Featured Stories
Riding the Waves of Life
Tom Curren Jeffreys Bay 1992
By Derek Hynd
The trouble with perfect alignment of surfer, wave, and cinematographer was highlighted in May of 1992 when Tom Curren’s hallowed “first ride at J-Bay” simply was not documented. Fifty years in the future, the now infamous film of the rider/wave will intrigue the same way, but it’ll still be the second wave that will be studied in awe.
Tom’s arrival at J-Bay that year was arguably the most anticipated moment in surf history. Could there be a greater vicarious surfing rush than the world’s best surfer at the world’s best pointbreak? Big call of course…there had been Gerry or the other Tom during their respective primes paddling out at solid Pipe, Simon Anderson likewise during his incredible test paddle-out at big Bells aboard the early Thruster. Tom and Occy’s paddle-outs behind the pier at the OP Pro had, in themselves, set some sort of compounding phenomenon. Maybe even Duke in December 1914 riding to shore as a large chunk of Sydney lined Freshwater Beach in anticipation of the greatest athlete on Earth walking on water.
The timing, linkage, style, and drive of Curren at J-Bay would be second to none. American surf fans alone willed it so. The last peg was gaping; they just needed Tom to show up.
Sonny Miller: A Great Friend Who Lived Life to the Fullest
Traveling around the world with Sonny Miller on The Search was the best five years of my life. He was a legend- generous, encouraging, happy and always positive. We all had the best time with Sonny.
We had no idea how monumental those surf trips would become- we were having too much fun. It was before the internet, cellphones, and autofocus. We used 16mm film and were never 100% certain what we shot came out until we saw the film transfers from Hollywood months later.
Who Are These Children? The Mind Ski Generation
Written by Tom Curren
Published in Surfer Magazine, 1994
Priorities are changing rapidly for the children up today. I know three young surfers, Byron Howarth, Chris Davidson, and Frankie Oberholzer, who can legitimately claim that by not going to school, they have learned more than their peers. As surfers, they can legitimately claim that by not competing, they have ridden better waves. Ask yourself: what furthers a surfer more, a world amateur title or his best tube ride?
A Searching for Tom Curren Story: Hangin’ with Tom Curren in Cardiff, CA
Written by: Tim Hamby
From Tim's blog timhamby.com
February 22, 2022
I had one of the most surreal experiences of my life last weekend when I got to paddle out for a surf session with Tom Curren, one the most stylish and influential surfers in history, and maybe the only surfer in the world who garners as much or more respect than Kelly Slater.
Products
View all