Al Byrne passes away, aged 62

This morning, Allan Byrne passed away in Bali, aged 62, after a motorbike accident on the weekend…

Reporting by Jed Smith

Three days ago, Stab reported that following what appears to have been a motorbike accident, legendary shaper and surfer, Al Byrne, was in a coma in a Balinese hospital. Reports suggested that Al was found in the early hours of Saturday morning bloodied though still conscious next to his bike and taken to hospital. He had left the Rip Curl Cup, Padang party a short while earlier. After arriving at a nearby hospital in Jimbaran he is said to have appeared okay and requested rest only. He fell into a coma shortly after and was rushed to a larger hospital where he remained in a coma and on life support.

News has just broken that Al lost the fight for his life. This is a message on the SURFAID Facebook page:

It is with a heavy heart to let you know that the great Allan Byrne passed in Bali this morning after his bike accident on the weekend. Al was a true legend and gentleman. A brilliant craftsman and surfer. A humble human being who inspired many. Our deepest condolences to Al’s family and friends. We’ve lost one of the great ones. Vale AB.

Similar tributes have been flooding social media all day. Big-wave surfer Marti Paradisis wrote:

RIP Al Byrne you legend… one of the nicest guys ive ever met with such a passion for his work and the love of surfing.. I also feel very honoured to own a board shaped by you… Sending much love to Al’s wife and family

Our thoughts go out to Al’s family and friends.

Originally from New Zealand, Al Byrne became a shaping legend during the 1970s and 80s when his Hot Stuff boards became the weapon of choice for the likes of Rabbit, Kong and Chappy Jennings. It was during his early years in the Air Force that he first learned the importance of aerodynamics and minimising and maximising resistance, which would later lead to his groundbreaking channel bottom designs and fin placement. Over the years he’d tended to favour Hawaii as his favourite hunting ground, first learning the art of hand-shaping there in the winter of ’69 on Oahu. But after being invited by Rip Curl Indonesia to take part in their shaping program he has been a regular on the island of Bali and his channel bottom tube-shooters have fast become a favourite for those venturing to G-Land, Desert Point and the Bukit. But Al’s exploits in the water have been just as legendary of late. “He charges,” says Australian heavy wave specialist, Anthony Walsh of the 62 year old. ”I surfed Padang with him last year and he was fully getting barrelled. Such a legend.”