Surfing isn’t just a sport-it’s a culture, a movement, and a way of life shaped by a handful of visionaries who dared to redefine what was possible on a wave. From the flamboyant artistry of Dewey Weber, whose “hot-dogging” style electrified Malibu and set the standard for modern surf performance, to the fearless big-wave exploits of legends like Laird Hamilton and the Willis brothers, these surfers have pushed boundaries, inspired generations, and left indelible marks on both the ocean and the industry. Whether setting world records, innovating board design, pioneering new techniques, or leading the charge for ocean safety, the seven influential surfers you’ll discover here are the icons every surf fan should know.
Watch Surfing History with Michael Willis on the Epic Surf Podcast
Influential Surfers: Performance
Dewey Weber
Dewey Weber: Biography and Influence on Hot Dog Surfing
Early Life and Background
• Dewey Weber (David Earl Weber) was born August 18, 1938, in Denver, Colorado, and moved to Manhattan Beach, California, at age five. He was a talented athlete, excelling in wrestling and becoming a national yo-yo champion before turning his focus to surfing.
Surfing Career and Accomplishments
• Weber began surfing at age nine and quickly became known for his compact, energetic style. He earned the nickname “The Little Man on Wheels” for his dynamic maneuvers, particularly at Malibu, where his hot-dogging style-featuring quick steps to the nose, kick stalls, whip turns, and arched-back noserides-set him apart.
• He was featured in nearly every major surf movie of the late 1950s and early 1960s and achieved competitive success, including a second-place finish at the 1964 United States Surfing Championships and multiple finals appearances at the Malibu Invitational.
Influence on Hot Dog Surfing
• Dewey Weber is credited with originating and popularizing “hotdogging,” a non-traditional, flashy style of surfing that emphasized tricks, style, and maneuverability over simply riding straight to the beach. His innovative moves-like head dips, spinners, and fin-first takeoffs-helped define the genre and inspired a generation of surfers to focus on performance and flair.
• By the 1960s, Weber was recognized as the leader of the hotdogging movement, with his kick stalls and whip turns initially dismissed but soon regarded as groundbreaking.
Entrepreneurship and Legacy
• In 1960, Weber founded Dewey Weber Surfboards in Venice Beach, pioneering surfboard marketing and design. He introduced model names for surfboards, developed the “cut-a-way” fin, and implemented innovative manufacturing techniques.
• His brand became internationally recognized, and his business acumen helped shape the surf industry, with Dewey Weber Surfboards becoming one of the top brands of its era.
Lasting Impact
• Dewey Weber’s influence endures both in the evolution of modern surfing styles and in the business of surf culture. His legacy as a hotdogging pioneer and industry leader remains celebrated, and his family continues to operate the Dewey Weber brand
David Nuuhiwa
David Nuuhiwa: Biography and Influence on Longboard Surfing and Noseriding
Background and Early Life
• David Nuuhiwa was born in Hawaii and began surfing at age six. He later moved to California, where he became immersed in the vibrant surf scene, particularly in Hermosa Beach.
Accomplishments
• Nuuhiwa rose to fame in the 1960s for his smooth, stylish approach and exceptional noseriding skills, often holding noserides for 10 seconds or more-a feat that set him apart in competitions.
• He won numerous contests, including the Surfer Magazine Peer Poll Award in 1966, and was a key figure in both the longboard and early shortboard eras.
• Nuuhiwa successfully transitioned to shortboard surfing in the 1970s, winning the US National title in 1971 and continuing to innovate with new board designs.
Influence on Longboard Surfing and Nose-riding
• Nuuhiwa is widely regarded as the finest noserider of his era. His technical, flowing style and open-kneed stance became the standard for noseriding, inspiring generations of surfers.
• The Bing David Nuuhiwa Noserider Model, designed for his unique style, remains one of the most respected noserider boards and heavily influenced modern longboard design.
• During the revival of longboarding in the 1980s and 1990s, Nuuhiwa continued to lead, developing new longboard shapes and winning contests, reinforcing his legacy in the sport.
Legacy
• David Nuuhiwa’s mastery of noseriding and his smooth, soulful approach left a lasting mark on longboard surfing. When it comes to influential surfers and long boarding he is celebrated for blending technical skill with artistic expression, helping to define the essence of classic noseriding
Influential Surfers: Muti-talented
Randy Rarrick
Randy Rarick: Biography, Accomplishments, and Influence
Early Life and Surfing Career
• Randy Rarick was born in 1947 in Los Angeles and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he began surfing at age 10 under the mentorship of legendary beachboy Rabbit Kekai.
• He quickly became a standout competitor, winning the Hawaii State Junior Championship in 1967 and the United States Surfing Championships at age 20.
Accomplishments
• Rarick was a top competitor in the 1960s and 1970s, earning victories at events like the Duke Kahanamoku Classic and the Peruvian International Surf Championships.
• He became a renowned surfboard shaper and globetrotter, surfing in over 70 countries and shaping boards for top surfers.
• In 1977, Rarick co-founded the International Professional Surfers (IPS), the first world tour for professional surfing, which later evolved into today’s World Surf League.
• He co-created the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing in 1983, establishing it as one of the sport’s most prestigious event series and serving as its executive director for nearly 40 years.
Influence on World Surfing
• Rarick was instrumental in legitimizing professional surfing, helping transform it from a lifestyle activity into a respected global sport with organized competitions and standardized rules.
• His efforts showcased Hawaii as the epicenter of world-class surfing, cementing the North Shore’s reputation and attracting the world’s best surfers.
• Beyond competition, Rarick contributed to surfboard innovation, historic preservation through vintage surfboard auctions, and environmental protection of Hawaii’s coastlines. Rarick remains one of the influential surfers whose contributions are significant and vast
Influential Surfers: Big Waves
Laird Hamilton
Laird Hamilton: Biography, Accomplishments, and Influence
Background and Accomplishments
Laird Hamilton, born in 1964, is an iconic American big-wave surfer renowned for pioneering tow-in surfing-a technique that uses watercraft to tow surfers into waves too large to catch by paddling, allowing riders to break the 30-foot barrier and beyond. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest big-wave surfers in history, regularly riding waves over 35 feet and reaching speeds up to 50 mph.
Hamilton’s most legendary moment came on August 17, 2000, when he rode the “heaviest wave ever ridden” at Teahupoʻo, Tahiti, a feat immortalized on the cover of Surfer magazine and in the film Riding Giants. This ride redefined what was possible in big-wave surfing and inspired a new generation of surfers.
Influence on Surfing
Laird Hamilton’s innovations have transformed the sport:
• Tow-in Surfing: Co-invented and popularized, enabling surfers to ride previously unrideable giant waves.
• Hydrofoil and Stand-Up Paddleboarding: Pioneered foilboarding and helped spark the global popularity of stand-up paddle surfing (SUP), influencing both competitive and recreational surfing.
• Waterman Ethos: Embodied the “waterman” lifestyle, excelling in multiple ocean sports and promoting fitness, nutrition, and ocean safety.
Hamilton is also an environmental activist and community leader, known for his rescue efforts during natural disasters and advocacy for ocean health.
Legacy
Laird Hamilton is celebrated as the ultimate innovator and ambassador in surfing, pushing the boundaries of big-wave riding, board technology, and ocean sports, and inspiring surfers worldwide to pursue new limits
The Willis Brothers Milton Willis & Michael Willis
Milton and Michael Willis: Biography, Accomplishments, and Influence
Background and Early Surfing
• Milton and Michael Willis, twin brothers raised in Solana Beach, California, and Hawaii, began surfing in the early 1960s and quickly became known for their commitment to both surfing and ocean safety.
Accomplishments
• On January 28, 1998, during Hawaii’s first-ever “Condition Black,” the Willis brothers set a world record by surfing what surfing experts declare to be the largest waves ever ridden, 85 to 115’ at Outer Log Cabins and Devils Garden outside Sunset Beach. Their feat is recognized as a milestone in big wave surfing, pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible at the time.
• The brothers are also accomplished surfboard shapers, contributing to the evolution of board design for extreme conditions and helping to develop the modern tow in surfboard.
• They have authored several books, including 100 Foot Wave: The Official Book, sharing insights into big wave surfing, equipment innovation, and ocean safety.
Influence on Surfboards and Giant Wave Surfing
• Milton and Michael pioneered surfboard shaping for giant waves, developing boards specifically designed for safety and performance in extreme surf.
• Their approach to big wave surfing emphasized both technical skill and spiritual connection, inspiring a new generation of surfers to pursue larger waves and prioritize safety.
• The Willis brothers’ advocacy for ocean safety led to the founding of Think Waves, an initiative that influenced national lifesaving protocols and educated the public about rip currents and survival techniques.
• Their 1998 record achievement is credited with opening the door for today’s giant wave surfers, when no others dared to go, proving that waves of unprecedented size could be ridden and survived, and setting a new standard for the sport which stands to this day.
Legacy
• The Willis brothers are celebrated as world big wave record-holding surfers and also as innovators in surfboard design, ocean safety, and surf culture, leaving a lasting impact on the evolution of extreme big wave surfing and making them two of the most loved and influential surfers in big wave surfing
Influential Surfers : Celebrity
Kai Lenny
Kai Lenny: Biography, Accomplishments, and Influence
Background and Early Life
Born in 1992 in Maui, Hawaii, Kai Lenny began surfing at age five and was sponsored by age ten. Raised by windsurfer parents, he quickly became immersed in all forms of ocean sports.
Accomplishments
• Eight-time Stand Up Paddle (SUP) World Champion and multiple-time Molokai to Oahu champion in both SUP and foil boarding.
• Winner of the 2020 Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge and multiple WSL Big Wave Awards, including XXL Biggest Wave and Ride of the Year.
• First to hydrofoil and set records across Hawaiian channels, pioneering new approaches to big wave and foil surfing.
• Youngest ever inductee into both the Surfers’ Hall of Fame and the Hawaii Waterman Hall of Fame at age 26.
• Founder of the Positively Kai Foundation, promoting youth water sports and ocean safety.
Influence on Today’s Surfing
Kai Lenny is considered the most versatile waterman of his generation, excelling in big wave surfing, SUP, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and hydrofoiling. As influential surfers go he has redefined the limits of what’s possible in big wave riding, especially at spots like Jaws and Nazaré, and is a leading innovator in foil surfing.
Lenny’s commitment to ocean health and youth development, along with his social media presence, has made him a global ambassador for modern surfing and ocean sports and one of the most influential surfers ever
Much Love All
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