Paul Strauch, one of surfing’s most influential figures, has died. Surfing would not be what it is today without him, and his legacy will continue on far past the time he was allotted on Earth.
Back in the ’60s, Paul Strauch Jr. was at the center of surfing’s boom and a competitive juggernaut. Born and raised in Hawaii, Strauch began surfing at four, riding waves as a goofy-footer, but a few years later, switched to regular. By the time he was 16, it was clear that he was going places. He won the Junior Men’s division of the Makaha International in 1959, then the Peru International four years later. In 1965, he took second at the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational, then won the World Surfing Championships in the “Small Board Division” in Peru later the same year. In 1966, he took the Hawaii State surfing title, and in 1969, he won the Makaha International.
Because of his stature, he had roles in the classic surf films of his era, including 1960’s Barefoot Adventure, 1963’s Gun Ho!, and the most iconic film in all of surfing, 1966’s The Endless Summer. But he wasn’t just doing what everyone else was doing. Strauch was an innovator, and way ahead of his time. According to the Duke Kahanomoku Foundation, he was the first person to do a real bottom turn in bigger waves — a fundamental aspect of wave riding these days — and incredibly, he’s thought to be the first person to ever do a cheater-five.
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In 1965, his talent and contributions to surfing landed him on the Duke Kahanamoku Surf Team. His teammates included Fred Hemmings, Joey Cabell, and the late Butch Van Artsdalen, all of whom have starring roles in surfing’s history books.
In his last few years, Strauch served as a Board Member and Executive Director of the Surfing Heritage & Cultural Center (SHACC), which penned a eulogy of sorts on social media.
“Our hearts are aching here at the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center as we say goodbye to Paul Strauch, our dear friend, longtime supporter, board member, and former Executive Director,” SHACC wrote. “Paul had a smile that lit up every room. He carried himself with style, charm, and grace, and he touched everyone he met with warmth, humor, and generosity. At SHACC, he became a beloved storyteller, educator, and true ambassador of the aloha spirit… We will miss his electric smile and contagious laugh. We send our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Thank you for the joy, Paul. Catch a few for us.”
Ask any of his peers and surfers that followed in his footsteps – he was the embodiment of Aloha. Paul Strauch was 83 years old.
