Brown, Chris (1970 – 2019)

Mild-mannered pro surfer from Santa Barbara; described as a preadolescent "surfing genius," and winner of the juniors division in the 1988 World Amateur Surfing Championships. Brown was born (1970) in Los Angeles, raised in Santa Barbara, and began riding waves at age 10, taught by his father, a Santa Barbara–area surfer since the late '50s.

The smooth and flowing surf style Brown developed resembled that of three-time world champion Tom Curren, who also grew up in Santa Barbara. Raised in w...