Beginning in 1973, a rotating cast of about 20 surfers—mostly Aussies and Hawaiians, and a smattering of riders from California, South Africa, and Brazil—traveled on what Queensland regularfooter Peter Townend would later call the “gypsy tour,” flying hither and yon around the world to compete in a series of unrelated pro contests.
Hawaii had four prize-money contests in 1973, and it led the early professional movement. (Eventually, the three biggest North Shore contests would be packaged tog...
