Women's Professional Surfer, first woman to surf in a men's professional tournament, the daughter of Lord Tallyho Blears. Laura was my classmate in 1st and 2nd grade, later 7th and 8th grade at Washington Intermediate in Honolulu, Hawaii. While she did not know me, I sure knew her in 7th and 8th grade. Everyday walking to and from school, my buddies and I would walk pass her hanging out with the surf crowd at the mini store near school at the corner of Kalakaua Blvd and Philip Street. Always catching our eyes. She had to be the "most bitchin" girl at Washington.
The Blears family arrived in Hawaii in the mid 1950's. On the plane to Hawaii, Laura wore her her bathing suit under her dress so that when she arrived in Hawaii she could run right into the ocean. A ocean love affair started. She would grow up in Waikiki and her father would take her to the beach where beach boys would teach her how to surf, paddle canoes, and sail catamarans.
After eight grade, Laura transferred to Punahou High School. President Barack Obama's high school. She would participate in swimming. She would swim the 50 and relays. Her dad would attend all her meets with a stopwatch. Laura started surfing in tournaments around the ages of 12 or 13, she competed in tandem surfing which were big in those days. She competed at the Makaha International Surfing Championships. In those days that contest was the biggest and people came from all over the world to compete. Some of her moves with her partner were around the world, one leg stand, the swan, and a few others she could not recall.
Early in the 1970's, Laura competed in paddle boards events off Waikiki beach against the boys. Her intensity for competition caught the eye of her father. Her father would have a painting made from a picture taken after a close race she had lost. That intensity did not go unnoticed by the director for the Smirnoff World Championships Fred Hemmings. He invited her to surf against the men. She became the first woman to compete in a men's surfing event. "Chick with a stick", as some men surfers referred to woman surfers.
Later in the 1970's, her surfing fame would lead to participation in ABC's Women's Super Star Competition. (Results here) (People Magazine) (Sports Illustrated) She competed against Cathy Rigby, Anne Henning the speed skater, and Martina Navratilova who became a friend. Her biggest thrill was meeting Althea Gibson, who had to over come racial prejudice to compete in tennis and golf. She had to select 7 out of 10 events. She selected all water sports and did well, but got "pounded" in events like bowling. Her event highlight came when she won the basketball shooting competition using the Wilt Chamberlain free throw style her father had taught her. Upon sinking the winning shot, her dad fell to the ground cheering. Well done, coach. Her dad had coached her in all events. Too bad there wasn't any wrestling event.
She would receive more fame from her appearance in Playboy, July 1975. That issue is probably one of the most popular issues ever released. We will leave that here. This is a T-shirt web site.
Today, like her mom, Laura works as a fitness instructor and marketing representative. She specializes in Pilates instruction and continues to participate in surfing events in Hawaii.
See Lord Blears World War II Story
TALLYHO LAURA BLEARS
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July 2007 Hero |
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Growing up in Hawaii in the 1960's was fun in
paradise for kids like my brother and I. Especially the wrestling scene. The
likes of Curtis Iuakea, Tosh Togo (Goldfinger's Oddjob), and Lord "Tallyho"
Blears were pure role models for a lot of us kids. Have fun at what you do. All the wrestling holds,
like the "Figure 4", "Kiwi", and "Indian Death Lock". I would learn to
use those holds on
my brother during our evening wrestling matches. It was the "Tallyho" spirit
that brought many a laugh and great joy. Check out the links below.
James Ranicar Blears, then 17, grew up
quickly as he went off to war in 1941. He served as a radioman aboard a
British
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August/September 2007 Hero |
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In this day and age when we see less playgrounds being developed, schools and gyms under lock and chain, places like the road to out the Cabrillo National Monument shutdown at 5:00 in the evening due to financial and security reasons there was a man long ago who stood up to all the the boo-hoos. His was name was Mile Marshall. Here he is at Michigan State cutting through a chain that locks a fence blocking entry to a field. Also, it is funny that there is not enough money to keep the road to the Cabrillo National Monument open until sunset, but enough money to build a new golf course on North Island. |
October 2007 Hero |
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It was the late 1950's, my dad and a few friends from went fishing on a Sunday on my dad's boat the Bobbi-Dee south Oahu, Hawaii. They failed to return in the late afternoon. Just before dark, my mom placed a call to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard responded with search aircraft and ships. About 1:00 AM, Monday morning, my dad on the Bobbi-Dee, engine knocked out, heard a plane fly over. He fired a flare, the plane saw it and started circling the boat for a couple of hours until a cutter came on the scene and towed the Bobbi-Dee home to the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor. It was a happy Monday morning for our family. Thank you, United States Coast Guard. After hurricane Katrina, when every federal, state, and public agency stood paralyzed. One outfit was on scene, saving one life after the other. Thank you, United Stated Coast Guard.
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November 2007 Hero |
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