Fred Hemmings, retired from competition as a surfer, began his career as an event promoter and ran the Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships between 1969 and 1977. [1]
The Smirnoff World Pro-Am became known as the de facto professional World Championship because the International Surfing Federation had been unable to establish a format or sponsorship, so no official amateur championships were held between 1973 and 1975. [2] Laura Lee Ching became the first woman to compete in the Smirnoff World Pro-Am in 1973. [3] [4]
Year | Men's | Women's |
---|---|---|
1969 | Corky Carroll ( USA) | Margo Godfrey ( USA) |
1970 | Nat Young ( AUS) | |
1971 | Gavin Rudolph ( RSA) | |
1972 | Paul Neilsen ( AUS) | |
1973 | Ian Cairns ( AUS) | |
1974 | Reno Abellira ( HAW) | |
1975 | Mark Richards ( AUS) | |
1976 | Mark Warren ( AUS) | Jericho Poppler ( USA) |
1977 | Reno Abellira ( HAW) | Jericho Poppler ( USA) |
The Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships were superseded by the
International Professional Surfers (IPS).
Fred Hemmings, retired from competition as a surfer, began his career as an event promoter and ran the Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships between 1969 and 1977. [1]
The Smirnoff World Pro-Am became known as the de facto professional World Championship because the International Surfing Federation had been unable to establish a format or sponsorship, so no official amateur championships were held between 1973 and 1975. [2] Laura Lee Ching became the first woman to compete in the Smirnoff World Pro-Am in 1973. [3] [4]
Year | Men's | Women's |
---|---|---|
1969 | Corky Carroll ( USA) | Margo Godfrey ( USA) |
1970 | Nat Young ( AUS) | |
1971 | Gavin Rudolph ( RSA) | |
1972 | Paul Neilsen ( AUS) | |
1973 | Ian Cairns ( AUS) | |
1974 | Reno Abellira ( HAW) | |
1975 | Mark Richards ( AUS) | |
1976 | Mark Warren ( AUS) | Jericho Poppler ( USA) |
1977 | Reno Abellira ( HAW) | Jericho Poppler ( USA) |
The Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships were superseded by the
International Professional Surfers (IPS).