Chesser, Todd (1968 – 1997)

Garrulous and quick-witted pro surfer from Hawaii; described by Surfing magazine in 1995 as "the greatest non-rated surfer in the world"; a big-wave virtuoso by the early '90s, and a big-wave fatality in 1997.

Chesser was born (1968) in Florida, and moved to Hawaii with his mother, Jeannie, at age three, after his surfer father was killed in a car accident. Jeannie became one of Hawaii's top-rated amateur surfers, finishing fourth in the 1973 United States Championships, fourth in the 1980 W...