| |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
MARK CUNNINGHAM
In April of 2005, Mark Cunningham, 55, celebrated the end of his stellar 30-year Hawaiian lifeguard career, most of which was spent on the North Shore of Oahu with
a very special breed of waterman. His list of former work colleagues is a veritable “who’s who” of Hawaiian surfing lore: Buffalo Keaulana, Eddie Aikau, Darrick Doerner,
Rell Sunn and Tiger Espere. And while Cunningham himself has achieved legendary status, he’s done so in quite a different way. Aside from being the man who spent most of
his days on the tower at Ehukai Beach Park, a.k.a. Pipeline, he’s earned a solid reputation as the world’s preeminent bodysurfer. His first North Shore Bodysurfing
Championship came while he was in high school in 1974. His last one came in 2000, at the age of 44. In between he nabbed roughly 14 other titles, but even more impressive,
thousands of friends and acquaintances from all over the world. - Chris Mauro Surfer Mag
|
| |
Born and Raised?
I was made in Hawaii, born in Massachusetts and then grew up in Honolulu.
How long have you been on the Rock?
With the exception of a year & a 1/2 that I was going to school @ UCSB, playing water polo & lifeguarding ( my first ocean lifeguarding was the summer of '75 for Santa
Barbara City). After that I started lifeguarding for the City & County of Honolulu the summer of '76 and moved out to the North Shore that winter for just under a 20 year run of
living and lifeguarding in the Country. The last 10 years of my L/G career was working out of our Headquarters in HNL as a Training Lieutenant. FYI, Crossed paths quite a few times
w/ Archie K. in the line of duty. Cliffnotes version of answer "Basically all my life".
Who do you look up to?
Anyone who is intelligent, open minded, aware, stoked, has a sense of humor and has their shit together. I also look up to older surfers who continue to get wet (or did) and seem to
make the world a better place with their stoke & passion ie: Duke Kahanamoku, John Kelly, Woody Brown, Jeff Johnson, Doc Paskowitz, Peter Cole, Rabbit Kekai, Buffalo Keaulana, George
Downing,Warren Harlowe, Joey Cabell, Gerry Lopez, Jock Sutherland, Ben Aipa, Herbie Fletcher........... just to name a few.
Who do you enjoy being in the water with?
I enjoy being in the water with people who are happy, stoked, having a good time and not taking this silly activity of surfing too seriously.
Years saving lives?
Just under 20 @ Ehukai/Pipeline and another 10 at our headquarters & Training Center in Waikiki/ Ala Moana.
Worst life saving experience?
Sorry, don't like to dwell on death & tragedy.
Best Life saving experience?
Having a front row seat to Pipeline and getting to know some of the international cast of characters who've performed on her stage.
Favorite size to bodysurf Pipe?
Anything up to about 8 feet, it really depends on the crowd and the conditions. Anything much over 8'
is just way too much water moving around to not have a craft. I'm pretty much a spectator after that.
Why bodysurfing and not standup surfing?
Because I'm a KOOK and why would any lineup need another one?
Is there anyone out there that bodysurfs well that doesn’t get recognized as a body surfer?
There are loads of guys that rip on Oahu alone that nobody knows about and I'm sure the same holds true for the neighbor islands, California, Brazil, Oz and the rest of the world. Most body surfers
are out there for fun, fitness, feeling good, escaping gravity and stoke........... if you want recognition get into acting, politics or both!
|
|
