Arguably the best big wave rider on the North Shore during the 80’s, along with contemporaries like Mark Foo, Darrick Doerner and Brock Lile, Ken Bradshaw lifted the bar on paddle-in big wave surfing. His exploits at Waimea Bay became legendary, and he climaxed his competitive career by winning the prestigious Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Classic in 1982, which launched his reputation as one of the North Shore’s best. Parlaying his notoriety to commercial success throughout the 80’s he was one of the top finishers in “ The Eddie” event when first held at Waimea Bay in 1986.

On January 28, 1998, Ken rode the biggest wave ever ridden in history on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii at an outer reef known as Outside Log Cabins. This wave was considered to be in excess of 85 feet. That … Read More »

This last summer I finally persuaded TC to go South with Jalian and I to ride some fun right handers along with his son, Frank.   Days before departure, Tyler Warren wanted to jump in and join in on the adventure.  And of course, I couldn’t refuse.  We ended up scoring some good waves, with good conditions and all had a great time.  Plenty of variety of boards were ridden from old school 70’s to the most modern latest and greatest from Tomo.  This here is just a rough glimps of what was.

Enjoy – Buggs

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If one were asked to explain Jamie O’Brien in a word, they might choose “explosive.” Whether being spit out of a seething Pipeline barrel, launching an air reverse six feet above the lip, or blowing up in front of a camera, Jamie’s surfing is a full frontal assault on the senses. There is a saying that “the person having the most fun in the water is the best surfer on any given day.”

O’Brien was born on June 9, 1983 in Hawaii and currently lives in Haleiwa. He has said that he was fortunate as a child to grow up near the Banzai Pipeline. He is one of the youngest surfers ever to win a Pipe Masters challenge.

Jamie’s father was a life guard and Jamie has said that one of the things that … Read More »

Video may have killed the radio star, but for Chris Ward, it made the surf star. In another time, Ward would have been another hot kid from Southern California. As it is, his legend has followed — and perhaps even surpassed — that of his San Clemente neighbor, Matt Archbold, another worldwide sensation who never seemed to fit in a contest jersey.

The Wards moved to San Clemente from Galveston, Texas, when Chris was nine. Martin Potter had clocked some hours at T Street in the mid-’80s and ignited a freesurfing frenzy that began with Archbold and Christian Fletcher, filtered through international stars like Shane Beschen and rubbed off on kids like Ward. As Ward entered his formative years, the area was already synonymous with radical, outside-the-lines surfing. Rumors started circulating in the mid-’90s about … Read More »

After four years of competition amongst the world’s finest surfing pedigree, the goofy-footed talent hailing from Santa Barbara, California continues to cement himself as a perennial Top 10 finisher on the ASP World Tour. Martinez’s lethal backhand attack groomed by Santa Barbara’s famed righthand pointbreaks, combined with his knack for threading the needle in critical barrels, proven by his victories at the Billabong Pro Teahupoo and the Billabong Pro Mundaka, both twice over, prove he has the ability to scalp an event win at any stop on tour. The Californian’s versatility in all conditions make him a dangerous competitor in any event on the ASP World Tour schedule.

There have been many impressive brother duos in surfing’s history: Michael and Derek Ho, Shea and Cory Lopez, Andy and Bruce Irons. Never, though, has a set of twins ascended so far in the competitive ranks as Florida’s C.J. and Damien Hobgood. These almost indecipherable goofyfoots and NSSA nightmares turned into top-10 WCT powerhouses, wreaking double trouble on the rest of the world — especially in heaving lefthanders. Hailing from Satellite Beach, C.J. and Damien followed the now well-heeled path from the Sunshine State to surf stardom established by Charlie Kuhn, Todd Holland and Kelly Slater, with CJ becoming the first East Coast’s second-ever men’s world champion.

Since beginning as menehunes in the Eastern Surfing Association, the Hobgoods swapped first- and second-place finishes like they were swapping socks. In 1991, they set the trend … Read More »

Since he was a kid, Sunny Garcia’s dream has been to kick back as a fat, happy Hawaiian with a bunch of kids running around. That existence remained in jeopardy as the one prize that would make him content — a world title — eluded him 14 consecutive years. With the inspiration of a new love and a new fitness regimen, he kept a horde of challengers at bay and, at age 30, led the ASP tour from start to finish to run away with the 2000 crown.

Growing up in Waianae, on Oahu’s West Side, wasn’t an easy task — even for a local. Vincent Sennen Garcia came from a broken home and found surfing as a refuge from fighting and poverty. He owned his division in the Hawaiian Surfing Association and jumped onto the tour … Read More »

age: 29 years-old
a.k.a.: Freddy P
d.o.b.: December 15, 1981
born: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
resides: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
parents: Mom Julia is a social worker, Big Fred Sr. used to own a surf shop
siblings: Two sisters, Leilani is the oldest and Lehua is the youngest.
significant other: Girlfried Melissa
offspring: None yet
hobbies: Playing golf

www.freddyp.com

Short Biography

Fred Patacchia is a fast and powerful goofyfoot who was born and bred on the North Shore of Oahu. He’s a former prodigy and NSSA Champ and was the 2005 ASP Rookie of the Year. He’s an incredible tube rider at spots like Pipe and Teahupo’o and he’s also got a wicked backhand honed from years smacking the lip at his home break of Haleiwa. Fred is super friendly and outgoing. He waves the aloha flag 24/7 and brings true Hawaiian spirit wherever he goes.

Outside of surfing, Fred loves … Read More »

Ever since music went bad — as disco replaced rock — Australia ruled competitive surfing. Rolf Aurness, the 1970 World Champion, was America’s last hero, and he vanished without a trace. Michael Peterson, PT, Rabbit, Cheyne, MR — Aussies owned the ’70s and early ’80s.

Enter Thomas Roland Curren. In 1982, the unassuming introvert strolled into Duranbah and single-handedly dumped Australia on its head. He quickly became the most popular surfer in the world, a title he would hold for two decades. By the time he showed the first signs of slowing, disco had come full swing, again clogging the airwaves.

Legendary big-wave rider Pat Curren didn’t wait past the toddler stage to put his son Tom on a surfboard. By the time Tom was a teen, his depth of wave-mastery was almost … Read More »

Mick Fanning has been surfing since the age of 5 and is now a pro surfer from Australia. Mick is well-known for his super aggressive style and ability to whip his board. Pro surfer Mick Fanning competes at the WCT championship surfing level. Mick Fanning’s nickname is Micktor. Mick also goes by the nicknames Eugene, and White Lightning. This is the Surfing.com Mick Fanning biography.

Height: 177cm, 5ft 10in Weight: 73kg, 161lb
Birthday: June 13, 1981
Birthplace: Penrith, New South Wales Australia
Current Home: Tweed Heads, NSW Australia
Surfing Coach: Phil McNamara
Life Facts: Mick was born in Sidney suburbs of Penrith, he first put his feet on a surfboard at the age of 5, then surf occasionally. He really get into it when his family moved to Tweed head (border between NSW and QLD state) by the age of … Read More »