Surf History

SURFERS’ HALL OF FAME HONORS EXTRAODINARY CLASS OF WATERMEN IN JULY

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 19 February, 2008 : - - Huntington Beach, Ca – What started as a glint in Surfers’ Hall of Fame founder Aaron Pai’s eye nearly 15 years ago is now an internationally recognized tourism destination and permanent tribute to surfing culture.  The nation’s first imprint collection of legendary surfers celebrates its 11th anniversary in July by honoring an extraordinary group of waterman including Mike Parsons, Brad Gerlach, Sean Collins and Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew.

The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 25 in front of Huntington Surf & Sport (corner of PCH and Main).

“Advancements in the sport of ‘Big Wave Surfing’ during the past ten years played a prominent role in the selection of this year’s inductees,” said Pai.  “Together Mike Parsons, Brad Gerlach and Sean Collins have played significant roles in pioneering this new frontier.  The chemistry and camaraderie among the three has helped redefine the sport.”

Pai added, “Sean Collins has literally transformed the way surfers chase waves around the world.  From Huntington Beach to Mexico and Fiji, the entire surf industry has come to rely on his expertise in surf forecasting.”

Styled after the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, which Pai visited as a youngster, the Surfers’ Hall of Fame is intended to “connect the generations of surfers with a lasting tribute and permanent public showcase for the achievements of those who have shaped and revolutionized the sport,” said Pai.  The standing room only crowd on induction day is testament to the landmark’s popularity and the surfing community’s acknowledgment of their heroes.

The Surfers’ Hall of Fame celebrated its first induction in 1997 inside of specialty retailer Huntington Surf & Sport where several slabs remain.  Four years later with the blessing of the City Council and a stunning bronze statue of sport’s spiritual leader Duke Kahanamoku serving as a backdrop, the ceremony moved outside to the corner of PCH and Main; less than 100 feet from the famed Huntington Beach Pier, site of the U.S. Open of Surfing.
 
Annually, tens of thousands of visitors to the downtown area literally walk in the footsteps of surfing superstars and legends from several eras including Laird Hamilton, Mike Doyle, Jack O’Neill, Robert August, Greg Noll, Jericho Poppler, Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen, Martin Potter, Al Merrick and Rob Machado who are already immortalized in cement.  The new inductees joining this esteemed group are:
   
Mike Parsons: The former NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association) champion is an ASP tour veteran, boasting a top 16 finish in 1987.  Known as “snips” during his competition days for an uncanny ability to cut through smaller surf, Parsons transformed his surfing in the late 90’s when he sought to tackle the largest behemoths on the planet. 

The San Clemente native successfully rode a 66-footer at Cortes Bank in 2001 to win the Billabong XXL and then upped the ante earlier this year by riding an estimated 80 foot wave in January.

Brad Gerlach: Another NSSA product and Huntington Beach High graduate, Gerlach broke into the ASP Top 16 in 1986 and stayed there until he finished runner-up in 1991.  “Gerr” then abruptly dropped off the tour, but continued to hone his surfing and ultimately embraced the burgeoning big wave movement. 

He towed Mike Parsons into a history-making wave in 2001 and Parson’s returned the favor in 2005, towing Gerlach into a 68-foot bomb at Todos Santos, Mexico.  Brad is the founder of the National Surf League (NSL), the revolutionary surfing competition format adopted by ESPN’s X Games.

Sean Collins: President, Chief Surf Forecaster, and Founder of Surfline.com, Collins was the first person to accurately forecast swells on a regular basis in the '70s and early '80s.  A surfer, sailor and self-taught meteorologist, he pioneered and created the first ongoing surf forecast available to the surfing public via Surfline and 976-SURF in 1985. 

He developed the very first live "Surfcam" in 1996, the precedent for the worldwide camera network available on Surfline.com today.  Collins was named one of the "25 Most Influential Surfers of the Century" by Surfer Magazine in the summer of 1999 and the "8th Most Powerful Surfer in the Surf Industry" by Surfer Magazine in the summer of 2002. 

Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew: Hailing from Australia’s famed Gold Coast Bartholomew was crowned world champion in 1978 and is a two-time “Masters” champion.  Currently president of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), Rabbit burst onto the international scene in 1975, an era during which saw the likes of Shaun Tomson, Mark Richards, Ian Cairns and Peter Townend vying for world titles. 

“Bugs” has had a huge influence on the sport from the ’70s through today, taking tube riding to new levels and mentoring such standout pros as Gary Elkerton and Sunny Garcia.  Bartholomew plays a prominent role in the all-new documentary, “Bustin Down the Door.”

The Surfers’ Hall of Fame inductees are selected by a committee of business owners, surfers and surf industry professionals based on contribution, dedication, integrity and revolution to the sport of surfing.  The Surfers Hall of Fame induction ceremony is open to the public, free-of-charge.  

http://hsssurf.com/hall.

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Cherie Whyte

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