SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The life of surf icon Mike Hynson was celebrated Saturday with a heartfelt paddle out at Windansea Beach. The gathering took place on what would have been Hynson’s 83rd birthday at one of his favorite breaks, bringing together family, friends and fellow surfers to honor a man who shaped the sport and culture of surfing.

Commonly known for his starring role in “The Endless Summer,” Hynson was far more than just a movie star. He was a groundbreaking surfboard shaper, daring surfer and countercultural rebellion.

Born on June 28, 1942, in Crescent City, California, Hynson was the son of a Navy serviceman. His childhood was split between Hawaii and California, before his family eventually settled in Pacific Beach in the mid-1950s, where his love for surfing began.

“Michael’s style, Michael’s panache, his whole personality, was something that nobody had ever seen,” said David Rullo, Hynson’s lifelong friend. “[He] grew up here, surfed here and created a culture. You can see what it created here today with all these people coming to enjoy his life legacy, and that’s what he left us, a legacy.”

By the late ‘50s, Hynson was fully immersed in San Diego’s surf scene. His early work with Gordon & Smith Surfboards and his Red Fin design established him as a respected shaper. Simultaneously, his time spent with Windansea Surf Club — who helped organize Saturday’s tribute alongside Hynson’s family — became legendary.

“There was only one endless summer, and there’s always only gonna be one Mike Hynson,” said Jim Kempton, executive director of the California Surf Museum. “He had an amazing board called the Red Fin, so you could recognize your board when you were looking for it in the water, before leashes, and his down-rail was one of the most significant innovations in surfing design.”

Surf legend Mike Hynson honored with paddle out on what would have been his 83rd birthday (FOX 5/KUSI)
Surf legend Mike Hynson honored with paddle out on what would have been his 83rd birthday (FOX 5/KUSI)
Surf legend Mike Hynson honored with paddle out on what would have been his 83rd birthday (FOX 5/KUSI)
Surf legend Mike Hynson honored with paddle out on what would have been his 83rd birthday (FOX 5/KUSI)
Surf legend Mike Hynson honored with paddle out on what would have been his 83rd birthday (FOX 5/KUSI)

Hynson changed the look of surfing by making the first down-rail board, removable fin and foiled fin.

In 1961, he returned to Hawaii and became part of the first generation of surfers to unlock the secrets of Pipeline, one of the world’s most challenging waves. Two years later, shortly after graduating from Mission Bay High School, Hynson was approached by filmmaker Bruce Brown to star in a new surf documentary.

The project, “The Endless Summer,” followed Hynson and Seal Beach surfer Robert August as they chased surf around the globe. They were among the first American surfers to explore the waves of Africa, New Zealand and Tahiti.

The film became an international sensation, and Hynson’s silhouette on its poster came to symbolize the surfing lifestyle. Yet, he was never defined by that moment alone.

In the late ‘60s, he became associated with the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, a counterculture group based in Laguna Beach known for its involvement in the psychedelic movement. The affiliation brought turbulence and legal troubles to Hynson’s life, but it also solidified his role as a symbol of surfing’s rebellious spirit.

“He was completely progressive. He was the head of the psychedelic era. He’s been the head of the yoga era. We had a juice bar in the ‘70s. He’s always been ahead of the curve,” said Melinda Merryweather, Hynson’s first wife and Windansea Surf Club member.

Though health challenges led him to step back from surfing in his later years, Hynson remained engaged with the community. He lived quietly in Encinitas, shaping boards in his garage and inspiring the next generation of surfers who sought him out for stories, wisdom and craftsmanship.

Hynson died in Encinitas at the age of 82 on January 10, 2025, surrounded by family and friends.

The love and respect the surf community had for him was made clear by Saturday’s paddle out, which drew more than 100 people in his honor.

“I think Mike would have been really happy about this,” said Kempton.

Hynson had Merryweather promise that when he passed away, he would be taken to Windansea alongside all of his friends, so she made sure that happened.