Ben Aipa

Ben Aipa was a Hawaiian surfer, shaper and coach whose board designs became part of surfing's performance history. He made the board Fred Hemmings rode to win the 1968 World Championship. The Hawaiʻi Sports Hall of Fame dates Aipa's swallowtail design to 1972 and describes his work with a wing positioned along the rail ahead of the tail.

The Hall also credits his contribution to modern longboards through materials and design. Hawaii News Now's obituary identifies the Swallow Tail and Sting among his influential designs and describes his coaching of surfers including Sunny Garcia and Bethany Hamilton. Aipa died on January 15, 2021, aged 78. His personal shaping and coaching history is distinct from the continuing company history presented under the Aipa name.