Damien Hardman (born 23 January 1966), known as The Iceman, is a former Australian surfer from Sydney. He won the

Rip Curl Pro The Rip Curl Pro, formerly the Bells Beach Surf Classic, is a WSL (formerly ASP) World Tour surfing competition held in and around Torquay, Victoria and sponsored by surf company Rip Curl. The event is based at Bells Beach, Victoria, Austra ...

twice in 1988 and 1993, and was runner-up three times in 1989, 1991 and 1997, and in 1987/88 and 1991 he won the ASP World Tour. In 1999, he was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 1999.

Life and career

Hardman was born in Warriewood, New South Wales on 23 January 1966. The son of financier Brian Hardman, who was later the ASP World Tour's media director, he was raised in the beachfront Sydney suburb of

Narrabeen Narrabeen is a beachside suburb in northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Narrabeen is 23 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Northern Beaches Council and is ...

, home of well-respected and high performing surfers such as

Simon Anderson Simon Anderson (born 7 July 1954) is an Australian competitive surfer, surfboard shaper, and writer. He is credited with the 1980 invention of a three-fin surfboard design, called the "thruster". Early life Anderson grew up in the Northern B ...

and Col Smith. Hardman placed third in the juniors division of the 1982 Australian National Titles, two years later he won the juniors in both the National Titles and World Championships. Hardman turned pro in 1984, and the following year completed his first full season on the world tour, finishing as number 17 and being named rookie of the year; in 1986 he ranked number 6. Hardman was only 21 when he won the 1987 World Title in a showdown with fellow Australian

Gary Elkerton Gary Elkerton (born 21 August 1964), known as Kong is an Australian surfer, three time world masters champion (2000–01, 2003), three time world professional runner-up (1987, 1990, 1993), twice Hawaiian Triple Crown champion (1987, 1989) and Au ...

in the season's last contest at Sydney's

Manly Beach Manly Beach is a beach situated among the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia, in Manly, New South Wales. From north to south, the three main sections are Queenscliff, North Steyne, and South Steyne. Etymology The beach was named by Capt. A ...

. Hardman was the tour's best competitor over the next six years, finishing 2nd in 1988, 4th in 1989 and 1990, 1st in 1991, 2nd in 1992, and 4th in 1993. He dropped to 13th in 1994 and nearly vanished from sight over the next two years. He came back in 1997, aged 31, finishing 6th. Hardman announced his retirement, then changed his mind, finishing the 1998 season rated 14th. He rose to 9th in 1999 and dropped to 25th in 2000. He finally announced his retirement in 2001 when he was described by Swell.com as "the ultimate professional surfer". He finished with a total of 19 Pro Tour wins, including the 1986 Stubbies Classic, the

in 1988 and 1993,and the Rip Curl Hossegor Pro in 1998. In 1988 he became the first male surfer to win seven events in one season (equaled later by world champions

Tom Curren Tom Curren is an American surfer. Professional career By the time Curren joined the ASP World Tour in 1983, he was competing with professionals such as Rabbit Bartholomew, Shaun Tomson, and Cheyne Horan. He was world champion A world c ...

and Kelly Slater).http://www.aspworldtour.com event archives pdf

Post surfing

Hardman was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 1999. The following year he founded Instyle Enterprises, a surf accessories distribution company, and later owned a series of

Rip Curl Rip Curl is a designer, manufacturer, and retailer of Surfing#Equipment, surfing sportswear (also known as ''boardwear'') and accompanying products, and a major athletic sponsor. Rip Curl has become one of the largest surfing companies in Aust ...

outlet stores, and what event director for the

Bells.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hardman, Damien 1966 births Living people Australian surfers Sportsmen from New South Wales Sportspeople from Sydney World Surf League surfers