Robert Harold "Nat" Young (born 14 November 1947) is an
Australian
Australian(s) may refer to:
Australia
* Australia, a country
* Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia
** European Australians
** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists
** Aboriginal A ...
surfer and
author
An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states:
"''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...
.
Surfing career
Born in
Sydney,
New South Wales
)
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, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, Young grew up in the small coastal suburb of
Collaroy. In 1964, he was runner-up in the Australian junior championship at
Manly, and two years later was named
world surfing champion in 1966. He won the title again (then called the Smirnoff World Pro/Am) in 1970. Young won three Australian titles in 1966, 1967 and 1969, and won the
Bells Beach Surf Classic three times.
Young featured in a number of important surf films of 1960s and 1970s including the classic 1973 surf movie ''
Crystal Voyager'' and he also had a featured role as surfer Nick Naylor in the 1979 Australian drama film ''
Palm Beach''.
Post-surfing career
Young ran for NSW Parliament in the
1986 by-election for the seat of Pittwater. Labor did not run a candidate, and he was narrowly defeated by Liberal candidate
Jim Longley.
Since retiring from professional surfing, Young has written several books about surfing and sailboarding in Australia. His son
Beau Young has also seen some success in the sport, winning the World Longboard title in 2000 and again in 2003.
In 2000, Young was a victim of 'surf rage' when he was severely bashed on his home break of
Angourie after a long-running feud and heated altercation with another local surfer. During his recovery he wrote a book titled ''Surf Rage'', calling for greater tolerance and mutual respect in the surfing community, although Young admitted he had acted aggressively during his career (where he had earned the nickname "The Animal"), and had acted provocatively towards his attacker, whom he met and forgave several months after the incident.
Surfing legend tells of surf rage
'' The 7.30 Report'' ( ABC TV), 23 October 2000.
Publications
*
*
*
*
*
*
* Young, Nat (2008). ''The complete history of surfing: from water to snow.'' Utah: Gibbs Smith.
* Young, Nat (2019). ''Church of the Open Sky.'' Michael Joseph.
References
External links
*
Nat Young: Surfing Legend
official site)
Nat Young biography at Surfline.com
*
1947 births
Living people
Australian surfers
Australian sportswriters
World Surf League surfers
Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees
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