David, Vetea "Poto" (1968 – )

Square-jawed power surfer from Papeete, Tahiti; world-ranked #17 in 1992 and 1993; known for his big-wave cool and his easygoing Polynesian charm. "Watching Poto surf in intriguing," Nick Carroll wrote. "He is always slightly off-balance, with the art of his surfing in the slashing recovery from somewhere beyond vertical. Like a bit cat, he seems always to land on his feet at the bottom, ready for the next section."

David was born (1968) and raised in Papeete; his father was career officer i...