Author Archives: Gerry Lopez

About: Gerry Lopez

Pipeline Master/Shaper

The original Pipeline Master and Founder of Lightning Bolt Surfboards, Gerry Lopez is an icon and pioneer in the history of surfing. Lopez was among the first to surf "G-Land," and starred as himself in the surf-cult classic film Big Wednesday. Gerry lives with his family in Bend, Oregon where he shapes surfboards, practices yoga, and snowboards regularly.

Remembering a World Before Plastic Pollution

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

The splendid waves of G-Land were a surf paradise beyond compare. And it opened my eyes to how quickly an absolutely pristine, totally natural place can become a mess. Plastic is a problem for all of us.

The Buddy

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012

One day, out of the blue, Buddy Dunphy announced, “Let’s make our own boards.” A few days later, we had new surfboards to ride. The total cost was about $15 for each board.

"The storm forecasts had called it: The surf was expected to reach the 20-foot range and it looked like it was doing just that with this approaching set," writes Gerry Lopez. "The wind suddenly increased and rain pelted down." Photo: Ryan "Chachi" Craig

A Big Score

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

One of the sad things about surfing is that the best memories are fleeting. Sometimes when the focus is so intense, the concentration so great, it seems as though they don’t even get recorded.