Reid, Sam (1905 – 1978)

American surfing pioneer from New Jersey; thought to be the first person, along with Tom Blake, to ride Malibu. Reid was seven years old in 1912 when Hawaii's Duke Kahanamoku gave a surfing demonstration in Atlantic City, near Reid's home; the following day Reid began riding waves on his mother's ironing board.

Reid was 17 or 18 when he and his family moved to Santa Monica, California, and he soon found work as a lifeguard at the Santa Monica Swimming Club where he made contact with club vis...