Mike Hynson - The Complete Surfer
by AllAboutSurf
posted 2005-01-24
If ever there was a complete surfer then Mike Hynson is it. His accomplishments are many, his controversies huge, his abilities in the water and behind a planer unquestionable. There are few eras in our sport that he hasn't touched in one-way or another and he stands in a queue' by himself. Mike looks back on the surfing movement from the 50's to today very nonchalantly, as though he was casually talking with friends.
Photo by Tom Keck
Hynson still possesses much of the street-hewn charm and creativity he had when Brown stuck him in that movie nearly 40 years ago. He's still loaded with opinions and ideas, too, and he still surfs, though not as often as he used to.
Growing up in Southern California in the mid fifties Mike began surfing in Pacific Beach, Ca. He adapted well to the water and very quickly was known as a stylish surfer around the beaches and reefs of La Jolla. He quickly became one of the best wave riders with his casual and uniquely noticeable style.
By 1961 he was on the North Shore and was a pioneer in surfing and popularizing surf spots like Pipeline. A couple of years later he was given the nod by filmmaker Bruce Brown to travel around the world to surf and star in Brown's now legendary movie about chasing perfect waves and the ultimate season, "The Endless Summer."
As if cast in Hollywood, the good looking Hynson joined up with Robert August, visiting and surfing places like Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Hawaii. These two California surfers were riding many of these spots for the first time. In their search for perfect surf the group stumbled on a point wave called Cape St. Francis that changed the face of surf exploration forever. Mike rode the first wave of the segment to stunned surf audiences worldwide. A star was born, a cult classic film was rendered, and along with the Gidget generation, the numbers of surfers increased dramatically. The lifestyle that we know today took roots in a lot of ways with the Endless Summer and Mike Hynson's persona in that film.
Photo by Ken McKnight
Hynson came back to many changes from that road trip. His surfboard gig with Hobie changed over to Gordon and Smith. By the mid to late sixties he released his three stringer signature model, completely revamped the design of surfboard fins on long boards, and bailed to Hawaii where the seeds of change were being planted and spread to the consciousness of the youth, most notably the surfing youth. Enter Rainbow Bridge, down railers, the Fish design and the rest is history.
Today Mike Hynson still shapes with enthusiasm and a masters touch. His progressive designs and his Fish and Twinzers are being touted as state of the art. His Balsa boards are in high demand. He still shapes daily and creates under the moniker of Hynson and Company.
Photo courtesy of Sean Mattison
We caught up with Mike recently thanks to Sean Mattison at SurfRide www.surfride.com to ask about where he is today and a little about where he came from. His answers, well, are as interesting as his career as, a Complete Surfer.
AAS - "If my boards could talk, they would tell stories of amazing adventures." Michael Hynson 2004. This is a quote from your website what would each one of those boards say?
Mike - If, is really the question. To tell you the truth, I've never really talked or listened to a surfboard and I'm not really ready to be the first to do so either. If my memory is correct, I saw a Hobie surfboard ad in a magazine in the 90's and there was a picture of an old longboard standing upright and talking to a new shortboard. "Hey shorty, where are you off to, and what are all those colors for, shark repellent or for rescue after you break, because of the light-weight materials you're made of."
The longboard went on about years of surfing waves all over the world, its many proud owners, and told the shortboard not to count on a long life expectancy. At least, that's what I got out of it, and what influence I was under at the time- God only knows- and that information is not available to anyone. I've told this story before, and have yet to find someone who has even seen the ad. It's an interesting concept and maybe someday I'll pursue my imagination on the subject, but not at this time. I'm still writing a book of some of my adventures in life. Then maybe I'll consider writing from a surfboard's point of view. Don't hold your breath, reality is a fine line, the crossover could be fatal. If you don't know what I mean, I understand totally.
AAS - Have you ever had a board talk to you?
Mike - I wouldn't tell you.
