Beloved, iconic surfboard shaper dies tragically in Thailand after horrific motorcycle accident.

"He was dodging the trailer at the intersection. The motorcycle was driving traveling fast."

News has broken, overnight, that Kym Thompson has died following a horrific motorcycle accident in Thailand. The iconic surfboard shaper, who founded the brand Watercooled in Torquay, Australia in 1975, had been living in Thailand for decades and working for Cobra surfboards.

Eyewitness Katawut Tangkaew told local press the motorbike Thompson was riding was traveling at high speed at the time of the crash. “He was dodging the trailer at the intersection. The motorcycle was driving traveling fast.”

Surveillance footage shows Thompson losing control as he attempted to dodge a truck pulling a trailer and slamming into an electrical pole then skidding along the ground.

First responders attempted CPR but Thompson’s injuries were too severe, including a broken neck and arms, and he died at the scene.

Cobra surfboards released a statement reading, “Kym was one of the Cobra Core Team members. He came to Cobra with his Water Cooled brand from Australia back in the 80s with the dream of shaping amazing boards and developing a mass-production solution for the surfboard industry. Kym achieved these goals and so many more along the way, a true industry legend that will be missed by many. Our condolences to the entire Thompson Clan.”

According to Legends of Surfing:

Kym Thompson started surfing in the long board era of the 60’s. He was a junior state champion and a well respected early member of the Seaview Road Board Riders Club where he earned the nickname “Roader”. He has been shaping since the age of 15 and his shapes are evolutions of decades of development transitioning some great designs in all forms.

In 1969 Kym started shaping for John Arnold’s in Adelaide, then moved to Don Burford’s in 1970. In 1971, Kym moved to the coastal town Torquay, seeing a bright future and the opportunity to surf the then uncrowded waves of the west coast of Victoria. In this period Kym shaped simultaneously for Ripcurl, Klemm-Bell and Pat Morgan and shortly after became the head shaper for Klemm-Bell Surfboards in Torquay.

For many years Kym has been based in Thailand where he was invited to join Cobra International company and he has been instrumental is setting up a world class surfboard production facility. This company has a vast and extensive background in composite construction methods which he recognised was to play a vital roll in the ongoing and future development of surfboard technologies and design. Today this platform continues to allow him to explore and bring new concepts and constructions methods which ultimately benefits manufacturers and consumers alike and he is able to continue to pursue his ideals to deliver quality products that set standards of excellence.

A funeral service is set to be held at the Samnak Bok temple in Chonburi, near Bangkok, from November 1 to 5.