke Herb…Ben’s photo is on the wall in my shop…The fish are getting better and better …Every time I work on a log something makes me go back to the fish!!!