Scott Dunning, Surfboard Designer-Builder, Dies at 50

Scott Dunning, a designer whose hand-crafted surfboards attracted customers from around the world, has died. He was 50.

Dunning, who surfed every morning, had just completed a “great ride” early Monday at Topanga State Beach when he suffered a fatal heart attack while in the water, according to a friend.

Born Oct. 1, 1945, in Santa Monica, Dunning was a 26-year resident of Topanga. A carpenter by trade, he started designing and building surfboards in 1980. Determined to make a lighter and therefore more surf-friendly board, Dunning experimented with various materials before discovering that aerospace materials made the best boards. His combination of extruded polystyrene, wrapped in Kevlar and carbon, then topped off with intricate woodwork, became known as Topanga Wooden Sticks--also the name of a shop Dunning opened in the late 1980s.

“What we have here is an integration of Old World craftsmanship with new-age technology,” Dunning told The Times in an interview last summer.

Dunning also operated a school where he taught martial arts teaching techniques to karate instructors. A private funeral service will be held at the studio.

A public ceremony, featuring a palm tree planting in Dunning’s honor, will be held at 8 a.m. July 14 at Topanga Beach.

Dunning is survived by his wife of 26 years, Julie Rosa of Topanga.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Scott Dunning Memorial Fund, c/o Julie Rosa, P.O. Box 985, Topanga 90290.