Mr Porter Ranks The Most Stylish Surfers of All Time

Surfing continues to push it’s way into the brave new world of fashion. Mr Porter just released their newest online journal, covering surfing, what else? Everything from Mr Slater’s Outerknown to the all time most stylish, reads, instas and more. And the boys have done their research. Scroll this little screen down, for a comprehensive list of legends.

8. Mr Phil Edwards

Mr Edwards, Virginia, US, 1966 Lynn Pelham/ Sports Illustrated/ Getty Images; Mr Edwards, California, US, 1963 Jim Driver/ A-Frame Photo

Before Occy, Taylor Knox and Sunny Garcia, before Kelly Slater, Dane Reynold and modern surfing. Phil Edwards was the OG power guy of the mid 1950’s. He was one of the first to pioneer Pipe, he charged, trimmed and did it all with a style and class all his own. 

7. Mr Peter Drouyn

From left to right: Messrs Peter Townend, Drouyn and Simon Anderson, Oahu, Hawaii, 1973 Jeff Divine/ A-Frame Photos; Mr Drouyn, Sydney, Australia, 1978 Art Brewer/ www.artbrewer.com

Pete was the first gent to implement man on man competition for surfing. He was a visionary, his surf contest format, although out of reach was complete with wave stadiums, leaping dolphins and of course; a laser show. He also was an actor, director, writer and an all around styley-cat.  

6. Mr Nat Young

Mr Young, Victoria, Australia, 1968 National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. Gift of John Witzig 2006 © Albert Falzon; Mr Young, Victoria, Australia, 1978 Art Brewer/ www.artbrewer.com

The Byron Bay local Nat “The animal” Young set the page of boards we ride today. In the mid 60’s he took surfing’s traditional straight line flare, added his vision and spat out something original. Trims, highlines, pumps, hacks and turns, he surfed aggressively and consequently opened the doors of high performance surfing.

5. Mr Terry Fitzgerald

Mr Fitzgerald, Oahu, Hawaii, 1974 Dan Merkel/ A-Frame Photos; Mr Fitzgerald, Sydney, Australia, 1976 Jeff Divine/ Trunk Archive

With narrow boards and psychedelic paint jobs, Mr Fitzgerald surfed with his center of gravity low and his legs bowed. His style is timeless, and was one of the most photogenic surfers of all time.

4. Mr Larry Bertlemann

Mr Bertlemann, Oahu, Hawaii, 1973 Dan Merkel/ A-Frame Photos; Mr Bertlemann, after winning the Katin Contest, California, US, 1978 Art Brewer/ www.artbrewer.com\

Bert, was a wild afro-man who arrived on the scene in the 70’s. His surfing paved the path for what’s considered style today. The mad-cat was also the first guy to take to the space above the lip. With that head of hair, the sky’s no limit. Oh, and those ‘Dogtown’ kids modeled their skating style after him. Do a ‘bert!’

3. Mr Bunker Spreckels

Mr Spreckels, Oahu, Hawaii, 1969 Art Brewer/ www.artbrewer.com; Mr Spreckels, Kauai, Hawaii, 1974 Art Brewer/ www.artbrewer.com

Bunker Spreckels, apart from having one of the best names to ever be donned upon someone, really had no other choice then to be a beacon of style. He was heir to the Spreckels Sugar fortune and stepson to Clark Gable. He took his inheritance, his banging girlfriend and traveled the world, surfing the best breaks with his personal photographer. Sounds familiar to the times of today… If only he had an Insta. Unfortunately heroine eventually took over and he OD’d at 27, joining Mr Morrison, Ms Joplin, Mr Hendrix and as you know the list goes on.

2. Mr Shaun Tomson

Messrs Wayne Bartholomew and Tomson, Oahu, Hawaii, 1975 Dan Merkel/ A-Frame Photos; Mr Tomson, Oahu, Hawaii, 1981 Jeff Divine/ Trunk Archive

The South African boy out of Durban and world champ of 1977, Shaun Tomson’s one of the original tube turkeys, pigs, dogs, cats, whatever you want to call it. The man knifed aqua tunnels with sheer prowess. Dine on some knowledge from the legend: “Speed is the essence, power is the key, the tube is the truth.” 

1. Mr Micki Dora

Mr Dora, California, US, 1965 © LeRoy Grannis Collection, LLC, courtesy of M+B, Los Angeles; Mr Dora, California, US, 1961 © LeRoy Grannis Collection, LLC, courtesy of M+B, Los Angeles

The ‘cat’ Malibu local Mr Micki Dora was surfing’s James Deane. He was anti-corporations, anti-contests and anti-work. At the Malibu invitational in 1967, he dropped his pants and rode the length of Malibu, shooting his ass to the beach. In 2002 he passed, but his mark on the sport is something that will never be forgotten.