The Surfing World Mourns Hawaiian Royalty John “Shmoo” Shimooka
“Surf, golf, BJJ, I fuckin love the guy” – Kelly Slater
Tributes have poured into social media the last 24 hours, as the surfing world learned that Hawaiian power surfing icon John Shimooka had taken his own life.
Widely and lovingly known as simply Shmoo, anyone who encountered the former CT Hawaiian underdog turned mentor, coach, manager, and commentator will recall his electric wit and unrelenting energy. A massive influence on the last two generations of kids, in Hawaii and around the world, Shmoo took great pride in fatherhood himself.
Shmoo’s death comes tragically and shortly on the heels of the death of his wife last year from cancer.
“My heart is ripped open,” wrote Kelly Slater of his old friend and early tour rival. “I thought we had this.”
A CT veteran, Shmoo did more than a decade on the World Tour, winning the Aloe Up Cup in New Smyrna and finishing runner up in 1995 at Bells to his lifelong friend, tour mate, and sparring partner Sunny Garcia.
“[Sunny and Shmoo] grew up together,” says Kelly, who was pushed by Shmoo, Sunny and the rest of the Hawaiians of the era to sharpen his teeth in waves of consequence. “He hated me because I was the small wave guy. But once I smoked him at solid Pipe in big surf we became good friends. Then we’ve always been close. Surf, golf, BJJ, I fuckin love the guy.”
Shmoo’s death will be particularly hard felt in Hawaii, with its surf community still reeling from the death of first Hawaiian World Champ Derek Ho earlier this summer, and the attempted suicide of Sunny Garcia. Following the news, social feeds resoundingly echoed their love and support for the Hawaiian legend.
Our thoughts are with the Shimooka family, and those who were close to Shmoo.
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