Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships

Fred Hemmings, retired from competition as a surfer, began his career as an event promoter and ran the Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships between 1969 and 1977.[1]

The Smirnoff World Pro-Am became known as the de facto professional World Championship because the International Surfing Federation had been unable to establish a format or sponsorship, so no official amateur championships were held between 1973 and 1975.[2] Laura Lee Ching became the first woman to compete in the Smirnoff World Pro-Am in 1973.[3][4]

The World Champions were:

  • 1969 Corky Carroll, USA, & Margo Godfrey, USA;
  • 1970 Nat Young, Australia;
  • 1971 Gavin Rudolph, South Africa;
  • 1972 Paul Neilsen, Australia;
  • 1973 Ian Cairns, Australia;
  • 1974 Reno Abellira, Hawaii;
  • 1975 Mark Richards, Australia;
  • 1976 Mark Warren, Australia, and Jericho Poppler, USA;
  • 1977 Reno Abellira, Hawaii, and Jericho Poppler, USA.[5]

The Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships were superseded by the International Professional Surfers (IPS).

References

  1. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Surfing, Matt Warshaw, p. 548 (accessed 27 April 2011)
  2. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Surfing, Matt Warshaw, p. 548 (accessed 27 April 2011)
  3. ↑ "Laura Ching". Thesuperstars.org. 1950-12-25. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  4. ↑ "'Superstar' Laura Ching Posed Nude For Magazine". Sarasota Journal. Sarasota. December 20, 1974. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Surfing, Matt Warshaw, p. 548 (accessed 27 April 2011)
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