NO ONE had more competitive success than Jeff Hackman in the early 70's.
Jeff Hakman is a world surfing champion and a businessman, who together with friend Bob McKnight convinced Alan Green, the co-founder of Quiksilver to allow them the rights to trade the name in America in 1976. In 1976 Hakman founded Quiksilver America with Bob McKnight and in 1984 founded Quiksilver Europe with Harry Hodge, Brigitte Darrigrand and John Winship.
Born in Redondo Beach, California, Jeff Hakman’s father bought him a crisp new 7’11” Velzy-Jacobs surfboard when he was just 8. His dad showed him the ropes in the ocean and before long, Hakman was cutting school to surf up and down the coast with his pops. At 12, the Hakman family packed up and moved to Oahu. Soon, he was getting free boards from the likes of master craftsman Dick Brewer and found himself surfing Waimea Bay by 13. At school in Hawaii, Hakman had Peter Cole for algebra and Fred Van Dyke for science - both were pioneering big-wave surfers on the North Shore.
Soon, Hakman’s talent caught up with his good fortune, as Hakman excelled in the contest jersey as well. At 17 years old he won the Duke contest in 1970 and then again in 1971. He also won the inaugural Pipeline Masters (1971). He won the Hang Ten American Pro in ’72 and ’73 as well as the Gunston 500 (1972). Then, in 30-foot surf at Waimea Bay, Hakman finished runner up by a fraction of a point to Reno Abellira at the 1974 Smirnoff. And at age 26, he won the 1976 Bells Beach event in Victoria, marking the first time a non-Australian surfer had won the prestigious bell. This would also be the event where Hakman bid adieu to professional surfing.
During that trip to Australia, he recognized a great business opportunity and managed to secure the U.S. license for a new boardshorts brand called Quiksilver. Along with Bob McKnight, the two cofounded Quiksilver U.S.A. and made a small fortune.
However, Hakman’s streak of lucky encounters soon came to a screeching halt as he struggled with drug addiction, eventually costing him the Quiksilver license and a fair bit of coin. Nevertheless, the fortunate Hakman resurfaced from rehab clean, becoming a founding partner in Quiksilver Europe. He eventually cashed out after Quiksilver Europe merged with the U.S.A. and settled, financially sound, on Kauai with his wife and kids. Deeper details of this unique life story of one of surfing’s original pioneers can be read in Phil Jarratt’s book, Mr Sunset: The Jeff Hakman Story.
From: surfingwalkoffame.com/jeff-ha...
Producer, Camera and Editor: Chris Rust (Nalu TV)
Writer, Narrator: Ron Mizutani
Thumbnail Surf Photo: Jeff Divine
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