This sidebar article by Bruce Jenkins was part of a larger feature, also by Jenkins, titled "The Show: Sunset Beach—Welcome to the Big Leagues, Kid," which ran in the February 1992 issue of SURFER.

Determining the best surfer at Sunset—right now, as we speak—proved to be a maddening task. Mark Foo captured the dilemma best when he said. "It’s just unfair to pick one guy. Bobby Owens is the most fluid, a true artist out there. For radical surfing, it’s Johnny-Boy. And for wave magnetism, the guy who always seems to be right there, it would be Michael Ho.”

Foo was just one of 34 experts who were asked to name their top 10 at Sunset Beach. Voters were asked to list the 10 best (excluding themselves) in no particular order except for the surfer they considered the best. Standings are based on the number of times mentioned: In other words, 29 of the 34 voters mentioned Michael Ho among the top 10. The "half” votes represent two occasions where a voter couldn’t leave an 11th man off his list.

In the final analysis, there were three winners: Michael Ho won the poll by being named on the most ballots. Bobby Owens got more first-place votes than anyone. Johnny-Boy Gomes was everyone's choice as the most radical.

The Voters: Lisa Andersen, Chuck Andrus, Bernie Baker, Jimmy Blears, Warren Bolster, Ken Bradshaw, Tom Carroll, Owl Chapman, Peter Cole, Tom Curren, Darrick Doerner, Gary Elkerton, Mark Foo, Joe Golonka, Ricky Grigg, Mike Harris, Flans Fledemann, Michael Flo, James Jones, Dane Kealoha, Don King, Mike Latronic, Brock Little, Tom Nellis, Bobby Owens, Dennis Pang, Randy Rarick, Jack Reeves, Richard Schmidt, Bill Sickler, Jim Soutar, Bob Sulek, Butch Ukauka, Rick Williams.

1. Michael Ho (29)
2. Johnny-Boy Gomes (27.5)
3. Bobby Owens (26)
4. Richard Schmidt (19.5)
5. Darrick Doerner (19)
6. (tie) Ken Bradshaw, Tom Carroll, Gary Elkerton (18)
9. Tom Curren (17)
10. Derek Ho (14.5)
11. Charlie Walker (12)
12. Brock Little (11)
13. (tie) James Jones, Tony Moniz (9)
15. (tie) Mike Latronic, Mark Foo (8)
17. Butch Perreira (6)
18 (tie) Mark Richards, Shaun Tomson, Vetea David (5)

"The Best Surfer at Sunset" ran in the April 1992 issue of Australia's Surfing Life magazine. This version has been slightly edited and shortened.

Who is the best surfer at Sunset? We assembled a panel of past and present Sunset greats together for a really expensive all-you-can-eat lunch to put the matter beyond any doubt. After collecting their ASL show bag (containing an ASL sticker, a sturdy canvas cap, and a commemorative certificate), each gave a stirring speech on who they selected and why. After much discussion, most agreed Gary Elkerton is the best surfer at Sunset.


I'd pick Gary Elkerton His approach is more rooted in the 70s style of surfing; the deep fade, the carve off the bottom. It's a really solid, basic power approach. He's the only one who does the big peak fade way, way back into the pit, and then comes carving around. He's the only one fading and surfing it that critically."


Tony Ray's surfing at Sunset blows my mind. Tony impresses me the most. He has the knack of picking off the set waves which is a big component of surfing Sunset. And his surfing is really drivey. His lines are impressive. Michael Barry and Tom Carroll are right up there too."


In the past three years, I'd say that would be Gary Elkerton. He does everything, he not only has excellent positioning but power. This year, maybe Michael Ho. He did so well in the Xcel Pro."


Gary Elkerton. He's just really strong. And probably Johnny-Boy Gomes.


For an all-around surfer, Richard Schmidt. He's always in the right spot at the right time, and surfs the wave how I think it should be surfed."


The only guy I can think of is Tom Carroll because he gets the most radical and does the heaviest moves in the heaviest parts of the wave."


Darrick Doerner does real well out there. His positioning is on the spot. Nine times out of ten he'll get the best wave.


I'd say the best free surfer is Bobby Owens. He has total grace under pressure. He always makes it look easy. Another superb surfer out there is Butch Perreira. But Elkerton, I think, would be the #1 regular footer. And Carroll for backsiders."


Gary Elkerton is the best surfer at Sunset, but he's been under insane and unspoken pressure from the Hawaiians since the 1990 tour, which has prevented him from being out there and showing how to surf it well. When he's out there without any pressure he's definitely the best in the world. Michael Ho is incredible at Sunset, too and Tom's Carroll pretty incredible on his backhand."


That's easy, Tom Carroll. He's masculine, he controls his board. He doesn't chatter all over the face. He surfs it with a single fin tradition. He has a regal, masculine approach.

ELKERTON OR HO, SUNSET BEACH: "WHO'S THE BEST?" (1992)

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