Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship
Encyclopedia
The Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship is named in honor of the "Father of Modern Surfing", Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku
. The contest began in 1965 by invitation only at Sunset Beach
on the North Shore
of Oahu
until it was replaced by the Billabong Pro in 1985. The championship was the first surfing event to be broadcast on a regular basis by ABC
's Wide World of Sports
.
Two dozen of the best surfers in the world attended the first championship with big-wave surfers
like Greg Noll and Calvin Kolenik as competitors. Surfer Jeff Hakman was only seventeen when he claimed his first title. Noll's streamlined, Semigun surfboard design
became the board of choice for contestants riding the Sunset Beach waves, with Ricky Grigg riding a Semigun to victory. Duke Kahamoku handed out golden "Duke" statues to the winners for the first three years before he died on January 22, 1968.
Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian swimmer, actor, lawman, early beach volleyball player and businessman credited with spreading the sport of surfing. He was a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming.-Early years:The name "Duke" is not a title, but a given name...
. The contest began in 1965 by invitation only at Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach (Oahu)
thumb|right|Sunset Beach on Oahu's North ShoreSunset Beach is on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawai'i and known for big wave surfing during the winter season. The original Hawaiian name for this place is Paumalū...
on the North Shore
North Shore (Oahu)
The North Shore, in the context of geography of the Island of Oahu, refers to the north-facing coastal area of Oahu between Kaena Point and Kahuku Point...
of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
until it was replaced by the Billabong Pro in 1985. The championship was the first surfing event to be broadcast on a regular basis by ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Wide World of Sports
Wide World of Sports (US TV series)
ABC's Wide World of Sports is a sports anthology series on American television that ran from 1961 to 1998 and was originally hosted by Jim McKay. The title continued to be used for general sports programs until 2006...
.
Two dozen of the best surfers in the world attended the first championship with big-wave surfers
Big wave surfing
Big wave surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into or are towed onto waves which are at least 20 feet high, on surf boards known as "guns" or "rhino chasers". Sizes of the board needed to successfully surf these waves vary by the size of the wave as well as...
like Greg Noll and Calvin Kolenik as competitors. Surfer Jeff Hakman was only seventeen when he claimed his first title. Noll's streamlined, Semigun surfboard design
Shaper (surfboard)
A shaper is someone who builds and designs surfboards by hand. Originally made from wood, most modern surfboards are made from pre-formed polyurethane blanks or styrofoam and then fine shaped by the shaper using an array of tools ranging from surforms, rasps, sanding machines and power planers...
became the board of choice for contestants riding the Sunset Beach waves, with Ricky Grigg riding a Semigun to victory. Duke Kahamoku handed out golden "Duke" statues to the winners for the first three years before he died on January 22, 1968.
Winners
Awards from 1965-1984:- 1965 Jeff Hakman
- 1966 Ricky Grigg
- 1967 Jock SutherlandJock SutherlandDr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers...
- 1968 Ricky Grigg
- 1969 Mike Doyle
- 1970 Jeff Hakman
- 1971 Jeff Hakman
- 1972 James JonesJames Jones-Arts and entertainment:*James Jones , novelist*James Earl Jones , actor-Sports:*James Jones , professional baseball player...
- 1973 Clyde Aikau
- 1974 Larry Bertleman
- 1975 Ian CairnsIan CairnsIan Cairns is a former champion surfer who was also influential in establishing the world professional surfing circuit and particularly the World Championship Tour....
- 1976 James JonesJames Jones-Arts and entertainment:*James Jones , novelist*James Earl Jones , actor-Sports:*James Jones , professional baseball player...
- 1977 Eddie AikauEddie AikauEdward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau was a well-known Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer. The words Makua Hanai in Eddie Aikaus full name means feeding parent, an adoptive, nurturing, fostering parent, in the Hawaiian language...
- 1978 Michael HoMichael HoMichael Ho is an American surfer who has won the Hawaiian Triple Crown, the Duke Classic, the World Cup and the 1982 Pipe Masters. Michael Ho was born San Mateo, California. He is the brother of Derek Ho, another American champion surfer....
- 1979 Mark RichardsMark Richards (surfer)Mark Richards , known as MR, is an Australian surfer, five time world champion , and highly respected by his peers.In 2000 Mark was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his service to Surf Riding.- Youth :...
- 1980 Mark WarrenMark WarrenMark Warren may refer to:*Mark Warren , British football official*Mark Warren , English defender* Mark Warren, member of the British music group :zoviet*france:...
- 1981 Michael HoMichael HoMichael Ho is an American surfer who has won the Hawaiian Triple Crown, the Duke Classic, the World Cup and the 1982 Pipe Masters. Michael Ho was born San Mateo, California. He is the brother of Derek Ho, another American champion surfer....
- 1982 Ken BradshawKen BradshawKen Bradshaw is an American professional surfer and winner of the 1982 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship....
- 1983 Calvin Kolenik
- 1984 Derek Ho