I recall one gloomy overcast day sitting and watching big rough rincon with a strong wind blowing causing really gnarly conditions. Maybe a half dozen cars sitting along the road edge, but nobody wanting to go out at all. A car pulls up and Mike Purpus quickly paddled out. He just ripped the place and the only guy out the whole time. Almost a lifetime ago, but the memory still impresses to this day. Mike was a talented great surfer in those days, no doubt about it.
In 1973 Mike and Dan Merkel came up to Vancouver Island and visited the Long Beach area near Tofino. Don't think they got much in the way of surf and I was there, but one of the locals chatted Mike up and later that year looked Mike up at home in California. Mike was a really good surfer and I still recall the photo in the Extra section of Surfer magazine where Mike is laid out in a really hard cutback. The caption was that Mike called it "the second best cutback he'd ever done." Great to see him still getting wet. Take care.
Purpose looks pretty good considering he's out of shape. He was one of the best California surfers in the seventies. His north shore surfing was inspiring, as he did the same cutbacks he's doing here in 12 foot Sunset.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm glad to see Mike Purpus still surfing. He was pretty big back in the late 70's when I started surfing. Very cool.
Way Cool! Loved the switchback. Glad to see he is still surfing. Sad to Say I haven't surfed in over 20yrs.
Old guys getting glassy uncrowded waves. It's like "sittin' on top of the world."
I recall one gloomy overcast day sitting and watching big rough rincon with a strong wind blowing causing really gnarly conditions. Maybe a half dozen cars sitting along the road edge, but nobody wanting to go out at all. A car pulls up and Mike Purpus quickly paddled out. He just ripped the place and the only guy out the whole time. Almost a lifetime ago, but the memory still impresses to this day. Mike was a talented great surfer in those days, no doubt about it.
say hi to Mike P for me - haven't seen him since 1973 - Damn we are old. ;)
In 1973 Mike and Dan Merkel came up to Vancouver Island and visited the Long Beach area near Tofino. Don't think they got much in the way of surf and I was there, but one of the locals chatted Mike up and later that year looked Mike up at home in California. Mike was a really good surfer and I still recall the photo in the Extra section of Surfer magazine where Mike is laid out in a really hard cutback. The caption was that Mike called it "the second best cutback he'd ever done." Great to see him still getting wet. Take care.
I remember him from wide world of sports in the 70s
Purpose looks pretty good considering he's out of shape. He was one of the best California surfers in the seventies. His north shore surfing was inspiring, as he did the same cutbacks he's doing here in 12 foot Sunset.