Peter Townend

Peter Townend, also known as PT, is an Australian surfer born in 1953 in Coolangatta, Queensland, who became the first IPS/ASP World Surfing Champion in 1976 at the age of 23. He began surfing in 1967, entered his first competition in 1969, and finished second at the Australian National Titles in the juniors in 1971 and in the men's division in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1976. He later co-founded the Bronzed Aussies, doubled for an actor in the film Big Wednesday in 1977, and won the Hang Ten contest in Durban, South Africa in 1979. Outside competition he worked as a stuntman, contest organizer, writer, publisher, marketer and commentator, coached the American national team in Huntington Beach, helped found Surfing America, and presided over the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association. He was inducted into the Huntington Beach Walk of Fame in 1998 and the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 2001.