Laird Hamilton changed surfing. The tow movement can be largely attributed to him and the Strapped Crew trying new things on waves that were thought of as too big to surfed. He was foiling well before it was as popular as it is now. The popularity of standup paddling skyrocketed largely in part to his exploits. He’s been ahead of the game for decades now, and despite the love-him-or-hate-him persona, it can’t be denied that he changed the course of riding waves for every surfer on Earth.
Which is why it’s always interesting to see what he’s up to. He headed to Chicama — a wave often called the longest left in the world — and pulled out his foil board. It’s clear, even as he ages, he’s still got that certain something that put him at the forefront of so many movements.