When Larry “the Rubberman” Bertlemann died on October 10, the surfing world lost a legend. We lost a pioneer. We lost one of surfing’s most interesting people. Tim Bonython, a guy who has been around the surfing block a time or two, has known just how interesting Bertlemann was for a long time now, and in 2006, he sat down across from him for a wide-ranging interview.
“Back in 2006,” Bonython wrote, “I was making a movie called What Is Surfing and decided I wanted to interview all the legends of the sport. Here is one of them. Larry ‘The Rubberman’ Bertlemann was one of the most distinctive and influential surfers to emerge from Hawaii during the 1970s. He wasn’t just a surfer who rode waves differently – he changed the way people thought about what was possible on a surfboard.”
Bertlemann’s influence on how the world surfs today cannot be understated. He showed people what was possible on a surfboard, and they took it an ran.
“His incredible flexibility, loose style, radical turns and ability to make a surfboard look almost alive earned him the nickname ‘The Rubberman,'” Bonython continued. “He became one of the defining characters of the shortboard revolution and helped shape the modern approach to high-performance surfing. He was an original – a surfer who didn’t simply follow the direction of the sport but helped create a new one.
Although he certainly held his own in the highest levels of surfing competitions — a third place finish at the ’72 Pipe Masters, a fourth at the ’72 World Surfing Championships, a win at the United States Surfing Championships in ’73, and a win at 1974 Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Championship at Sunset Beach, among others — the Rubberman was more than just a contest surfer.
“Larry’s influence was always bigger than his competition results,” Bonython explained. “He was an entertainer, an innovator, and a surfer who could make people stop and watch. He was a legend of the sport. May Larry Bertleman rest in peace.”
Editor’s Note: Bertlemann’s children have started a fundraiser to help with funeral and memorial costs. They’re hoping to give their father the sendoff he deserves. Donate here.
