Most Influential Surfers

Tom Curren was an American surfer.

Duke Kahanamoku acted in "Mister Roberts," "Isle of Sunken Gold," and "I Sailed to Tahiti With an All Girl Crew."

Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972) is an American professional surfer, author, actor, model, environmental activist, businessman, and innovator. He is best known for his 11 world surfing championships. People regard him as the greatest professional surfer of all time.

Simon Anderson (born July 7, 1954) is an Australian competitive surfer, surfboard shaper, and writer. He invented the three-fin surfboard design, called the "thruster," in 1980.

Mark Richards (born March 7, 1957), known as MR, is an Australian surfer. He won four world championships from 1979 to 1982. Peers respect him highly.

Greg Noll, born February 11, 1937, earned the nickname "Da Bull" from Phil Edwards because of his physique and how he charged down waves. Noll pioneered big wave surfing in America. He also shaped longboards. Noll joined a US lifeguard team. That team introduced Malibu boards to Australia near the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Noll also made a legendary series of five Search for Surf movies.

Miklos Sandor Dora III (August 11, 1934 – January 3, 2002), known as Miki Dora, was a noted surfer in Malibu, California, during the 1950s and 1960s. Dora earned many names like "Mickey Dora," "The Black Knight," "the Gypsy Darling," "Malibu Mickey," "Kung'Bu," "the Fiasco Kid," "El Taquache," and "Da Cat."

Philip Andrew Irons (July 24, 1978 – November 2, 2010) was an American professional surfer. Irons started surfing with his brother Bruce on the shallow, dangerous waves of Kauai, Hawaii. A local surfboard brand spotted him and flew him to North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii to compete and develop his skill. Irons won three world titles (2002, 2003, 2004), three Quiksilver Pro France titles (2003, 2004, 2005), two Rip Curl Pro Search titles (2006 and 2007), and 20 elite tour victories, including four Vans Triple Crown of Surfing wins.

John "John" Alexander Florence (born October 18, 1992) is an American professional surfer. He is known as "one of the most dominant Pipe surfers of his era." Florence won the 2017 World Surf League Men's Champion title, putting him even with his rival Gabriel Medina in world titles. Florence became the first Hawaii-born surfer to win back-to-back world titles since Andy Irons.

Bruce Alan Brown (December 1, 1937 – December 10, 2017) was an American documentary film director. Brown pioneered the surf film and was the father of filmmaker Dana Brown.

Michael "MP" Peterson (September 24, 1952 – March 29, 2012) was a professional Australian surfer. He earned recognition as one of Australia's top surfers in the early to mid-1970s. Peterson showed deep tube riding skill, especially at Kirra on the Gold Coast, Australia. He won the Australian championship in 1972 and 1974, among other major surfing events. Peterson later received a schizophrenia diagnosis and became public after using illegal drugs.

Sean Robb Collins started Surfline. He became a known figure in surfing and surf forecasting.

Layne Collette Beachley, born May 24, 1972, is a former professional surfer from Manly, New South Wales. She won the World Championship seven times. Layne currently chairs Surfing Australia (SA), found at www.surfingaustralia.com.

Laird John Hamilton, born March 2, 1964, is an American big-wave surfer. He co-invented tow-in surfing and sometimes models for fashion and action sports. Laird is married to Gabrielle Reece, a professional volleyball player, television personality, and model.

Martin "Pottz" Potter, born October 28, 1965 in Blyth, Northumberland, England, was a former professional surfer.

Shane Dorian acted in "Momentum Generation."

Taj Burrow, born June 2, 1978, is a retired Australian professional surfer. Taj left the ASP World Tour in June 2016.

Marco Jay Luciano "Mark" Occhilupo, born February 12, 1966, is an Australian surfer. Occhilupo won the 1999 ASP World title. Occhilupo, also called "Occy," began his professional career on the World Championship Tour (WCT) at age 17.

Dane Reynolds, born September 7, 1985 in Long Beach, California, is an American professional surfer from Ventura, California. Reynolds uses a "go for broke" surfing style featuring many experimental and aerial moves. Reynolds started surfing at age 10 after moving from Bakersfield, California to Ventura. He honed his progressive style on the point breaks near Santa Barbara and Ventura. Reynolds first competed at age 13, dropping out of school at 16 to surf. Reynolds competed in the 2003 and 2004 X-Games and won the highest...

Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, born March 3, 1921 – November 10, 2014, was an American surfer and physician. He stopped practicing medicine to become a professional surfer. In 1972, he started a surf camp run by his family, letting campers live and surf with Paskowitz family members. His family is known as the "First Family of Surfing".

Stephanie Louise Gilmore is an Australian professional surfer. She won seven times on the Women's ASP World Tour (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018). Stephanie was born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia on January 29, 1988, and lives in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia.

Nicolás Rolando Gabaldón (February 23, 1927 – June 6, 1951) was an early surfer. Surfing experts credit him as California's first documented surfer of African-American and Latino descent. This happened while many beaches segregated people and limited opportunities for minorities. Gabaldón was an amateur recreational surfer, not a professional competitor. He remains a role model for his role in surfing history and African American history in Santa Monica and California. Gabaldón was born February 23, 1927, in Los Angeles, Cal.