Famous surfers
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This is a list of people associated with surfing or surf culture.
Name | Lifespan | Nationality | Reason for fame |
---|---|---|---|
Alana Blanchard | 1990– | USA | Women's Pipeline Championship winner |
Andy Irons | 1978–2010 | Haw | Three-time world champion 2002–2004 |
Antony Garrett Lisi | 1968– | USA | Physicist. |
Barton Lynch | 1963– | Aus | 1988 World Champion, won 17 world tour events |
Bethany Hamilton | 1990– | USA | Victim of a much-publicised shark attack. |
Bill Andrews | 1944– | USA | Among first to surf Black's Beach in La Jolla, CA |
Bob Pike | 1940–1999 | Aus | Noted big wave surfer |
Bob Simmons | 1919–1954 | USA | Father of the modern surfboard |
Bobby Martinez | 1986– | USA | 2006 Rookie of the Year |
Bruce Brown | 1937– | USA | Surfing film maker and early pioneer of the surf film |
Bruce Irons | 1979– | Haw | Professional surfer and younger brother of three-time world champion Andy Irons |
Bud Browne | 1912–2008 | USA | Pioneer surf film maker, the first filmmaker to show surf movies commercially |
Butch van Artsdalen | 1941–1979 | Haw | The original Mr. Pipeline |
Buzzy Trent | 1929–2006 | USA | Pioneer of big wave surfing |
Carissa Moore | 1992– | Haw | 2011 ASP Women's World Champion, youngest female ever to win |
Cass Collier | RSA | 1999 World Big Wave Champion | |
Chelsea Hedges | 1983– | Aus | 2005 world title holder |
Cheyne Horan | 1960– | Aus | World championship runner-up 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1982 |
Cheyne Magnusson | 1984– | USA | Professional surfer and one of the stars of MTV's reality show Maui Fever |
CJ Hobgood | 1979– | USA | 2001 World Champion |
Clay Marzo | 1989– | USA | Three NSSA National surfing titles, a nomination for Maneuver of the Year at the 2007 Surfer Magazine Poll and Video Awards |
Coco Ho | 1991– | Haw | Women's ASP World Tour surfer, Michael Ho's daughter |
Corky Carroll | 1947– | USA | Five Time U.S. Champion, 3 Time International Professional Champion, International Big Wave Champion, World Small Wave Champion |
Dale Velzy | 1927–2005 | USA | 1950s surf shop pioneer and surfboard design innovator |
Dale Webster | 1948– | USA | Northern California surfer who surfed over 10,407 days in a row, minimum of 3 waves a day. Appeared in the Step Into Liquid movie. |
Damien Hobgood | 1979– | USA | Professional surfer from Satellite Beach, Florida |
Dave Kalama | 1964– | Haw | Qindsurfing and paddleboard champion |
David Nuuhiwa | 1948– | USA | Legendary nose rider from the 1960's |
Dennis Wilson | 1944–1983 | USA | Founding member of The Beach Boys |
Derek Ho | 1964– | Haw | 1993 World Champion, Michael Ho's younger brother |
Dewey Weber | 1938–1993 | USA | Surfer and surfboard designer |
Donald Takayama | 1943–2012 | USA | Master's division of the United States Surfing Champions 1971, 1972 and 1973 |
Donavon Frankenreiter | 1972– | USA | Surfer and musician |
Drew Kampion | 1944– | USA | Surf writer and editor, editor of Surfer Magazine (1968–71), author of Stoked: A History of Surf Culture, The Way of the Surfer, The Book of Waves, etc. |
Duke Paoa Kahanamoku | 1890–1968 | Haw | US Olympic Swimming Champion, Hawaiian Personality. The Father of Modern Surfing. Made appearances in Hollywood films (Mr. Roberts with Henry Fonda and Wake of the Red Witch with John Wayne). |
Eddie Aikau | 1946–1978 | Haw | Award-winning surfer and lifeguard |
Felipe Pomar | 1943– | Peru | 1965 World Champion |
Frieda Zamba | 1965– | USA | Four time world women's surfing champion 1984-1986 and 1988. |
Fred Hemmings | 1946– | Haw | 1968 World Champion |
George Freeth | 1883–1919 | Haw | "The Father of Modern Surfing" |
George Greenough | 1941– | USA/Aus | 1960s kneeboard, shortboard, inventor and surf movies. |
Gerry Lopez | 1948– | Haw | "Mr.Pipeline", Founder of Lightning Bolt surfboards and Actor (played role of Subotai in Conan the Barbarian) |
Greg Noll | 1937– | USA | Big wave pioneer, rode biggest wave of his era at Makaha |
Heather Clark | 1972– | RSA | 2001 Hawaiian Triple Crown champion |
Holly Beck | 1980– | USA | 2000 Explorer Women's Western Surfing Champion, 2000 College Women's National title |
Ian Cairns | 1952– | Aus | Champion surfer in the late 1970s |
Isabel Letham | 1899–1995 | Aus | First Australian to surf. |
Ishita Malaviya | 1991– | India | First Indian female surfer |
Jack London | 1876–1916 | USA | Writer, Hawaiian surfer |
Jack O'Neill | 1923– | USA | Surfer and inventor of the modern wetsuit |
Jacqueline Silva | 1979– | Bra | Pioneer in Brazilian women's surfing |
Jamie O'Brien | 1983– | Haw | Professional surfer |
Jay Moriarity | 1978–2001 | USA | At age 16, his wipeout at Mavericks was caught on film and made the cover of Surfer magazine |
Jeff Hakman | 1958– | Haw | Surfing champion of the 1970s |
Jeremy Flores | 1988– | Fra | 2007 WCT Rookie of the Year |
Jesse Brad Billauer | 1979– | USA | Quadriplegic surfer |
Jessi Miley-Dyer | 1986– | Aus | Professional surfer from New South Wales, Australia |
Jim Fuller | 1947– | USA | Lead guitarist and co-song writer of the famous 1960s rock band, The Surfaris |
Jimmy Blears | 1948–2011 | Haw | 1972 World Champion |
Joel Parkinson | 1981– | Aus | Professional surfer. ASP World Title 2012. |
Joel Tudor | 1976– | USA | Famous contemporary longboarder |
Joey Buran | 1961– | USA | Won the 1984 Pipe Masters and 1998 ASP Masters World Championship |
John John Florence | 1992– | Haw | Won the 2011 Vans World Cup of Surfing, the youngest winner |
John Whitmore | 1929–2001 | RSA | South African surfing pioneer. |
Jordy Smith | 1988– | RSA | Professional surfer |
Joyce Hoffman | 1947– | USA | US Women's Champion 1965–67 |
Keala Kennelly | 1978– | USA | Professional surfer, surfer DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii |
Kelly Slater | 1972– | USA | 11-time World Champion |
Kem Nunn | 1948– | USA | Avid surfer and America's leading surf novelist |
Ken Bradshaw | 1952– | USA | North Shore hellman |
Laird Hamilton | 1964 | USA | Big wave rider and tow-in surfing inventor. |
Lakey Peterson | 1994– | USA | Professional surfer |
Laura Enever | 1991– | Aus | 2009 ASP Women's World Junior Champion |
Layne Beachley | 1972– | Aus | Seven times ASP World Champion, founder of 'Aim For The Stars' |
Linda Benson | 1944– | USA | 1959 Makaha International Champion, U.S. Champion: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1968 |
Lisa Andersen | 1969– | USA | Four-time world surfing champion 1994–1997 |
Lynne Boyer | 1956– | USA | First two time world surfing champion 1978 & 1979 |
Malia Manuel | 1993– | Haw | 2008 US Open Champion (youngest ever) |
Margo Oberg | 1953– | Haw | Three-time world champion 1977, 1980 & 1981 |
Mark Foo | 1958–1994 | Haw | Professional surfer. Died while surfing at Mavericks. |
Mark Occhilupo | 1966– | Aus | 1999 world champion |
Mark Richards | 1957– | Aus | 4-time World Champion 1979–1982 |
Mark Visser | 1983– | Aus | Big-wave surfer, the "Night Rider" |
Martin Potter | 1965– | RSA | 1989 World Champion |
Maya Gabeira | 1987– | Bra | Surfed the biggest wave ever by a female at 45ft |
Maz Quinn | 1976– | NZ | Pro New Zealand surfer |
Megan Abubo | 1978– | Haw | Professional female surfer from Hawaii. |
Michael Ho | 1957– | Haw | Won Hawaiian Triple Crown, Duke Classic, World Cup and 1982 Pipe Masters |
Michael Peterson | 1952–2012 | Aus | Australian champion 1972 & 1974 |
Mick Fanning | 1981– | Aus | Won 2007, 2009 and 2013 ASP World Tour |
Mickey Muñoz | 1937– | USA | Early surfing pioneer, also famous as a surfboard shaper |
Midget Farrelly | 1944– | Aus | Won the inaugural World Surfing Championship in 1964 |
Mike Diffenderfer | 1937–2002 | USA | Surfer and shaper |
Mike Doyle | 1941– | USA | Surf/paddle champion, innovator. 1965 World Champion. Winner, 1968 Duke Kahanamoku Contest. |
Mike Hynson | USA | Star of Endless Summer and surf board shaper who taught Robert August how to shape | |
Mike Parsons | 1965– | Surfed largest recorded wave of 70ft at Cortes Bank | |
Mike Stewart | 1963– | Haw | 9-time World Bodyboarding Champion |
Miki Dora | 1936–2002 | USA | |
Nat Young | 1947– | Aus | World surfing champion 1966 & 1970, ASP World Longboard Tour Champion 1986 & 1988–1990. Tried to register surfing as an official religion. |
Nick Gabaldon | 1927–1951 | California's first documented surfer of Black and Hispanic descent | |
Owen Wright | 1990– | Aus | Won 2011 Quiksilver Pro |
Paige Hareb | (NZ) | ||
Pam Burridge | 1965– | Aus | 1990 women's world champion |
Pauline Menczer | 1970– | Aus | 1988 amateur world champion, 1993 world champion |
Pete Peterson | 1952– | USA | Three time World Champion |
Peter Townend | 1953– | Aus | 1976 World Champion |
Phillip Hoffman | 1930–2010 | American big wave pioneer and surf apparel company executive | |
Phyllis O'Donnell | 1937– | Aus | In 1964 won the inaugural women's World Championship Surfing Title at Manly Beach |
Rell Sunn | 1950–1988 | Haw | A top female surfer of the 1980s, known as the "Queen of Makaha" |
Reno Abellira | 1950– | Haw | Smirnoff World Pro/Am winner in 1974 |
Richie Collins | 1969– | USA | (surfer/shaper) 1988 O'Neill Coldwater Classic champ, Won the 1989 Op Pro, Won the 1992 Bells Beach Classic. |
Ricky Hatch | Surfer from Hermosa Beach, California | ||
Rob Machado | 1973– | USA | Won Pipeline Masters and U.S. Open of Surfing |
Robert August | 1945– | USA | Surfer and Surfboard Designer |
Robert "Wingnut" Weaver | Featured, along with Patrick O'Connell, in The Endless Summer II surf film. | ||
Rochelle Ballard | 1971– | Haw | |
Rolf Aurness | 1952– | USA | 1970 World Champion |
Sally Fitzgibbons | 1990– | Aus | Multi ASP World Tour title-holder |
Shane Beschen | 1972– | Haw | Professional surfer |
Shane Dorian | 1972– | Haw | Pro surfer. |
Sharon Webber | USA | Women's world surfing championship in 1970 & 1972 | |
Shaun Tomson | 1955– | USA | Born in South Africa, currently living in the USA, 1977 World Champion |
Simon Anderson | 1954– | Aus | First advocate of the three-finned surfboard, the "thruster," early 1980s |
Skip Frye | 1941– | USA | Legendary stylist and surfboard shaper |
Sofía Mulánovich | 1983– | Peru | First South American to win the World Title in 2004 |
Stacey Peralta | 1957– | USA | Z-Boy |
Stephanie Gilmore | 1988– | Aus | 2007 ASP World Champion |
Sunny Garcia | 1970– | Haw | 2000 World Champion |
Taj Burrow | 1978– | Aus | 1998 ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year, many ASP Tour wins |
Tiago Pires | 1980– | Por | |
Tim Baker | Aus | Journalist, former editor of Tracks and Australia's Surfing Life magazines. | |
Tom Blake | 1902–1994 | USA | Early American Surfer, inventor of the Skeg |
Tom Curren | 1964– | USA | World champion three times - 1985, 1986, 1990, and won 33 championship events in his professional career. |
Tyler Wright | 1994– | Aus | 2011 ASP Women's World Tour Rookie of the Year |
Wayne Bartholomew | 1954– | Aus | 1978 World Champion |
Wayne Lynch | 1952– | Aus | |
Wayne Miyata | 1942–2005 | USA | California and Hawaii, "going tubular" in Endless Summer, famous color glosser |
Wendy Botha | 1965– | Aus | Four-time world surfing champion |
Wes Laine | 1960– | A top 10 ASP World Championship Tour competitor - Wins: 1984 World Cup Sunset Beach, 1983 OP-Pro Atlantic City, 1985 Spur Ranch, Cape Town, South Africa, 2nd Place 1983 Rip-Curl Pro, Bells Beach |