Woody Brown passed away on the 16th. See article in the Maui news.
“KAHULUI — One of the world’s most renowned surfers died Wednesday at Hale Makua, Kahului. Woodbridge Parker “Woody” Brown — a Renaissance man known as a pilot, world-record glider, pioneer big-wave surfer, inventor and author — was 96.”
FYI I was unable to post this in the In Memoriam page as the post button was grayed out.
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/502766.html?nav=10
Well, that is sad to hear. He was such a gentle man, soft spoken, and uncomfortable with the high regard in which he was held.
Woody Brown passed away on the 16th.
“KAHULUI — One of the world’s most renowned surfers died Wednesday at Hale Makua, Kahului. Woodbridge Parker “Woody” Brown — a Renaissance man known as a pilot, world-record glider, pioneer big-wave surfer, inventor and author — was 96.”
http://www.mauinews.com/…etail/id/502766.html
PHOTO BY THOMAS TSUZUKI
This Makaha wave photo taken by Thomas “Scoop” Tsuzuki shows Woodbridge “Woody” P. Brown, left, along with big-wave riders George Downing and Buzzy Trent, on a 20-foot wave. The photo ran on the front page of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin on Nov. 27, 1953, and in papers nationwide.
Auwe! Though I only know of him through film and print, he struck me as a man who made his own path in life and did what was in his heart. I can only hope that I get to live, and surf, as long as he did.
http://www.legendarysurfers.com/…/legends/woody.shtml
Howzit kmook, Strange there was no news of Woody’s passing in the Garden Island paper here on Kauai. He was a greta man and an inspiration to us all.Aloha,Kokua
Heard that Maui had waves on all shores after Woody passed. Honu everywhere, perfect winds…chicken skin.
What a kind, gracious soul. Thankyou for setting such a fine example in life.
Truly a sweet man, a pioneer and an example for all of us. More books should be written about men like WB.
I had been wondering about Woody for the past year. How he was doing? How old he was etc? I met him the first time at “Sweets and Treats” in Kahuli five or six years ago. The man obviously new where the best place on Maui was to get something for a “sweet-tooth”. I walked up to the order window with my twenty year old daughter and said “Hey that’s Woody”. We talked small talk for awhile and then went our way. Ran into him a few years later at Launiupoko. He was hanging with a friend of mine and his wife at a picknic table. He said he had just quit surfing a year before. He used to wear a surf-leash that was attached around his waist. The spot just west of Launiupoko known as “Woody’s” bares his name. Lowel
I have been dealing with the loss of both my mother AND my wifes father, both dying this week. I was hoping for something “entertaining” here to give my brain a break. I got to meet Woody a couple times he had some great stories. Really smart about how things work. Living a full life to 96yrs old ain’t so bad. But it still a loss especially to surfing history and lifestyle.
Kokua It looks like it made the TV today. I used to see him in Kahului harbor in the winter. He always had a smile and a wave as he worked his way back out to the line up.
Kevin
I always looked for Woody near Sweets and Treats (Originally a Dairy Queen), as he frequently made the walk from his place in Harbour Lights to Sweets and Treats for his sweet fix. Always had a wave and a smile for me. I loved to hear him talk story about the old days in Waikiki. My Father’s and Woody’s stories made me realize how special Waikiki used to be.
Every time I paddle out at Launiupoko, I say thank you to Woody for his efforts to clear out the rocks for a channel to walk from the beach to deeper water.
I am sure, out of habit, every time I drive past Harbour Lights. I will look for him making his way to Sweet’s and Treat’s.
bummer. he was an inspiration and totally unsung hero…
HOORAY AND HUZZAH FOR THE GREAT LIFE
OF WOODY BROWN!!!
we who fly our arms
whomever we copied
date direct back
to to woody style.
so nex time you catch a good drop and sled
curl ride ,throw them hands to the sky for woodward.
from windansea to waikiki and beyond
thanx to woody
…ambrose…
I always hoped I’d run into Woody Brown when I lived on Maui but was never that fortunate. The charter boat company I worked for at the time, we refurbished/rebuilt one the Waikiki beach cats he originally built. A 45’er with only about a foot of freeboard in the back with swooped up bows that were about 4’ off the water at the tips. I was able to skipper it to Lanai out of Lahaina harbor for about a year and then to Molokini crater out of Maalaea harbor for about another four years before we replaced it with a larger boat.
That sailing catamaran brought good times to 1000’s of people while we had it. And many more before that over on Oahu I’m sure. I know I had some of the best times of my life on that boat.
Woody Brown was an innovator and true ocean craftsman to have built boats like that when he did. From what I’ve read he was also a very giving person in his later years on Maui too.