Corky Carroll Interview Temporarily Postponed:

Due the recent loss of Mike Haley, John Grey, and Bill Holden, the interview will be temporarily postponed out of respect. Many sights have been posting this article and out of respect for their contributions to surfing, I will do the same.

'A Toast to Three O.C. Surfing Legends' by Corky Carroll as published in OC Register.

http://www.ocregister.com/column/one-mike-bill-1982125-john-surfers


"Before I start this week's column let me say that I wish I was writing about something else other than what I am this week. Something happy and funny. Unfortunately this is NOT one of those columns.

Orange County surfing was hit with the deaths of three of its surfing legends all in a three-week span ending with Super Bowl Sunday. Mike Haley, John Grey and lastly the amazing Bill Holden. I really don't like reporting on this kind of stuff but in this case I felt I had to.

Mike Haley was United States Surfing Champion in 1960. He is the younger brother of Jack Haley, who was champion in 1959 and owner of Captain Jack's Restaurant in Sunset Beach. Mike grew up in Seal Beach and went to High School in Huntington Beach.

He was one of the great surfers of the 1960s. He was also one of the more stylish dudes around and, along with his first wife, Sherry, opened one of the most successful "hip" clothing boutiques in Laguna Beach during the mid/late 60s cultural revolution. Mike was one of those dudes that had a lot to do with putting the "love" in the "summer of love."

Mike was also a well-respected big wave surfer during the early days of big wave riding on the famous "north shore" of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. He was involved with the development of the first motorized surfboards and also an innovator during the shortboard transition years. This guy was most definitely one of the greatest Orange County surfers ever.

Steve Pezman of Surfers Journal emailed me that he got word of Mike being diagnosed with liver cancer and made the trip up to Mike's home in Northern California to visit him along with fellow O.C. surf great Richard Chew and longtime friend and surf historian Roy Crump. Mike died two weeks after the diagnosis at 64 years old.

A week later we lost the silky smooth stylemaster John Grey. John was not as famous as either Mike Haley or Bill Holden but was one of the most respected local surfers also of the 1950s and 60s. John is one of the guys that I used to try to copy my surfing style after. A goofy-foot, like myself, he would surf the beach break near my house in Surfside often.

Also an expert snow skier John spent the last part of his life in the mountains of Colorado around the Aspen area. It was in Aspen that he passed away. The exact cause has yet to be determined. John was in his late 60s.

Then Bill Holden. While loading up his car with goodies and getting ready for a big Super Bowl party Bill suddenly had a massive heart attack. He was 78 and had been a mainstay in Orange County surfing since as early as the late 1940s.

One of the first window stickers that I ever remember was the old Surfboards by Holden one. Bill was a master surfboard shaper and innovator who had a hand in the transitions from balsawood to foam and from long to short and back to long again.

He was the first surfboard builder inducted into the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame when it started in the year 2000. As much for his surfboard building accomplishments Bill was known for being one of the most stoked and happy dudes you could ever want to meet. I did not know him all that well, but every time I saw him he made me feel like we were old and best friends and it made me happy to be around him. He was one of those people who just give out a light and a warmth that makes you smile. Really a great man and a great person.

So the other afternoon I was sitting on my deck with my pal the "Iguana." The Iguana is another old-time Orange County surf legends and friend of the three departed surfers that I have just told you about. We were lamenting our friends and feeling glad that it wasn't one of us and decided to toast them at sunset.

It turned out to be the best "green flash" of the year so far. That means good luck. We clanged our glasses and gave an adios to Mike, John and Bill and gave thanks for the good luck that we were both still above water and able to surf one more day.

Appreciate life, my friends."

Corky Carroll Interview Part Two

Hey Everyone!!
Wanted to say thanks to all the new folks stopping by to visit the sight! I love the "feedjit" widget for the sight! That way I can see where everyone is visiting from. I'm getting mor international hits than I thought I would. If any of you want to link up, just add my link and send me an e-mail or comment so I can add yours as well.

Now, without further ado....Part two of the "Corky Carroll Interview."


Enjoy and have a nice weekend!

Cook

3.) "How did you get into competitive surfing? What was that like?"

"My dad took me to the first West Coast Championships at Huntington Beach in 1959 where I surfed in the Junior Mens division. I surfed in most of the competitions in California and finally won one in 1962. In those days people went to the contests as much for the parties and the competition."
"It wasn't very professional in those days. I won the United States Jr. Championship in 1963 and the overall United States Championship five years in a row from 1966 to 1970, the first three International Professional Championships in '67, 68' and 69', the International Big Wave Chaqmpionship in '67 and also the World Small Wave Championship in '67 and was named best surfer in the world by Surfer Magazine in '67. Over 100 victories in all."

Comments Link

I found out today someone was having problems with the comments section. Apparently they posted, but it did not show up on the page. I've adjusted the settings and it should be fine now. Come say hello and tell your surfing story...it doesn't have to be a nightmare ;-)


Cook

Thanks to Everyone

Hello to Everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you to everyone that has taken a few moments to stop by my sight. The "Corky Carroll Interview" is going well and I appreciate in great detail Corky Carroll donating some of his time to answer questions. Once again, special thanks to Corky Carroll.

Corky's next two questions will be posted this Friday by 8:00pm. Also, remember you can e-mail anything surf related to be posted onto the sight. My e-mail address is in the header page, so say hello!

Once again, thanks to EVERYONE for taking time to visit my sight! :-)


Hafa!

Cook

Dudes and Dudettes....CORKY CARROLL

1.) At what age did you begin surfing and tell us a little about how you got started, and what was it like getting on a board for the first time?

I started at about 7 years old when the boards were balsawood and weighed more than I did. First time was obviously addicting and I figure eliminated college as a future choice in my life.
>

> 2.) Where are you from originally? Was surfing a way of life in your home town like college football is in mine?

I grew up in Surfside, which is a small beach colony just north of Huntington Beach in Southern California. Living on the beach would probably being about the same as growing up in a Tennis Club if you were a tennis player. We all surfed and other in the water activities all the time. I was lucky.

Corky Carroll Interview

Interview will be posted by 8:00pm Friday 2/15/2008


Everyone have a nice Valentines Day!


Cook

TWO DAYS UNTIL CORKY CARROLL INTERVIEW!

We're almost there! Two more days until the Corky Carroll interview begins. As a reminder, two questions a week will be posted. Feel free to post comments!!

Also, Thanks to LA, Waukegan, Ill., and Kyodo, Tokyo! Thanks for stopping by!


Cook

From Guam

Would the person who stopped by from Guam say hello please? In fact, would anyone from Guam stop by and say hello :-)

Howdy

Hey guys,

The Corky Carroll interview begins next Friday!! I can't tell you how excited I am about this opportunity. Also, check out his column at the Orange County register at http://www.ocregister.com/ I've said it before and I'll say it again: Corky Carroll is a surfing legend. Interview begins Friday, so check back!

Just wanted to take moment for a quick up date. Part two of my video will be ready to go sometime Sunday and I plan to re-vamp part. It's a little too choppy in appearance. So hopefully Sunday I'll have a couple of cleaner videos for everyone. I'm still working on the process but I'm getting faster!! so hopefully soon I'll be working up to a life size board pretty soon!

I'll be updating the links section this weekend and adding all the cool people I've met while doing this blog.

Thats it for tonight!

Mahalo and Hafa!

Cook

Wannasurf.com

I wanted to promote "wannasurf.com" I came across this sight in the very early stages of creating this blog. These guys are way cool! I violated their terms and conditions by posting my blog address, and instead of booting me, they talked to me about it and explained their position and I apologized. In return for being so cool about it, I wanted to promote their sight on my blog. It truly is an excellent sight for surfing information. That's where I met "little pink wave." EVERYONE should check these guys out!

I found them while I was trying to find some surfers from Guam, and its been the most beneficial sight during the creation of this blog and I can't tell you how much I appreciate them.

Thank you B.


Cook

Coming Soon: Corky Carroll Interview!

I have the pleasure and honor of being granted an interview with Surfing Legend Corky Carroll! His interview questions will be posted on Fridays beginning 02/15/2008. I want personally acknowledge Corky taking time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions and being kind enough to share his experiences with all of us. A sincere thank you to Corky Carroll.

Stay tuned for the interview!


Cook