Page 10 - MidWeek Honolulu - Feb 15, 2023

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FEBRUARY 15, 2023
Aloha surfers and beachgoers,
As I write this, I’m watching the Billabong Pro Pipeline.
BY GARY KEWLEY
Surfing World Remembers A Big-wave Pioneer
The women hit the water on Feb. 2, kicking off the 2023 World Championship Tour, and right off the bat there were two huge upsets: the elimination of Austra- lia’s eight-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore and Ha- wai‘i’s own reigning champi- on Moana Jones Wong.
Check out surfnewsne- twork.com for the latest on the WSL.
He was one of the first members of the Windansea Surf Club, one of the most in- famous surf clubs in history.
Day one of the men’s competition (Feb. 7) saw the GOAT, eight-time Pipe master and defending 2022
His impact on surfing will last forever, too. Just ask his son, three-time world champ Tom Curren.
champ Kelly Slater eliminat- ed in the opening round.
Mission Beach, San Diego (my hometown). At 18, he moved to La Jolla and started surfing.
In other surfing news, the sport lost a true legend.
Pat Curren died at age 90 on Jan. 22 — the same day as the 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. Pat always had incredible timing. He was the last surviving member of a group that pioneered big- wave surfing in the 1950s. (Also among those pioneers was my uncle, Greg Noll.)
In 1955, he made his first visit to Hawai‘i, and it changed his life forever.
Born in 1932 in Carlsbad, California, Pat grew up in
Thanks Pat.
GQ, droppin’ in 4 U!
Bettylou Sakura Johnson surfs the first backdoor barrel of the women’s event at the Billabong Pro Pipeline.
PHOTO COURTESY WORLD SURF LEAGUE/ TONY HEFF
gary@surfnewsnetwork.com
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