Muere Mike Doyle, pionero del surfing

Mike Doyle, surfista innovador, socorrista, shaper, pionero del surfing de olas grandes, pintor, inventor de la cera para las tablas de surf, viajero, ha fallecido esta semana en su casa de Gringo Hill, San José del Cabo, México. Se va uno de los grandes.

"Con gran dolor tenemos que anunciar que el lejendario Waterman, Mike Doyle ha fallecid. Mike se fué tranquilamente mientras dormía temprano esta mañana en su casa en Gringo Hill, con su amada esposa Annie a su lado", ha publicado la familia de Doyle en su cuenta de Instagram. "Es un hermoso día aquí en San José, las olas son perfectas y sabemos que Mike está en el cielo con una sonrisa en su rostro, surfeando una ola sin fin. Por favor, sabed que Mike estaba en paz cuando pasó y que sabía que sus padres estarían en la puerta del cielo para recibirle".

Doyle fue el autor de la famosa frase "Vive para surfear, surfea para vivir" y la cumplió hasta el final.

Nació en 1941 y no tardó mucho en encontrar el camino de surfing. Empezó a surfear cen 1954, cuando vió a Dale Velzy, Bob Hogans, y Greg Noll surfear en el muelle de Manhattan Beach.

Surfista goofy se reconvirtió a regular cuando empezó a surfear en Malibu, donde compartió muchos baños con gente como Miki Dora, Mike Doyle y Tom Morey. En 1956 trabajó como doble en la Gidget, película que cambió la percepción que se tenía sobre el surfing en la época.

Doyle, un tipo alto y fuerte, fue un buen competidor en todo tipo de estilos ganando pruebas como el Duke Kahanamoku Invitational.

En olas grandes soñó con hacer tow-in. "Si el surfista pudiese ser remolcado en la ola por una embarcación, tal y como lo haría un esquiador acuático", dijo en 1963.

Pero si por algo se le conoce es por ser un gran innovador. A mediados de los 60 desarrolló la primera parafina específica para el surf. En los 70 inventó el Single Ski, precursor del snowboard, en el 74 ayudó a crear el Morey-Doyle, la primera tabla "blanda", que luego se transformaría en las famosas Morey Boogies, y lo que son hoy las tablas usadas en las escuelas de surf.

No ganó mucho con estos desarrollos, más bien poco y sus días han acabado plácidamente en su casa en Los Cabos, México, donde se mudó en 1980 y donde abrió una escuela de surf.

"Probablemente ningún hombre haya vivido tantas aventuras de surf como yo, y todavía no he tenido suficiente", comentaba Doyle.

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

It’s with a heavy heart that we have to tell everyone the Legendary Waterman, Mike Doyle has passed away. Mike slipped away peacefully in his sleep early this morning at his home on Gringo Hill, with his loving wife, Annie right by his side. It is a beautiful day here in San Jose, the waves are perfect and we know Mike is in Heaven with a smile on his face, surfing an endless wave. Please know Mike was at peace when he passed and he knew his mom and dad would be there to greet him at heavens gate. Once additional arrangements have been made we will post the details. With much love, The Doyle Surfboards family #legend

Una publicación compartida de Doyle Surfboards & SUP (@doylesurf) el 30 Abr, 2019 a las 10:57 PDT

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

Talk story with Mike Doyle 🏄 Aloha! I was Pete Peterson’s tandem surf partner in ‘64 & ‘65...We competed in surf contests all up & down the California coast & Hawaii with many tandem teams back then . You & Linda Merrill were definitely our toughest competition...Remember how close the points were between us in the contests?! Pete & I were grateful to be asked to participate in the Hawaiian Invitational @ Makaha with the Duke Kahanamoku presiding. Mike, You & Linda Merrill were sent the same invitation. Pete & I celebrated heading to Hawaii by first jumping off the Santa Monica Pier into the ice cold December water...Pete said we could now feel the difference in the temperature when we felt the warm tropical surf wash over our bodies in Hawaii. We were stoked! Pete, Alice (his wife ), my sister, Connie, & I all 20 other big name surfers endured the 9 hour flight on a bumpy prop plane. My sister & I chatted on the plane about how lucky we both were to go together on our first trip to the Islands. Connie was chosen to replace Bob Moore’s tandem partner in the upcoming contest since Bob’s partner had dropped out of that contest. Excited to land safely at Honolulu Airport, we proceeded to drive to Makaha where we were staying in Pete Peterson’s friend’s home on the point of Makaha. The view from the home was incredible. We could view the waves we would soon be surfing in the contest...Just beautiful and huge!!🌊The next day Pete & I paddled out at Makaha to practice our tandem surfing. The waves were nice size like 6-8 feet & glassy...maybe you were out there too with Linda. We were enjoying some great rides when someone yelled, “Outside”!!!! I looked up & saw a wave as tall as a building!!! Read the rest of this story on our Facebook.com/doylesurfboards.com page. #doylesurfboards #livetosurf #surftolive #morningglass

Una publicación compartida de Doyle Surfboards & SUP (@doylesurf) el 8 Mar, 2019 a las 2:06 PST

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

It is with heavy hearts that we share news of the passing of our dear friend Mike Doyle. He gracefully kicked out in his sleep at home on Gringo Hill in Mexico with his loving wife, Annie, by his side. . A waterman in every sense of the word, Mike’s impact on the sport, culture and lifestyle of surfing began back in 1954 when he paddled out in the South Bay for the first time. He famously sold Kathy Kohner her first surfboard in '56 and then worked as a stunt double in "Gidget" in 1959. He was the winner of the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational in 1968. He's credited with inventing the Monoski, a precursor to the snowboard, in the '70's. Doyle also held a BA in Biology and minor in Arts History. He moved to San Jose Del Cabo in 1980 to paint, create and live a true surfer's life. More on his accomplishments at SHACC.org. . Mike’s smile and stoke will be profoundly missed. Godspeed, dear friend.

Una publicación compartida de SHACC (@surfingheritage) el 30 Abr, 2019 a las 1:17 PDT

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

“When I see a car full of surfers going down the highway with a rack of surfboards, my heart still leaps out and goes with them. Probably no man alive has gone on more surf adventures than I have, yet I still haven’t had enough. If the conditions are right, I’ll walk away from anything to spend a day in the water with my friends.” - Mike Doyle RIP 🙏🏽

Una publicación compartida de Shaper Made (@shapermade) el 1 May, 2019 a las 12:51 PDT