I just love it – the power of the waves pounding the cliffs! I’m pretty sure one more guy would have loved it - “The Duke” - the ancestor of modern surfing. Duke Kahanamoku was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. As he was growing up by the sea it became his everything. He dropped out of school to become a “beach boy”. As a beach boy one lived by the sea and fed on what it can offer. He fixed fishing nets and surfboards among many other things for a living. While living by the sea he developed an incredible feeling for swimming. He did so well that he became the number one swimmer at the time and won the Olympic medal 1912, 1920 and 1924. Along on his swimming contests around the world was always his surfing board. He held “show-offs” on his board and it was this that spread the sport throughout the globe.
The Duke is placed both in the swimming and the surfing hall of fame and this makes him even more unique. The Duke is even today seen as the ultimate water human, with his athletic body and his big hands. He put out a new standard for water sports all over the world. His original board was made of wood measuring 4.8 meters weighing 52 kilo.
At his funeral in Honolulu, 1968, he was “hailed” by 30 cops and thousands of fans as his ashes were spread over the seas.
His amazing life became even more interesting when he got older and he was an important person on Hawaii, if you want to learn more about this giant just “google” him up.
Until we meet again I hope you enjoy the picture and appreciate The Duke biography.
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