From "AAAA: Summer Rip, Organic Dilemmas, and a Goofy Resurgence," Drew Kampion, SURFER, Nov 1969

It seems absurd, in a top-echelon organization of pros and near-pros, that contests are still limited to weekends. It also seems silly to traipse off to Mexico or Malibu or Hermosa or wherever, when AAAA-quality surf exists at a different location, and the contest site itself is obviously not producing the stuff. As Gary Chapman said about the 3Ms surf: "It was barely organic!"

Dale Dobson won at 3Ms. His winning was an example of craftsmanship and wave selection. He won with a display of a style that many think is unfunctional, weird, and uncreative. Yet Dobson’s style, so much his own, is probably, along with Jock’s, Nat’s and Lynch’s, one of the most unique and creative in the business. Dale is full-on into ski-type rotation. He began this trip about a year ago, and people didn’t understand what he was attempting. Now, as the style becomes more and more perfected, what he is after is increasingly valid, increasingly beautiful, and increasingly positive. His torso-rotation snakes the board through the water, draws speed out of flat spots, and utilizes a mushy wave more than mere trimming would do. Dale has become one of the best whitewater riders, maintaining such amazing stability that he uses the churning soup as successfully as others use green walls. He is one of the best surfers in California, as far as the use of the nose of the board is concerned. Dale Dobson remains graceful, creative, and solid.

The hottest, most explosive newcomer in the AAAA appears to be [3Ms runner-up] Brad McCaul, who has almost totally mastered the through-the-lip vertical explosion that, more than anything, is the characteristic maneuver of 1969. David Nuuhiwa says McCaul is one of the most talented kids he's seen and lacks only maturity to be a great surfer.

Corky Carroll, by placing third, has again placed himself in the running [for the top rating of 1969]. Riding what he called “the best board I’ve ever had,” he displayed fantastic wave knowledge and aggressiveness at the Baja outing. Corky’s main strength, competition-wise, still remains the world of predominantly left beachbreak, and with Pacific Beach, Huntington, Ocean Beach, and Hermosa still on the menu, his chances for a third WSA crown are not out of reach.

Mike Purpus, second-rated AAAA surfer, seems to have contest surfing well wired. Nestled in the ratings among five or six goofyfooters, Mike epitomized the hot-dog style in its transformation to the shortboard: quick turns, lots of noserides, stretching waves out for extra-long rides.

Tom Overlin seems to show up in about half the finals of WSA contests, though he never seems to be able to win. One of the most unlikely-looking surfers on the circuit, his lightning-quick maneuvers and aggressive attitude seem strange for a guy who needs Coke-bottle glasses on land.

[Lastly], consider Rolf Aurness, the top-rated surfer in the WSA: Rolf won at Malibu, yawned, and, with three AAAA victories in a row, decided to sit out the 3Ms affair.

The upcoming WSA fall season contest mishmash will be a fun one if there are waves. Why not reserve a weekend and talk the folks out to a real AAAA surfin' contest? You might regret it, but they're a lot of fun anyway. Especially if you don't take it all too seriously.

1969 3Ms AAAA

Subscribe or Login

Encyclopedia of Surfing

Interviews

Features

The Sunday Joint

Videos

Contests