Shaun Tomson

Shaun Tomson is a South African and American professional surfer, born on 21 August 1955 in Durban, who won the International Professional Surfers world title in 1977 and is listed among the top ten surfers of the century. He learned to surf around Durban under the eye of his father Ernie and in 1975 was part of the Free Ride generation that rode Oahu's North Shore alongside Australians such as Mark Richards and Peter Townend. He is credited with changing the way the tube section of a wave was ridden and won 19 major professional events. Away from competition he founded the clothing brands Instinct and Solitude, serves as a board member and ambassador of the Surfrider Foundation, and has written the book Surfer's Code, which sets out twelve lessons for life.