PAUL STRAUCH
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Recalling another of Punahou School's legendary surfers, Paul Strauch, a 1959 winner of the Makaha International Surfing Championships. Paul attended Punahou from 1955- graduating in the class of 1961. He was part of Punahou's first group of students and teachers who attacked the Makaha International Surf Contest. These included Paul, Fred Hemmings, Vicky Heldreich, Tim Guard, Brant Ackerman, Peter Cole, Erick Romanchek, and Laura and Jimmy Blears.
Paul won second place in the inaugural Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surf Contest behind winner Jeff Hakman (Punahou) and was one of the original four members of the Duke Kahanamoku Surf Team which included Fred Hemmings Jr. (Punahou).
Excerpt From: Big Wave Riders Through The 1960s…At one point during the early 1960s, Paul Strauch was considered one of the best, if not the best surfer on the planet. He is legendary, and one of the most celebrated surfers during the 60s. Gerry Lopez, aka “Mr. Pipeline,” a highly respected surfer, shaper and actor called Paul “the most stylish surfer ever”.Recently, I had the good fortune to be introduced to Paul by Chad Waters, a recent acquaintance, friend of Paul’s, and Honolulu based real estate developer. Chad is a partner for the proposed ‘Endless Summer’ Surf Resort on Oahu, Hawaii.Paul Strauch is half Hawaiian. His Hawaiian name is Kalakimau, meaning “The Lucky One.” He was born and raised in Honolulu, and began surfing at the age of 4. He graduated from Punahou High School, and later from the University of Hawaii.Paul’s father helped him develop a genuine “feel of the ocean,” and an understanding of the currents and waves. But it was George Downing, one of the best, and most knowledgeable big wave surfers of that era, who became Paul’s mentor.
The “Strauch crouch” – his signature maneuver….Paul is the creator of the “Strauch crouch” or “Cheater five” nose ride – a move he developed in larger surf to increase speed and trim in the late 50s, and has been credited as the first surfer to do bottom turns in large waves – like 12 to 15 foot waves at Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu.OK, so what does that mean in English? “Cheater” refers to the fact that the rider is squatting on his rear haunch (butt), with most all of the surfer’s weight on the back foot, and “Five” means that the front foot is extended to the board’s front tip to provide more stability for the rider.Paul said, “We were riding boards during the 60s that were about 11 feet long, bulky, and weighed from 30 to 50 pounds…“ He had to be aggressive riding the bigger waves, but believed in his capabilities, and that provided him with an edge. Did you know that the “Strauch crouch” is still the only surfing maneuver to bear a person’s name?