Professional Surfer. He was recognized as one of the greatest surfers to ride the waves and was a pioneer in the evalution of big wave riding. At age 11, he was surfing along Hawaii's South Shore and achieving success in Hawaiian Surfing Association competitions by age 18. In 1976, he joined the IPS World Professional Surfing tour and continued until he returned to Hawaii in 1983. There, he was one of the first to forge a career in riding the biggest waves at Waimea Bay, Todos Santos and Hawaii's outer reefs. By the early 1990s, the big winter waves at Mavericks Half Moon Bay, California, became the next frontier challenge. On December 23, 1994, he paddled out at Mavericks and during a take-off on an 18 foot wave, Foo experienced a wipeout which resulted in his drowning. At his funeral on December 30, over 700 people arrived at Waimea Bay and 150 surfers paddled into the Bay, formed a circle and placed his ashes into the ocean. At the same time in California, hundreds of surfers lined the cliffs at Mavericks in his honor.
Professional Surfer. He was recognized as one of the greatest surfers to ride the waves and was a pioneer in the evalution of big wave riding. At age 11, he was surfing along Hawaii's South Shore and achieving success in Hawaiian Surfing Association competitions by age 18. In 1976, he joined the IPS World Professional Surfing tour and continued until he returned to Hawaii in 1983. There, he was one of the first to forge a career in riding the biggest waves at Waimea Bay, Todos Santos and Hawaii's outer reefs. By the early 1990s, the big winter waves at Mavericks Half Moon Bay, California, became the next frontier challenge. On December 23, 1994, he paddled out at Mavericks and during a take-off on an 18 foot wave, Foo experienced a wipeout which resulted in his drowning. At his funeral on December 30, over 700 people arrived at Waimea Bay and 150 surfers paddled into the Bay, formed a circle and placed his ashes into the ocean. At the same time in California, hundreds of surfers lined the cliffs at Mavericks in his honor.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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