With so much amazing talent coming out of California the past 50 years, it would be hard to pick the state’s best surfers because there are literally hundreds of epic surfers who call the Golden State home. And while it seems impossible to narrow the list to ten, we put the question “Who’s the Top 10 Best Surfers from California Ever?” on our Facebook and here’s what some of you said …
Tony Roberts: Curren, Beschen, Archy, Dane, Ratboy, Phil Edwards, Richard Schmidt, Tudor, Wardo, Gerr.
Peter Townend: What about some "Old School" candidates like Miki Dora, Phil Edwards, John Peck, Skip Frye, Lance Carson, Mike Hynson, Billy Hamilton … but the best ever, well Curren and Machado should be in the conversation too!
Dave Schauber: My top 10 is based on surfers that have had a personal impact on my approach to surfing: Kevin Reed, Davey Smith, Tom Curren, Mike Lambresi, Adam Replogle, Joel Tudor, Chris Brown, Taylor Knox, Darryl Virostko, Greg Long, and Peter Mel.
Mike Cruickshank: Old School is Phil Edwards, Miki Dora, Rolf Aurness, Brad McCaul, Mickey Munoz, Corky Carroll, Pat Curren, Les Williams, Mike Hynson, Kemp Aaberg. New School is Tom Curren, Rob Machado, Joey Buran, Shane Beschen, Matt Archbold, Richie Collins, Mike Parsons, Pat O'Connell, Taylor Knox and Brad Gerlach.
Justin Poston: Skip Frye, Tom Curren, Dane Reynolds and Skip Frye (again).
Robert Tyler Laravie: Dane, Matt Archbold, Ward, Fletcher Family, Richie Collins, Bobby Martinez, Curren, Dora , Beschen, and Mike Parsons.
Sheila Collins: Bruce Jason Ratboy Collins, Flea, Ken Skindog Collins, Peter Mel, Tom Curren and Barney.
Danny Torres: Phil Edwards, Tommy Curren, Davey Miller, Dane Reynolds, Richard Schmidt…..
Castaway Concepts: C’mon!!! Wardo holds the torch for Cali! Chris Ward hands down!
Tadashi Mark Yoshida: Nat Young, three Gudauskas brothers, the Malloy brothers, Taylor Knox, and Brett Simpson.
Karey Koll Kolina: Joey Buran, Dan Flecky and Bud Llamas … and Richie Collins!!! And Pinky, just to name a few!
Chad Brown: Verne Starr, Chris Lewis, Eric Arnold, Chad Towersey, Jon Roseman, and Christian Fletcher.
Kevin Kinnear: Don't forget the La Jolla Underground from the late 60s/early 70s that was so savagely ignored by the two major surf mags located only an hour's drive north: Dave Rullo, Jon Close, Tom Ortner, Larry Strada, Neal Norris, Randy Pidd, etc. What about Richard Kenvin from the California Renaissance era? Machado and Curren are a good start, PT. Don't forget the Windansea underground guys such as Jon Close, Dave Rullo, Tom Ortner, and Andy Tyler.
Posted by: Ghetto Juice at: 09 May 2014 00:35
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