Nat Young (surfer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Harold "Nat" Young (born November 14, 1947) is an Australian surfer and author
.
Born in Sydney, New South Wales
, Young grew up in the small coastal suburb of Collaroy
. In 1964, he was runner-up in the Australian junior championship at Manly
, and two years later was named world surfing champion in 1966. He won the title again (then called the Smirnoff World Pro/Am) in 1970. Young won three Australian titles in 1966, 1967 and 1969, and won the Bells Beach Surf Classic
a record four times. Young featured in a number of important surf films of '60s and '70s including the classic 1973 surf movie Crystal Voyager and he also had a featured role as surfer Nick Naylor in the 1979 Australian drama film Palm Beach
.
Since retiring from professional surfing, Young has written several books about surfing and sailboarding in Australia. His son Beau Young
has also seen some success in the sport, winning the World Longboard title in 2000 and again in 2003.
In 2000, Young was a victim of 'surf rage' when he was severely bashed on his home break of Angourie
after a long-running feud and heated altercation with another local surfer. During his recovery he wrote a book titled Surf Rage, calling for greater tolerance and mutual respect in the surfing community, although Young admitted he had acted aggressively during his career (where he had earned the nickname "The Animal"), and had acted provocatively towards his attacker, who he met and forgave several months after the incident.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Born in Sydney, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Young grew up in the small coastal suburb of Collaroy
Collaroy, New South Wales
Collaroy is a suburb in northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Collaroy is located 22 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Warringah Council and part of the Northern Beaches region...
. In 1964, he was runner-up in the Australian junior championship at Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
, and two years later was named world surfing champion in 1966. He won the title again (then called the Smirnoff World Pro/Am) in 1970. Young won three Australian titles in 1966, 1967 and 1969, and won the Bells Beach Surf Classic
Bells Beach Surf Classic
The Bells Beach Surf Classic is a surfing competition which has been held annually at Easter time at Bells Beach, Victoria continuously since 1961, becoming a professional competition in 1973....
a record four times. Young featured in a number of important surf films of '60s and '70s including the classic 1973 surf movie Crystal Voyager and he also had a featured role as surfer Nick Naylor in the 1979 Australian drama film Palm Beach
Palm Beach (film)
Palm Beach is a 1980 Australian drama film directed by Albie Thoms. The stories involving surfing and drugs are followed in Sydney during 2 days...
.
Since retiring from professional surfing, Young has written several books about surfing and sailboarding in Australia. His son Beau Young
Beau Young
Beau Young is an Australian singer, songwriter and surfer.-Early life:Beau was born 28 August 1974 in Grafton, New South Wales, he is the son of son of '60s and '70s surf legend Nat Young...
has also seen some success in the sport, winning the World Longboard title in 2000 and again in 2003.
In 2000, Young was a victim of 'surf rage' when he was severely bashed on his home break of Angourie
Angourie, New South Wales
Angourie is a small coastal village in the Clarence Valley Council of New South Wales, Australia. It is south of Yamba, New South Wales.In 2006, Angourie had a population of 170 people...
after a long-running feud and heated altercation with another local surfer. During his recovery he wrote a book titled Surf Rage, calling for greater tolerance and mutual respect in the surfing community, although Young admitted he had acted aggressively during his career (where he had earned the nickname "The Animal"), and had acted provocatively towards his attacker, who he met and forgave several months after the incident.
Publications
- Young, Nat (2008). The complete history of surfing: from water to snow. Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN 9781423602668