In brief
Remembering Mike Hynson, the maverick surf star whose adventurous spirit defined an era of surfing
Mike Hynson, an emblematic surfing icon known for his starring role in the groundbreaking 1966 documentary “The Endless Summer,” has passed away at 82 in Encinitas, California. His death, reported on January 10, was confirmed by Donna Klaasen Jost, who collaborated with him on his 2009 autobiography titled “Transcendental Memories of a Surf Rebel.” The cause of his passing has not yet been disclosed.Hynson rose to fame during a transformative time for surfing, a sport that was previously marginalized but gained traction alongside the surf culture immortalized in films like “Beach Blanket Bingo” (1965) and a plethora of hit songs by the Beach Boys. He was acclaimed for both his exceptional surfing skills and his innovative contributions to surfboard design, notably the creation of the Red Fin longboard in 1965 for Gordon & Smith.Jake Howard of Surfer magazine encapsulated Hynson’s legacy, describing him as “a hot-dog performer, a shaping genius, a cosmic adventurer” who made profound impacts on the sport and its cultural significance. His life story became legendary when he joined filmmaker Bruce Brown on a major surfing expedition in 1963. This adventure led them across the globe, from Senegal to South Africa, and eventually to Hawaii, all in pursuit of the ultimate wave while dodging the winter chill by traversing the Equator. Hynson’s legacy as a surfing rebel continues to inspire generations of wave riders and adventurers alike.
