Blears, Jim (1947 – 2011)

Wide-stanced goofyfooter from Honolulu, Hawaii; winner of the 1972 World Surfing Championships. Blears was born (1947) in Santa Monica, California, and moved with his family to Hawaii at age 11. He was the Hawaiian Surfing Association ratings leader in 1969 and 1970 and a four-time Duke Kahanamoku Classic invitee between 1968 and 1971. He also placed third in the 1970 Smirnoff.

Blears's 1972 world contest victory was controversial. "David surfed the best," wrote Surfing magazine journalist D...