Corky Carroll (born September 29, 1947) is a professional American surfer and is considered a pioneer in the sport by becoming the first real professional surfer as well as being the first to make paid endorsements.

Life and career

Carroll started his career in 1959 at a very early age and by the time he retired in 1972, he was only 24 years old. From 1966-1970 he won the United States Surfing Championship and also won the International Surfing Championship three times. Altogether, Carroll won over 100 surfing competitions. After his surfing career, he became a musician and recorded nine albums along with writing several books on surfing. He subsequently opened a surfing school in California and designed surf boards. He frequently serves as the color commentator for world surfing events such as the annual competition in Huntington Beach, and pens a column in the Orange County Register. Television audiences can be familiar with him through a cameo on an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. He resides with his wife and family in Mexico in their beach-side home. He has a home in Zihuatanejo, Mexico where he offers surf adventure trips. In 1959 at age 11, he placed 3rd in his first surf contest, the inaugural U.S. Surfboard Championship, at Huntington Beach, the first major surf contest ever to be held in California

He helped design the first authentic surf trunks with Nancy Katin, which are still in production today.

1960s

In 1962 he won the junior division of the San Clemente Surf Capades contest. In 1963 he landed a sponsorship with Hobart Alter, Hobie Alter, the largest surfboard manufacturer in the world at that time, and becomes the youngest member of the surf team. In 1964 at age 16, he became the first surfer ever to be paid to surf. In the same year Bruce Brown invited Corky to join

The Endless Summer ''The Endless Summer'' is a 1966 American surf documentary film directed, produced, edited and narrated by Bruce Brown. The film follows surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August on a surfing trip around the world. Despite the balmy mediterrane ...

promotional tour in order to promote the surf movie, and he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in New York and teaching Johnny to skateboard, and appeared on the first of three Merv Griffin Shows. In 1965 Carroll won first place at the

Tom Morey Tom Hugh Morey (15 August 1935 – 14 October 2021), also known by the moniker "Y", was a musician, engineer, surfboard shaper, and surfer responsible for several technological innovations that have heavily influenced modern developments in surf ...

Nose Riding Invitational – The first contest ever to pay prize money,Surfresearch.com.au
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Jantzen Jantzen is a brand of swimwear that was established in 1916 and first appeared in the city of Portland, Oregon, United States. The brand name later replaced the name of the parent company that manufactured the branded products. The brand feature ...

Sportswear appearing on the back cover of almost every Surfer Magazine for seven straight years. In 1966 he achieved USSA (surf tour) #1 ranking and the first of five consecutive “best all around surfer” awards. In 1967 he won the International Big Wave Championship in Peru. At this time he designed the first production short board solid in the U.S. called the 1967 Hobie Corky Carroll “Mini-model." He also appeared on the TV show “What’s My Line” (July 2, 1967), trying to stump the panel as the world’s first “professional” surfer. It was at this time that Carroll's surf music interest began. He became friends with fellow surfer/musician Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys while filming his surfing for the background video, and met Mike Nesmith and the rest of the Monkees. In 1968 he was voted #1 surfer in the world by his surfing peers, - the award Carroll has stated he considers the greatest award of his career. He also won World Small Wave Championship in Florida, and was pictured on the cover of Surfer Magazine Hanging Ten. His Hobie CC Mini model achieved record sales. From 1962–72 Corky won over 100 surf contests worldwide.

1970s

In 1978 Carroll released a novelty single phonograph record "Skateboard Bill" / B: "Pocket Rocket" (1978), and then as Corky Carroll And The Coolwater Casuals with Mike Nesmith of the Monkees as producer "Tan Punk On Boards", B-side "From Pizza Towers To Defeat", (1979) which was a hit gold record.

Life and career

1960s

1970s

References

External links