It’s no secret that we think Laird Hamilton is great. Really great. And the 50-year-old surfing legend is still at it, making the news twice in the span of two days as to Southern California’s beaches.
First, he gave onlookers at Malibu Lagoon (also known as Surfrider Beach) quite a spectacle Tuesday when he decided to go out into the massive waves and “.” That means he rode the wave through gaps in the posts beneath the Malibu Pier—and all on a stand-up paddleboard. Onlookers , fortunately, as shooting the pier is not an easy trick ( attempting to do it).
Hamilton just kept on going Wednesday morning, showing up at Malibu beach in time to help two other men save a distressed surfer. The man had lost his board in the strong surf and was swept toward some rocks, a witness . After swimming the man back to shore, Hamilton said, “Oh, he was happy, he was thankful. His eyes were big, and he was appreciative that he was back on the land.”
Suffice it to say there’s a lot going on at Southern California’s beaches at the moment. Thousands continue to flock to the shore as category 5 Hurricane Marie, spinning in the Pacific, reaching 15 feet. The huge surf has been a recent highlight for some, but it looks like it’s been one-upped by a surfing great who just won’t quit.