Corky Carroll
Among a host of other contributions Corky Carroll made to the sport of surfing and to the arts, he definitely did his part to advance the professional side of surfing - at a time when it was truly in its infancy. Recognized as the first professional surfer, Corky always managed to convey surfing as a cool lifestyle, not just a competitive sport.
Charles “Corky” Carroll was born in Alhambra, California in September of 1947. When he was still a baby, his family moved about 25 miles south to Surfside, a tiny beach community within the city limits of Seal Beach, California. He got his first surfboard at the age of nine, and won his first contest at 14. In 1963, he won the juniors division of the United States Championships, and by 1965 – the year he graduated from Huntington Beach High School - he had become a team rider for Hobie Surfboards. By the time he retired from competition in late 1972 at the age of 25, Corky had won close to 100 surfing titles, including five consecutive Overall U.S Surfing Championships (1966-1970) and three international pro surfing championships.
But winning surf contests wasn’t Corky’s only claim to fame as a surfer. He had a hand in designing a quiver of innovative surfboard models for Hobie during the mid to late ‘60s transition era, including the Corky Carroll Model, The Flexible (a stringerless design), The Mini, and the Deadly Flying Glove. In 1970, Corky started his own surfboard company, Space Sticks. Although short lived, the brand still produced some high quality, innovative surfboards, shaped by legendary Hobie shaper Terry Martin. The Space Sticks logo was designed by Bill Ogden, renowned for his psychedelic surf art style.
With so much more to write about Corky Carroll the surfer, one more of his many accolades deserves mentioning. In 1967, he was named “best surfer in the world” by a Surfer magazine reader’s poll. The survey, which ran for 57 years starting in 1963 (Phil Edwards won in that inaugural year), was a measure of the surfer “who ‘truly won over’ the soul of the surfing world.” Corky himself said of the award, “To be named the best by the people was the greatest honor...it’s one of the only trophies I kept for my kids.”
Over the years, Corky Carroll the surfer has had a significant media presence. In 1965, the 18 year-old won an endorsement deal with Jantzen Sportswear, alongside older industry notables like Ricky Grigg and John Severson. He also appeared in a couple dozen surf movies, including The Endless Summer and Five Summer Stories. Corky was also a guest on a variety of TV shows, including The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffiin Show, and ABC’s Wide World of Sports. And of course, who can forget his role in the ‘80s “Tastes Great, Less Filling” national TV ads for Miller Lite beer? He also did commercials for Ocean Spray, Coke, Chrysler, Arco and other notable brands.
Seems like the closest Corky Carroll got to a real job was when he served as the Advertising Director for Surfer magazine, a gig he worked from 1976 to 1986. Corky has also been a regular columnist for the Orange County Register for the past 33 years, and has authored four books. His most recent work, Not Done Yet, is his autobiography.
One more fun fact about Corky’s remarkably diverse media presence; in the year 2000, he did the original voiceover for Grubby Grouper, a SpongeBob series character. Perhaps aptly, the Grubby Grouper character portrays a famous, crusty old surfer.
Finally, there is Corky Carroll, the musician and fine artist. Not surprisingly, the surf lifestyle is at the epicenter of his work, and his paintings continue to be exhibited in galleries throughout the U.S. and Mexico. Corky is also an accomplished singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has 13 record albums and two single releases to his credit, and shared the stage with Jan and Dean on multiple occasions. I remember reading about Corky Carroll the surfer during the ‘60s, but after his retirement from competitive surfing in 1972, he really immersed himself in what has become a successful musical and fine arts career.
After looking into the life of Corky Carroll as Last Wave is stoked to introduce his Space Sticks logo tees, what kept going through my mind was, “how has he been able to do so many different things, and for so long? I mean, he was a prolific contest surfer, winning in both big and small waves. He has been a surf instructor, tennis instructor and ski instructor. He has marketed his own surf apparel, surf wax, and even his own brand of coffee. Today, he continues to work as an author, fine artist, and recording artist. He even runs a surfboard company he started with Joel Saltzman and Mike Purpus, another well-known ‘60s contest surfer. Today, Blue Mango Surfboards are shaped by master shaper Jose Barahona in Redondo Beach, California.
Corky Carroll remains one of surfing’s great ambassadors. His colorful career helped bridge the gap between the competitive side of surfing and the casual, easygoing manner that defines the surfing way of life. In an October 2000 writing by legendary surf journalist and editor Drew Kampion, Corky said, “Yes, I still surf all the time, and no, I still don’t have a real job. Let’s hope it never comes to that.”
Until next time,
Ted
