Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin
Renowned surfboard shaper, big wave rider and local identity, Warren (Wazza) Thompson was farewelled with a heartfelt tribute at Ocean Beach last month.
Surfers, friends and family gathered to remember the 75-year-old who died on January 12 after falling from a ladder while helping a friend in New Zealand.
He had returned to his hometown of Mt Maunganui less than a year ago to spend time with his siblings.
The surfer’s tribute brought together more than 150 people, most of whom brought along their hand-crafted boards Warren had made for them.
Organised by long time friend and fellow board shaper, Patrick McCarthy, the tribute included a paddle-out and the forming of a circle of surfers in the water.
A paddle-out is a traditional Hawaiian tribute to the life and legacy of people who’ve passed away.
This was preceded by the forming of an avenue of honour flanked by surfers and boards which stretched from the steps of the Denmark Surf Life Saving Club to the water’s edge.
Warren’s wife of 35 years, Karen, along with her two sisters and granddaughter, walked down the avenue carrying flowers to be floated in the ocean.
With more than 100 of Warren’s custom-made boards on the beach, spanning nearly six decades of his board shaping career, the tribute created the largest and most comprehensive collection of Thompson Boards seen anywhere in the world. Tributes were also held in both New Zealand and Cottesloe.
Warren became hooked on surfing as a youngster and his passion led him to travel the world surfing and shaping boards for some of the world’s best companies.
Warren and wife Karen met in NZ where they lived before moving to Cottelsoe.
The couple then moved to Denmark in 2002 where they quickly became an integral part of the local surfing fraternity and broader community.
After nearly 20 years in Denmark Karen moved back to Perth and Warren later returned to NZ.
Patrick McCarthy said Warren had offered to teach him how to shape boards when he was 19.
“Wazza was a father figure to me as a teenager and later became my mentor and teacher,” Patrick said.
“He encouraged and inspired so many people to take up surfing and was especially keen for more women and girls to ride the waves.”
In speaking to the gathering Karen said she could clearly see now that ‘Warren had not only shaped boards but shaped lives as well’.
“The evidence of his influence and legacy is overwhelming,” Karen said.
“He was a quiet and humble man with a huge capacity to connect with people of all ages and all walks of life.”
Warren was the eldest brother of siblings Malcolm, Pauline (Fitzgerald), Carey Thompson and the late Gail, and was father and father-in-law to Ryan and Shawna, and his two daughters Aimee and Tahnee. He is also survived by his grandchildren Taylor, Toshi and Bailee.
See all the photos in the issue.
This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 9 February 2023.
