Mike Hynson, the charismatic surfer and shaper who rose to world fame as the co-star of the iconic 1966 Bruce Brown film, has died at the age of 82.
Born June 28, 1942, in Crescent City, California, Hynson grew up in Hawaii and Southern California, eventually settling in Pacific Beach in San Diego. It was on these shores that he developed his talent for surfing, quickly becoming one of the strongest and most stylish surfers of the era.
In 1961, on his first trip to Hawaii, Mike Hynson was among the first surfers to surf the challenging Pipeline wave, which later became a surfing mecca on Oahu’s North Shore. Two years later, director Bruce Brown invited Hynson to join Robert August on a surf trip around the globe, resulting in what would become the iconic film “The Endless Summer.”
Among other things, this job was the perfect reason for Hynson to leave the country, thus avoiding being drafted into the army. The film, which chronicled their search for “the perfect wave”, was a seminal moment in surf culture. The wave he surfed at Cape St. Francis in South Africa remains one of the most iconic scenes in surfing history.
In the video above, filmed in 1991, Mike Hynson describes the extraordinary moment in “The Endless Summer” when he discovered and surfed the “perfect wave” at Cape St. Francis for the first time. After days of traveling, he woke up early one morning and noticed incredible waves off the point. While his teammates Bruce Brown and Robert August initially ignored the spot, Hynson felt compelled to explore it on his own. As he walked along the beach, he felt a deep sense of destiny leading him there. When he paddled out, the waves were perfectly shaped and Hynson rode them with innate precision. His enthusiasm in the lineup convinced Brown and August to join him right away, creating the iconic scene in the film. That moment became a pivotal scene in The Endless Summer.
The film showed, with its scenes, perfect waves between Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Tahiti and Hawaii. The film also features other important figures of the time such as Miki Dora, Phil Edwards and Butch Van Artsdalen.
A surf rebel
Known for his casual style on the waves, Hynson also influenced the masses out of the water. With his slicked-back blond hair and refined fashion sense, he was the embodiment of 1960s California cool. He wasn’t particularly interested in surfing contests, but Hynson still had good results throughout the decade, placing fourth at the 1963 Malibu Invitational, second at the 1965 Tom Morey Invitational, and second at the 1969 Santa Cruz Big Wave Contest. He was also selected for the 1965, 1966, and 1967 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational, and was a founding member of the rowdy but highly competitive Windansea Surf Club in 1963.
His influence also extended to surfboard design.
At Gordon & Smith Surfboards, he created the famous “Red Fin” model and introduced innovations like the down-rail shape that transformed board performance.
The Turbulent Side of Hynson’s Life
In the late 1960s, he was swept up in the counterculture wave of the era, joining the “Brotherhood of Eternal Love” and experimenting with alternative lifestyles. Struggles with substance abuse led to personal and professional challenges, but Hynson remained a revered figure in the surfing world.
Over the years he appeared in more than a dozen surf films, including “Surfing Hollow Days” (1962), “The Angry Sea” (1963), “Inside Out” (1965) and “The Cosmic Children” (1970), and was hailed in 1985 as one of 25 surfers who changed the course of the sport.
Hynson passed away on January 9, 2025, in Encinitas, California, surrounded by his loved ones. The family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses. He is survived by his partner Carol Hannigan, his son Michael Hynson Jr., and several grandchildren.
Source: Luís MP | SurferToday.com
