Gerry Lopez

In the world of surfing, Gerry Lopez is a legend who impresses the masses with his supreme skills. On and off the beach, he leaves his admirers breathless and gasping for air as he drops into the planet’s largest waves,

While living in his hometown of Honolulu, Lopez took to the shores as a teenager and discovered his newfound treasure of “tuberiding,” surfing on large waves with hollow tubes. Ala Moana became the place where he first proved his perfections and Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore became the focal point of his fame. It was this spot that etched his name upon the timeline of surfing history forever.

Aside from his heroic feats in the waves, Lopez is also a positive influence on dry land. He is the Ocean Ambassador for Patagonia, an outdoor clothing and gear company; founded a surfboard company and a clothing line; has acted in films including “Conan the Barbarian” and “Big Wednesday,” and shapes sailboards, paddleboards and surfboards. Lopez now resides in Bend, Oregon with his wife Toni and son, Alex, where he lives the life as a passionate snowboarder, snowboard shaper and yogi.

If you’re lucky, you can catch Lopez in surf towns, promoting Jeff Johnson’s new book, “Bend to Baja,” a publication depicting their road trip fueled by biodiesel energy. This past December at the Patagonia headquarters in Ventura, California, he shared a slideshow chronicling his life in surfing and shared his suggestions on protecting our beaches. When asked what could be done, Lopez suggested, “Pick up your own garbage at the beach and if you are really feeling good, pick up someone else’s. That’s a great start!”