Surf World Mourns Death Of Legendary Filmmaker, Cinematographer Larry Haynes - Stab Mag
648 Views
Larry Haynes as captured by Jimmy Wilson in December.

Surf World Mourns Death Of Legendary Filmmaker, Cinematographer Larry Haynes

After one final surf.

news // Feb 10, 2023
Words by Ashton Goggans
Reading Time: 2 minutes

It is with great sadness that we report that legendary filmmaker, North Shore pillar, and beloved water cinematographer Larry Haynes has died.

Just two days ago Haynes was right where the surfing world has come to expect him, shooting from the water during the Billabong Pro Pipeline. According to friends, yesterday Haynes was heading to surf Laniakea, before suffering a heart attack in his car.

“I just found out he suffered a heart attack in his car today after surfing Laniakea Beach,” Haynes close friend, and Steele Pulse guitarist David Elecciri Jr. wrote. “Just a few hours before, he had called me to have lunch and go for a surf at Lani’s.”

“These were the last messages he sent me before heading out for his surf. You just never know.. RIP Larry Haynes if you know Larry, then you know he was as strong and as real as they come. Loved by all.. Larry Helped film [Steel Pulse’s] video “RIZE” when we went up to Mauna Kea in 2018 with Thomas Desoto (@thomasdesoto) and Derek Hoffman @dhoff808. Such a legend in everyday.. he may be gone in the physical form but his spirit, presence, artwork and legacy will live forever.. untill we meet again brother Larry!”

Surfers who grew up in the 1990s will know Larry Haynes from his legendary underground surf film series Fluid Combustion.

Over the last decade, Haynes has been a perennial presence on the WSL camera crew, while working on Hollywood projects like Chasing Mavericks.

Haynes was profiled in 2019, in HBO’s TV series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel‘s (“Risky Business” segment of episode 265), alongside adventure photographers and cinematographers Jim Boole and Jimmy Chin.

“Haynes, a surf photographer of more than 30 years, is a fixture at Pipeline, the legendary and dangerous surf break on Oahu’s North Shore,” Outside Mag‘s Hayden Carpenter wrote. “Haynes has been slammed by Pipeline into the reef, cracking his helmet. But personal danger is only one side of the coin for extreme cameramen. The job also entails the emotional burden of potentially witnessing athletes and friends killed in action. For Haynes, this has happened twice: when he filmed the deaths of big-wave surfers Malik Joyeux in 2005 and Kirk Passmore in 2015. The emotion is still raw to this day, and he chokes up recounting the accidents…”

Rest in Power, Larry Haynes. His death leaves a massive hole in the North Shore surfing community. We’ve gathered some remembrances below:

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Why William Aliotti Picked Up The Bong

Europe's premier freesurfer on leaving Volcom after 15 years and joining Billabong.

Jan 26, 2026

Here’s Why We Included A Wildcard In Stab In The Dark X 

The Mann among men.

Jan 23, 2026

Watch: Only The Best Waves From EAST With Mikey February

11 minutes of star-studded velvet.

Jan 23, 2026

Rumor: Is The CT Quitting J Bay In 2026?

And where it might be heading instead...

Jan 23, 2026

Parker Coffin + Dane Reynolds Saddle Up In Ch11’s ‘This Is Where I Am.’

Long-form storytelling refuses to die.

Jan 21, 2026

Watch: Episode 01 of Stab In The Dark X Starring Kelly Slater

Who will the greatest surfer of all time crown the shaper of the decade?

Jan 21, 2026

On Junior Surfers, Baby Turtles, And Surfing’s Hope Imperative

Dane Henry and Isla Huppatz won World Junior Titles. What does it mean?

Jan 21, 2026

Night Will Never Fall On The Rising Sun

Peep Billabong's new Andy Irons Collection, help kids in need.

Jan 20, 2026

SEOTY: Brody Mulik Stars In ‘fourteen.’

Homeschooled at The Box and Tombies, the fifteen-year-old might be Western Australia's best student.

Jan 19, 2026

What Was It Really Like To Hang With Andy And Bruce In The 90s?

The Stab Interview with Lost Generation filmer and poke sauce peddler, Patrick “Tupat” Eichsteadt.

Jan 16, 2026

Golfers v Surfers: Newport’s Wavepool Battle Rages On

The worlds biggest Wavegarden will cost you 3 holes, a driving range, and $250,000 per…

Jan 15, 2026

2025 Was The Year Of The Rat

Comment of the Year 2025 goes to...

Jan 13, 2026

We Had Eight World Class Surfers Blind Test 117 Surfboards From 37 Shapers

This is the story of Stab In The Dark, so far.

Jan 12, 2026

Do We Appreciate Creed McTaggart Enough?

GERAMANIA — ASIA DOWN THE LINE

Jan 12, 2026

The Year Of Magic Boards, Bare Thighs, Strong Chins & Euro Dominance Is Upon Us

Read Stab's 2026 predictions, and take our future-telling quiz

Jan 11, 2026

“One Of Those Forecasts That’s So Scary You’re Kinda Hoping It Goes Onshore”

The Gaelic swell that put three of the world's best big wave surfers on the…

Jan 9, 2026

SEOTY: Eithan Osborne Stars In ‘Lost Pinterest’

Two bionic shoulders, an extra $100,000 in the bank, and a lot of sand-bottom Mexican…

Jan 8, 2026

Revealed: The 5 SITD-Winning Shapers Listed In The Kelly Files

The nerve to throw in a swallow-tail...

Jan 8, 2026
Advertisement