Laird Hamilton: Surfer; Teacher; Innovator
Laird was born in San Francisco in 1964, in an experimental salt-water sphere designed to ease the mother's labour. Now known as the essential “Waterman”, Laird is a surfer, inventor, stunt man/actor, model, producer, author, TV host, fitness and nutrition expert, husband, father and adrenaline junkie. The Washington Post has called him the World’s Greatest Athlete.
At 16, Hamilton left school to pursue a modelling career and work in construction. The former led to photo shoots in Men’s Vogue, and with Brooke Shields. By 17, he had become an extremely accomplished surfer, and while he could have competed in the World Surfing Championship circuit, he decided against it, stating “I’m a terrible loser. I was so competitive, I wouldn’t compete. Show me somebody who can lose well, and I’ll show you somebody who loses”.
In 1992, along with two other “Big Wave” riders and friends, Buzzy Kerbox and Darrick Doerner, he started using inflatable boats to tow each other into waves which were too big to catch under their paddle power alone. This technique became known as “tow-in surfing”, and while controversial at first, pushed the boundaries and possibilities of big wave riding, by allowing the rider break the 30 foot barrier. Several spots around the world are now famous for tow in surfing, using Personal Water Crafts (PWC) such as jet skis. Local, world-famous examples include Bundoran, Mullaghmore and Aileens, in Ireland.
His ride on August 17, 2000 firmly established him in the recorded history of surfing. On that day, with a larger than normal swell, Darrick Doerner piloted a watercraft, towing Hamilton into Teahupo’o, a hazardous shallow water reef off Tahiti. Dropped into the wave using the tow-in technique, he went on to be photographed for the cover of Surfer magazine; pictured riding a wave that became later known as the “heaviest ever ridden”.
Hamilton has invented and experimented with foilboarding, using a particular type of surfboard which incorporates hydrofoil technology. He is also a proponent of paddle surfing, a stand up boarding technique taken from ancient Hawaiian practices. He recently invented and developed the GolfBoard – a skateboard for getting around golf courses.
In addition to publishing his book “Force of Nature”, allowing a glimpse inside his philosophy, Laird has appeared in the films Riding Giants; The Descendants; Water World; Die Another Day; and Point Break. Laird has a passion for teaching, especially about nutrition and fitness, using the XPT method, and for helping others live happy, healthy lives. He is actively involved in numerous charities, including the Surfrider Foundation, Race Across America, and Pipeline for a Cure for Cystic Fibrosis.
It’s clear that Laird Hamilton has achieved greatness. It’s also clear that like all high-achievers, greatness requires support – friends, experts, family. In the IP world, that’s what we in Tomkins are all about – Supporting Greatness.
Laird Hamilton has been chosen by us as an example of someone who has achieved greatness in his field; Greatness being a quality we support every day. Laird features in our “Defying Nature” collection of inspiring examples of Greatness, the first in a series of examples of Greatness across science, medicine, engineering, design and exploration we will be showcasing here. By featuring individuals such as Laird, we hope to illustrate that Greatness comes in many forms. Laird Hamilton is in no way connected with us, nor does he endorse our firm.