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Mike
"Diff" Diffenderfer, Surfing Legend
1927-2002
Early surfing and surfboard shaping pioneer Mike Diffenderfer
was one of surfing's most influential personalities.
The fact that he recently passed is a great loss in
the world wide surfing community. The fact that he grew
up in La Jolla and spent many years in and loved Del
Mar gives Del Mar major ties to a surfing and shaping
legend.
Long time Del Mar resident Mike Diffenderfer made a
huge impact on surfing in many ways. It was Diff who
named the famous Banzi Pipeline in Hawaii. Anyone who
enjoys surfing owes a bit of thanks to this legendary
pioneer in surfing and shaping.
Born
in Beverly Hills and graduate of La Jolla High School
Mike considered himself a citizen of the world. Whether
driving around France in his Porsche with surfing legend
Mickey Dora or driving a golf ball off the tee he remained
true to the soul of surfing.
In
life he was as smooth as his hands were rough earning
him the lessor known nickname "Gator". The
surfboards he sculpted with those rough hands earned
him recognition around the world. Diffenderfers original
influences in design and craftsmanship are felt today.
A surfing magazine a few years back surveyed the top
surfboard shapers and concluded that all their influences
could be traced back on the shaping tree to two surfboard
shapers one of whom was Mike Diffenderfer.
A great surfer in his day Diff was best known for shaping
arguably the best balsa wood boards in the world, an
art form that almost entirely disappeared when GrubbyClark
came out with his foam cores that allowed for lighter
more maneuverable boards.
An
important person and a personality in surfing, Mikes
boards are sought out by collectors and prized both
for craftsmanship and because "Mike" himself
had hand crafted them. Having a Diff shaped board is
like having a piece of surfing history. A single board
by the maestro has sold for as much as $20,000. Not
without a sense of humor, one time in Costa Rica he
put a full grown iguana in a traveling pro surfers sleeping
bag much to the surfers surprise. He also liked to reminisce
about his high school sweet heart Raquel Tejada who
most people know as Raquel Welch. (Yes the famous one).
His contributions to design also included his other
passion. Mike a pro caliber golfer loved golf and helped
design a professional golf course in Costa Rica.
Diffenderfer's
final days were spent in Hawaii battling cancer while
still shaping and contributing to the spirit of surfing
he loved so much. Two simultaneous memorials were held
for, one at Ali Beach in Hawaii and at the exact same
time one at Diff's beloved Wind and Sea beach in La
Jolla, California. At both, surfers, shapers, and surfing
aficionados paddled out forming a circle paying last
respects before sending him off.
Like
the famous beach boy and father of modern surfing Duke
Kahanamoku said "One day I'll catch the perfect
wave and keep on ridding." Mike who gave the surfing
world so much is now ridding his perfect wave.
The Willis Bros. are surfing experts recognized for
surfing the worlds largest waves and teaching thousands
in Hawaii and California to surf.
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