The First Pro Surf Champ Turns 50 | Irvine News

Presented by The Plant Daddies — rare specimen trees, living art, and hand-carved limestone vessels and fountains for extraordinary spaces. Showrooms in Los Angeles and Irvine. Listeners of Irvine News Today receive 10% off with code LANEWS10. theplantdaddies.com/lanews Fifty years ago, Peter “PT” Townend became the first professional surfing world champion in a quiet Honolulu ceremony — a moment that quietly launched pro surfing as we know it. From his Aussie roots and early gypsy tours to helping build Australia’s pro surf scene, Townend’s career was defined by passion, not pomp. Now, at 75, he’s curating a museum exhibit to honor the sport’s half-century evolution — and still compares himself to Kelly Slater, proud to have been the spark that ignited a global wave. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/29697da6d957ed21