This page has recently been erased by mistake. Several stories were featured and hopefully a re-write can be done in the near future.
In the meantime, there are two recent events Chuck would like to share with you:
1. Rod Sumpter, a 1960's era champion surfer who was featured with Robert August and Mike Hynson in Bruce Brown's epic surf film "Endless Summer, has recently written another book titled "Today's Top Surfboards". This colorful 165 page coffee table collector book illustrates contemporary surfboards from around the world. Rod devoted fifteen pages
to Chuck Bassett Fine Balsa Wood Surfboards. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, click on www.amazon.com. This source for the book is the best price available.
2. In July Chuck was invited to participate in the filming of a television commercial in Hawaii for Pacific Life. This is the insurance company with the breaching whale in their advertising. With Jeannette Prince of Cardiff, California and Quicksilver CEO Bob McKnight, these three surfers were filmed at the incredible west Oahu surf break 'Maili Point', just down the road from Makaha. The whole operation required five days, with three full days devoted to actually being in the 85 degree water surfing, paddling and smiling for the camera for a total of 17 hours. The waves varied in size from 3 to 5 feet and the production company had a permit so the beach was shut down to anyone not involved in the filming. Basically, they had it to themselves. A breaching whale will be superimposed on film to appear just offshore from the surfers. Most everyone involved in the production were put up in the exclusive Hawaii Prince Hotel overlooking Ala Moana Yacht Harbor and Waikiki Beach. So, if you watch ABC College Football or CNN/Larry King Live, you'll probably see the ad beginning September 29. The commercial should run for most of the year. Chuck says, "it's a good thing to be paid to surf, especially if the waves are good and your fed well afterward".
