In 1962 or 1963 an instrumental was played on popular radio in Southern California; the only spoken part was at the very start:
[Jubilant unintelligible cheering sound],
“Wipeout!”
My sister always insisted that’s the real word; I always thought it was “Lights out!” (Well, that’s what happens to the surfer who wipes out; I used to know one in high school who wiped out really bad the summer after our sophomore year, and for the whole junior year he wore a brace on his neck.)
I’m not a surfer myself; I don’t even swim very well.
Gee, an easy one - the Surfari’s
Thanx 
About May 1963 I heard a tragic song on a local AM station, titled simply “Surfin’ Man” (“ride, ride, ride with the breakers/Ride, ride, ride, Surfin’ Man”) in which the surfer had a fatal wipeout. 
Can’t resist, since you’ve already got your answer…
Cowabunga!
… in the late 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, I hated getting requests for that tune, because all it was, was a marching cadence with guitar music. I always played it for the folks though, and with a smile, too.
Some dude, trying to impress his lady, once gave me a 50 dollar tip.
God, y’all! I loved those days! The only regret I have is that my son never got to see me play. I’m on a few loser records, though…:rolleyes:
My mom, who was German, always thought the beginning of Wipeout was (the laughter and then…) Mein Bauch!
“Bauch” being the German word for belly.
Quasi
Funny thing here is that “Wipe Out” was a B-side.
I just want to say that surf music rocks. That’s all.
I’m gonna screw up the details, names, dates, etc. but here goes…
The drum portion of the song was originally written by the Surfari’s drummer (insert name here) for the (insert college name here) marching band. (I think it was USC.) It had a very high intensity that reminded him of Dick Dale’s guitar work thus it was used as the background of Wipeout.
The drummer’s name was David Raven. He’s a well known studio musician, he’s currently working with pop/Christian artist Amy Grant.
The school you’re looking for was Charter Oak High School. The cadence for Wipe Out was the cadence for the Charter Oak Marching Band.
Damn, I was a radio DJ for too long to know all this stuff.
I’m getting old…
Hmm… you did say you were getting old 
The drummer on the original recording was Ron Wilson, not David Raven. Raven is the drummer for one of the two current incarnations of the band. Original lead guitarist Jim Fuller and Sax man Jim Pash lead the version with Raven; Rhythm Guitarist Bob Berryhill heads another which consists of his wife and sons. Both have rights to the band name.
As far as the marching band cadence, Charter Oak could be correct (Wilson went to high school there), however, Berryhill insists Wilson got it from the Glendora High School Tartan Scottish Marching Band (Berryhill’s Alma Mater). Since Ron Wilson died in 1989, we can’t ask him.
That’s called laughter.