Laird Hamilton

Laird Hamilton gained early recognition playing antagonist Lance Burkhart in the 1987 film ‘North Shore,’ before co-founding the ‘Strapped Crew’ on Maui in the early 1990s. With this pioneering group, he pushed the boundaries of surfing Jaws break, executing 30-foot jumps on sailboards and pioneering early kiteboarding techniques. A pivotal moment in big-wave surfing occurred in late 1992 when Hamilton, alongside Darrick Doerner and Buzzy Kerbox, co-invented tow-in surfing. This revolutionary technique utilized inflatable boats, and later personal watercraft, enabling riders to successfully tackle previously unrideable waves up to 70 feet high at speeds exceeding 50 mph.

Hamilton also served as Kevin Costner’s stunt double in the 1995 film ‘Waterworld.’ Hamilton’s legacy was unequivocally cemented on August 17, 2000, with his legendary ride at Tahiti’s Teahupo’o break. Towed into an enormous wave by Darrick Doerner, his triumphant navigation of this wave graced the cover of Surfer magazine, cementing its status as ‘the heaviest ever ridden.’ His influence extended to popularizing kitesurfing in 1996. In 1999, he accomplished a remarkable feat by sailing a windsurfer between Oahu and Kaua?i in under six hours. Hamilton’s cinematic presence continued with an appearance in the James Bond movie ‘Die Another Day’ (2002), and he was a central figure in acclaimed surf documentaries ‘Step Into Liquid’ (2003) and ‘Riding Giants’ (2004).

His acting credits include playing Troy in ‘The Descendants’ and a surf vagabond in the 2015 film ‘Point Break.’ A notable entrepreneur, Hamilton co-founded Laird Superfood with Paul Hodge and Gabrielle Reece in 2015, which went public on the NYSE in 2020. He also co-created XPT Life with Gabrielle Reece, an innovative fitness and wellness program. In 2018, Hamilton demonstrated his deep community commitment by voluntarily utilizing his personal boat to rescue residents of Kaua?i during record-breaking floods.