BUTCH VAN ARTSDALEN: Untold Tales of THE FIRST Mr. Banzai Pipeline

Dive into the unbelievable and short life of Butch Van Artsdalen, a multifaceted legend who embodied the true spirit of surfing. Experience his journey from the rambunctious Windansea Beach scene to becoming the first 'Mr. Pipeline,' showcasing his groundbreaking performances at the notorious Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. This tribute captures the highs and lows of his brief but impactful life, celebrating the enduring legacy of a true surfing icon.
Music:
Dave Love Band - Colalined Baby
Gasoline Powered Clock- Forest Fire on Main St.
Sonny Red- Red, Blue and Green
House Of Lilly- Situations
Additional Imagery:
Tim McCullough
Sue Murphy
Col. Albert Benson
John Elwell
Ron Church
david darling
Clarence Maki
Bruce Brown
Art Brewer
Jose "Chafi" Schiaffino
Dick Friske
Grant Rohloff
Brian Hughes
Duke Boyd
Tim McCullough
Kalai Ahuna
Greg MacGillvary
Jim Freeman
Lori Productions
Bruce Brown
Leroy Grannis
John K. Wheldon
John Severson
Mike Burner
Terry Blevins
Dale Davis
Bev Morgan
Channel 8
Jenny Kacerk
Dr. Don James
The Surfer’s Journal -
Fred Hemmings -
Annette Lucas
Encyclopedia of Surfing
Remembering Butch - Douglas Cavanaugh
#surfhistory #butchvanartsdalen #realsurfstories

[@thatlovejones]

Lot of people tried to help him in his last years, but he just couldn’t stop drinking. I lived on the North Shore for decades, stories about him were everywhere. His fighting skills were legendary, even among the local guys, who are the toughest MF’s I have ever known. Many great surfers back then were iconoclasts, rebels, wild men. Butch was the king of all that. His legend lives on.

[@jobhiojkp]

I don't think he even made it to 40, did he? 'Course, I doubt hanging out at the Flu Box helped his health much. I'm surprised Hussong's wasn't on that list too.

[@r.g.3636]

thank you so much for this rare long video on such a beautiful legend named Butch,,, i will always treasure and share this video you put together for us..... you really brought back a lot of memories of my 40 years living at windn'sea...... thank you..... Butch was a good man...... we all have challenges in life...... alcohol sucks the life right out of us.... i finally stopped drinking the shit at age 73 and feel soooooo much better in life now...... roy....

[@r.g.3636]

i lived in la jolla ,, windn'sea, from babyhood to a 40 year old adult,,, i was at a party at a mansion in la jolla once,, and my really good black friend named "Hawk" said come here roy,, i want you to meet a friend of mine,, so i go over and shook hands with a legend named Butch Van Artsdalen,,, little did i know as a grom,, whos hand i was shaking....!!!! i will always remember that....!!! and i would see Butch hanging at the windn'sea parking lot etc...... sooooooo many surfing legends came from L.J. ,, windn'sea....... i miss them ...... God bless them all.....!!!! roy stockton God bless them all.....!!!!!

[@fronts3165]

Best one so far! ❤

[@windansea6702]

Butch was the best of everything, today he would be a superstar and in my mind he is one.

[@markhale8084]

The compilation of Butch’s surfing was awesome, have long been amazed with his ability to switch his stance in critical situations on serious waves like Waimea, Sunset, Honolua Bay, and even Pipe (as well as on non-serious waves like when he is at Lahaina Harbor…sad to see the Pioneer, stayed there myself because of this very footage). Butch lived large, a true legend.

[@heroesofthegreen]

Well done! IMHO the best all around Surfer of his time.

[@blakeherrmann9784]

That was awesome. Thanks for sharing that for all of us.

[@mjl.9-19]

I'm 75, from Hawaii, as a kid i had heard of him as Mr Pipeline from the big surf movies and mags, he was an icon...never saw him in person, as I never went north shore to surf, nor did I know there was so much film of his switch foot and smooth style. Longboard no leash days.

[@dougwotton1046]

Excellent little Bio on Butch 👍💯! A true surfing legend 💪.

[@donkeller1233]

Nice tribute. Really well done, and nice sound track.

[@thomasrichardson-ev1wp]

My brother and I first met Butch in Baja Mexico during the San Miguel surfing invitational in Ensenada. We were in Hudson’s cantina and we were all very drunk at about 2:30 am The place had cleared out and my brother and I didn’t have a ride back to the where the contest wea being held. Butch told us to hop into is beat up car and off we went with Butch barely able to keep the car on the rode. Later that year we went to the islands with Las Olas surf team to surf in the Makaha surf contest. During the trip my brother padded out at Pipeline where he saw Butch. He asked him how it was going and he responded not well. I can’t get a wave. Butch responded and no problem. Follow me and I’ll yell out my wave and you can take it. Great guy

[@ericcopple169]

My friend's dad used to tell us stories about Butch, today I know they were true. Thank you for this thoughtful video. 🙏

[@mikeelder6146]

Great show!! Thanks for putting it together and sharing it with us.

[@johncamp2172]

I saw him in 73 Jumps off the tower and paddle out to 3rd reef Ripping perfect timing Great lifeguard and one of the best watermen ever

[@gcoinhistorian]

My favorite surfer ever. I'm friends with his sister.

[@kevindukes3012]

Did Butch ever have kids?

[@michaelpanagiotis7109]

Yes , He has a daughter . . .

[@mikebecker9791]

His switch foot a Sunset is the best I've ever seen.

[@evrgreen_69]

Only knew of him from Endless Summer where I think? Bruce mentions his name, Had no idea he was such a switch stance ripper! Total legend thanks so much for this it was very well done!💯🤙

[@joegibbs2508]

Thanks for finding, and putting, all these great photos and films of Butch into a video. He was a great person to meet. And through this video I got to know him a little more. His switch stance surfing was great. It reminded me of another great switch stance surfer from La Jolla, Dale Dobson.

[@surfleopard]

Thanks for crediting my book "Remembering Butch." Honored to assist in remembering so great a surfer. Just two small corrections, if I may? He never wrestled in high school (brother Marvin did). And Bla James never mentored him (Butch was already well-established at WindanSea by the time Bla, Manong and Boots Matthews arrived in La Jolla). Other than that, looks great!

[@RealSurfStories]

Thank you very much for the outstanding history on an important and very overlooked surfing icon.

[@jrhamp]

Grew up in South Bay...Pier Avenue for elementary school. Went to the jazz bar in Hermosa Beach with parent called The Lighthouse. Across the street was hippie type hangout..later years, to San Miguel trying to shoot the breakwater..still have the rock scars on my leg. Lots of fond memories of days long past. It was truly a gifted time during the "surg summer" "ski winter" times. I am certain many remember...RH

[@RealSurfStories]

Classic!!

[@spaceghost_1]

Very well, done video lots of good footage love hearing the history of surfing and all the great surfers from the past

[@joeblow1942]

Great story. My brother in law knew and surfed with Butch in La Jolla and on the North Shore.

[@paulakiu5793]

He would come to Makaha to visit Buffalo Keaulana and I would be in awe of 2 of the legendary watermen ,great surfers and lifeguards.

[@chrisgardner6677]

I was blessed to have met Butch when I was a teenager living at Pipe...

[@BruceBohannon-cs6is]

Last time i saw Butch was on a return trip from town to buy materials 4 Ed s surf shop across from Sunset beach as we rounded the corner at Waimea there he was with Tiger Espere singing to a full moon Aloha Didle

[@user-rf7kc4ev6t]

Kinda cool watching Butch at Waimea the night before the Eddie.

[@THISOLDOUTBOARD1]

that's why I'm here! Hahaha

[@williammartin2842]

He packed more fun into 38 years than most fit into 90.

[@stevemcelvaney5534]

Great video. Thanks

[@markpolinsky5560]

My really good friend who lived @ Windansea for years told me stories of Butch , back in the day.

[@YO3A007]

met him once at The Lot. Brud McGowen was there and other friends and the beer was flowing. Lotta characters at the lot. I swear, I was just an innocent bystander.

[@r.g.3636]

i lived in la jolla ,, windn'sea, from babyhood to a 40 year old adult,,, i was at a party at a mansion in la jolla once,, and my really good black friend named "Hawk" said come here roy,, i want you to meet a friend of mine,, so i go over and shook hands with a legend named Butch Van Artsdalen,,, little did i know as a grom,, whos hand i was shaking....!!!! i will always remember that....!!! and i would see Butch hanging at the windn'sea parking lot etc...... sooooooo many surfing legends came from L.J. ,, windn'sea....... i miss them ...... God bless them all.....!!!! roy stockton God bless them all.....!!!!!

[@larrypierce508]

Amazing surfer !

[@chrismartin8900]

Great edit TR thanks for sharing!!

[@RealSurfStories]

Thanks Chris! See you @playacolorado lets make a movie of you and your crew's 2025 trip!

[@caseyhansen4567]

Thanks for doing this video.i have an old picture of him in hawaii.cheap print.but great inspiration for us goofyfooter

[@patrick1406]

My uncle was friends with Butch back in the 60s. As a kid i grew up around my uncle and also this old shaper guy George Lanning who was a family friend and a close friend of Butch growing up. He contributed stories to that book written about Butch a few years back. Both gone now RIP.

[@LaurenceCurrier]

Roy, this is Laurence. I graduated LJ high 1970, I knew Hawk.

[@dennisthemenace57]

Pure surfing,

[@scottfoster3548]

I think I saw him snake Dora at 13:19 HILARIOUS, Da Cat gets it. I love watching the old surf movies JUST to watch Miki Dora and Butch they are easy to pick out in the background

[@wasabiginger6993]

Remember Dora & Fain ... Malibu early 60's ... iconic! So I wondering who he snaked ... was so funny

[@charlesschuster7963]

Ya really pronounce "Kahanamoku" correctly... I only (just sorta) met him in his later days as I pulled a kid in from large Pipe, through the rip, and to the beach. Butch got there, said thanks, but heck I was honored to be recognized. Took a full 8' Pipe set on the head, with the kid panicked and screaming, but all's well that ends well.

[@longlife_surf]

Legend

[@SMC4117]

If it wasn’t for surfing… I’d be dead!

[@WillyCLARKE-g8c]

Love the switch foot

[@freddorey]

what a legend

[@bobwallace4198]

Butch was the best ,had a lot of hart take care man.

[@michaelpanagiotis7109]

Butchie was RadicaL ! Kimo HoLLinger at the end speaking so reaL abount His Friend . . .

[@davidtreichelpppj5304]

Where did you get all that footage....and Photos ? ..... I've know about him for years and years ... but all I ever saw was very short stories and 1 or 2 pictures... This is the collection I was looking for . Thanks

[@GaryPalmer-i9t]

Wow so young alcoholism is a sad disease.

[@thegentleorchestra]

Love it great doc totally dig it. I have a question about one of the songs you used. It’s a cover of the great Henry Mancini Johnny Mercer Moon River tune. Is that Grant Green doing it?

[@RealSurfStories]

It's Sonny Red

[@thegentleorchestra]

@ thank you 🙏

[@RealSurfStories]

@@thegentleorchestra Thanks Spides! Such an epic tune.

[@septichank4489]

Excellent video....thanks for posting. The sonny ted blue moon cut is really tasty....whats the last song ? Guys got a little but of coltranes phrasing but not exactly.....or is it just more sonny red? Anyway, great video thanks for making it

[@lg5683]

I meant Butch and he was nice to us.

[@supahotmen8960]

Awesome bio! Anyone know who sings the song at 21:45?

[@RealSurfStories]

House Of Lilly- Situations

[@SMC4117]

Nobody gets out alive 🤷🏼‍♂️🏄🏼‍♂️

[@znostreet5313]

You wonder about his thoughts on the essence of surfing being lost by the new generation and the battle that waged within him

[@brucerobeson6760]

"Black Butch"...

[@lupodisol]

You missed one. Butch was an alcoholic. One time I saw him at Husonn’s in Ensenada, Mexico after drinking too much which would change his personality almost immediately, like a scene with Hemingway in the a scene of the film Midnight in Paris…pissed off for no reason at all saying “does anyone want to FIGHT!!!!” Given this, butch was a fabulous athlete.

[@RealSurfStories]

You definitely didn't watch the video.

[@PeteyBoyCentralCoastJJbros]

🤙🏿🤙🏿🔥

[@JohnDoe-lc9yj]

Military troop trucks did not have keys during this time period.

[@RealSurfStories]

Key, toggle switch, whatever, another classic Butch story

[@fredmitchel1236]

Why be angry and fight....? Weird

[@James-nc2zx]

Thanks TR you rule brother. East Side .

[@bonsummers2657]

Great film on Butch, much appreciated. But, why was he depressed? Over-drinking? Lousy diet? Also, do a film on David Eggers,… and just cover his main surfing years,… with all due respects. It would be great to see more film of him surfing from about 1980, or earlier, to 1990. David's brother could help on that, plus their Dad.

[@RealSurfStories]

Great questions. Over drinking for sure. Eggers story would be a great one, I knew him...another freak SD talent. However, like Butch's, it would be incomplete without the whole story. So many great and super interesting goofy footers came out of there. Todd Martin, Pat Maus and Doug Silva for starters.

[@donkeller1233]

Severe depression isn't a choice.