Wayo Whilar started during the Golden Age of Peruvian Surfing

Peru’s surfing history goes back a couple thousand years to the Pre-Colombia Civilization. Their hieroglyphics at some of their major ruins have corduroy lines symbolizing the surf, and those cities were located in front of Points and Bays. Besides the writing on the wall, we know from stories that those who were fascinated by the rolling wave would paddle out in their reed boats (reed boats are still used today) and rode the surf.


Club Waikiki circa 1947 was started by Carlos Dogny at Miraflores Beach, just outside Lima.

But it wasn’t until 1930’s when Carlos Dogny visited Hawaii and brought back the first surfboards to Peru that surfboard riding would become popular in Peru. In the following decades it would continue to grow. During the 1950’s, Peruvian surfboard building would develop and men such as Ramon Raguz and Fortunato Quesada to name a few became the early pioneers during the balsa and foam transition.

Another surfboard builder, who began in the 1960’s and still shapes today is Wayo Whilar. Wayo was born on the 8th of November, 1948 in Lima, Peru. His early years were spent in San Bartolo, a small town south of Lima. With the waves breaking in front of his cousin’s house young Wayo and his brothers would enjoy those days of mat and body surfing. Learning the many moods the ocean would show as the seasons changed.

One day his cousin Alberto Figari stopped by Wayo’s parent's house when he was around 12 years old. Alberto was one of the first surfers in the San Bartolo area and wanted to share the experience of surfing with his cousin. Alberto had two balsa surfboards with him. He says to Wayo "let go surfing tomorrow" and with a curious wonder Wayo agreed. Alberto had taken the boards off the car and Wayo tried lifting one of the boards. He recalled it was heavy and awkward and wasn’t quite sure at first about the what he was getting into.


Punta Hermosa

The next day Alberto took Wayo to Kon Tiki in Punta Hermosa. They watch two surfers turning and maneuvering across the face of the wave. Alberto knew what was involved in paddling and standing, but young Wayo was clueless after seeing two guys standing and going faster than he could with a mat or body surfing. After that moment he was hooked on the sport of surfing. This was something he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

Like many places around the world, surfing was becoming more popular and Peruvian surfers were on this same wave. Foam surfboards were arriving in Peru, but were more expensive compared to Hawaii and California from where they were made. Wayo couldn’t afford to buy a new surfboard so he was using Alberto or others that he knew.

The year was 1962 when Wayo was at Cerro Azul and was just about to return to Lima. He happened to notice a broken surfboard that had hit the pier and was abandon on the beach. Quickly picking it up, he took it home with him. Having done resin and fiberglass work on his cousin’s board, Wayo knew something about surfboard repairs. He peeled the existing fiberglass off and made himself his first surfboard.


Right to left: George Downing, Fred Hemmings,Felipe Pomar, Paul Strauch, Mike Doyle, Mickey Munoz, Ken Adler, Nat Young, and Carlos Rey an offical of the 1965 contest.

The 1960's were considered the Golden Years of Peruvian Surfing with its international surfing contests. In 1965, Peru was the host country for the 2nd World Surfing Championships which were held at Punta Rocas George Downing of the Hawaiian Surf Team had brought over a longboard with a modified pulled in nose. It was a little different than the boards he had been riding previously in Peru. Besides George, there were Richard “Bufflo” Keaulana, Fred Hemmings, Reno Abellira, and Paul Strauch. Wayo noticed the change of the outline and after the contest was over he began peeling another old longboard to reshape into a board that looked like the Hawaiian’s designs. A few of years later the mini-gun made its presents at the varies breaks around Lima.


Left to right: Miguel Plaza, Ricardo Arrarte, Jose C. Goddy, Dick Catri, Charlie Galanto, "Pollo" Arrarte, Mark Hemmings, Joaquin Miro Quesada, and Paul Strauch at a 1967 awards banquet.

In 1968 Dennis Choate and Leo Hetzel arrived in Lima to make some boards for Aldo Fasca. Aldo also had a shipping company and would import the varies materials for his surfboard factory.

Dennis and Leo would move on after a couple of years. Charlie Galanto arrives a short time later for a contest and starts shaping a few boards at Aldo’s. Ben Aipa too was in the contest and would shape some boards as well. Wayo would watch Charlie Galento and Ben Aipa shape, from watching the two very good shapers. Wayo improved his skills.


Around the horn left to right: Rafael Miro Quesada, Barry Kanaiaupuni, Luchio Miro Quesada, Michael Holmes, Dennis Gonzales, Hector Velarde, Ruben Miro, Jorge Vega (standing) Clyde Aikau, Jose A. Schinaffino, Eddie Aikau, Ben Aipa, and Butch Van Artsdalen 1969

From 1967 until the early 70’s Wayo was going to school at the local University majoring in Architecture. He would take his board to class and place it behind the door. When his last class was done, he would go surfing. Wayo paid his way through school by his board building. After graduating, he continued to work for Aldo for about 3 years on a part time basis. During this time Aldo lost interest in board building and offered the shop to his friend Wayo.


Wayo at Punta Rocas 1973 Wayo making the drop first behind Poncho Awapara

Wayo accepted the offer and would begin his first surf factory. He would shape, glass, sand and polish his boards. One day at the beach Wayo met Alan Sitt while surfing and they got to talking. Both Alan and Wayo were into building surfboards and would soon become friends.

Then Wayo began making boards with Alan Sitt for about 10 years. Wayo shaped while Alan shaped and glassed. Wayo's younger brother Milton would take over the glassing after Alan left. Milton glassed for Wayo for about 20 years before shaping and starting his own surfboards in the 1990's.

Wayo and other shapers of the 1970's contributed to Peru's surfing future. Providing surfboards when times were difficult and keeping a steady flow of new designs.

Along with the surfboard changes Wayo moved his shop to Barranco a suburb of Lima, where his shop is still there today. When the 1980's and the Tri-fin movement arrived, materials were more available and the economy was better.

Alan Sitt next his balsa shape of 1974

Wayo experimented with different rail contours, bottom and deck rockers, and the many different variations of concave and channel bottoms.

With the rebirth of the longboard, Wayo offered both long and short board designs to the next generation of up and coming surfers.


Wayo and friend on the beach 1978


Wayo and his shapes 1983


Wayo with his balsa fun shape 1985

Al Merrick and Wayo Whilar 1993

In the 1990’s a new horizon appeared for Wayo, CAD-CAM, computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing. Wayo was very much interested in taking his surfboards to a newer level. Having made a jig to place a certain bottom and deck rocker on certain boards exactly the same each time. Wayo appreciated what a computerized setup could do.


Wayo with his rocker template

Wayo used the services of a California computerized shaping machine shop and started receiving pre-finished shapes of his designs. After awhile talking to a few friends and keeping an eye out for newer ways, Wayo came across the Dat Designer.


Wayo and his shaping machine

A software and hardware tool that gave Wayo another option in designing and shaping. He would take a trip to Australia and meet John Gillis, the man to see concerning the Dat Designer. After learning his new tool Wayo’s ability to machine and hand shape a board gave him an edge that he would further develop into the 2000’s.


Mateo and Sofia Mulanovich

Some of the notable surfer that surfed for Wayo were: Titi de Col in 1988 a National Champion, Magoo de La Rosa in 1990’s a three time National Champion, Roberto Meza who placed 9th in a ASP contest at Punta Rocas in 1994. There was also a young Sofia Mulanovich, whose surfing progressed through Wayo’s shapes. She would go on to become a woman’s world surfing champion.


Titi de Col


Magoo de La Rosa


Roberto Meza


Wayo, center in his shop 2003

Wayo Whilar has seen the changes that Peruvian surfing and board building has gone through since the 1960’s. Still shaping today, his understanding of surfboard hydrodynamics places him with the elite group of master shapers.


Roberto Carcelen 1990's

The most gratifying feeling for Wayo regarding shaping is, when a friend, customer or team rider stops by his shop and tells him about the performance of his boards. With a smile on their face, they would express how their life is back together because their new board has taken them to their next level of surfing.


Titi de Col 1990's

Having confidence under their feet when dropping into a wave. Turning without draw backs of losing speed. Making sections that were once out of reach and the anticipation of going beyond their limits.


Fabio, Mart,and Luciano, Team Wayo Whilar 1991

Hearing such remarks is priceless in Wayo mind. It makes him want to make another board and push the envelope of progression even more.


Mr. and Mrs. Wayo Whilar