Eleven men and one woman were honored at the Orange County Convention Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, at the 30th anniversary of the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame induction ceremony held as part of this year’s 50th annual Surf Expo.
Since 1996, the non-profit, dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of surfing on the East Coast, has inducted nearly 200 East Coast icons of surfing.
Founded by surfing industry legends Gregg Noll and Cecil Lear, the goal was to give East Coasters who pioneered the sport of surfing the platform and recognition they deserved.
Lear was a 37-year-old lifeguard in New Jersey in 1967 when he founded the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA). The grassroots competitive umbrella, which stretched from Rhode Island to Florida, has since given groms to old dudes and ladies the opportunity to not only compete, but share camaraderie.
Greg Noll, a California Big Wave pioneer-turned-celebrity surfboard manufacturer, realized that East Coast Surfers were seriously underserved.
The two met briefly back in the 60’s era, and it wasn’t until 1994 that they reunited. By that time, ESA alumni Kelly Slater and others were winning ASP World Tour Titles.
During the next two years, they pooled their resources and ironed out the details, and in January 1996, the first 23 inductees were enshrined.
Fast forward, with the support of Surf Expo, the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame induction ceremonies have since become an integral part of the January trade show for three decades.
This year, in addition to the categories that included pioneers, legends, surfers, media, industry and culture, the Cecil Lear President’s Award was given to Mike Angiulo of New York. Angiulo was recognized for his decades of contributions and extraordinary leadership serving as legal counsel to the ESA (Eastern Surfing Association) and executive director of the US Surfing Federation.
“The variety of talent and pure dedication to the sport of surfing on this stage is amazing,” said Gary Germaine, East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame president. “It’s an honor to gather here to celebrate their individual stories and surfing experiences.
“As we celebrate 30 years, what feels most significant is how our new digital game has transformed the way we share our stories,” said East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame treasurer Dave Scibal. “We’ve always been about honoring legends and preserving history, but our online presence has allowed us to grow the mission and reach new generations, keeping the culture of the sport alive in real time.”
Surfers (Men’s) Category, Brevard’s Morcom and Hewitson join class of ‘26
Todd Morcom, a former 1990 U.S. Men’s surfing champion, who ended up leaving the competitive scene to take on giant barrels in Mexico, has appeared in numerous NRG videos and won the Billabong XXL honors. In the mid 90s, his quest to ride 30–40-foot waves drew the attention of both photographers and his peers, before suffering a brutal wipeout in 2013 that left him with a compound fracture of his lower leg. While his recovery wasn’t easy, and initially it was feared he would lose his leg, his attitude and determination, coupled with yoga, helped him heal.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be here, and I’ve always considered surfing as a gift,” said Morcom, who now resides in Melbourne Beach.
Bryan Hewiston, of Indialantic, affectionately known as “Hewy,” was introduced by former Satellite Beach’s World Surf League champion (2001) CJ Hobgood, his long-time friend.
Hobgood, a 2022 East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame inductee and current board member, shared memories of the days when he and Hewy competed — and represented the USA Surf Team.
“My fondest memories were of our National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) days, when my brother Damian, and Corey, and Shea Lopez, all former ASP Tour members, were showing up the west coast guys,” Hobgood said with a laugh.
Together, this group won the 1996 ISA World Surfing Games, representing Team USA.
Hewy, who grew up in New Jersey and recently turned 50, qualified for the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Tour in 1999. Unfortunately, during his rookie year, an injury took him off the tour for good. Today, he is a surf industry representative and is considered a mentor in the local surfing community in Brevard and beyond, and his enthusiasm for the sport is evident in his cheerful and outgoing personality.
Other inductees in the Surfing Category included Scott Duerr (New Jersey) and Dr. Lisa Carulli (Florida )(women’s category).
Pioneers
Brevard Shaper Rich Price: A Five-Decade Surfboard Craftsman
Richie Price, 70, began surfing at his grandparents’ St. Augustine Beach house in the early 60s.
By the early 70s, after high school, he was living in Cocoa Beach and first worked for Dick Catri at his factory.
Unsure of his future, he felt the need to move west and left for California in 1974. He worked as a polisher for Tom Overlin Surfboards but ironically decided to move back to Brevard the next year after Greg Loehr, a fellow Floridian, shaper, and Class of 2000 Hall of Fame member, convinced him to come work for Pete Dooley at Natural Art in Cocoa Beach.
He continued to hone his shaping skills under the NA label and became a popular shaper for many pro standouts internationally, including CJ and Damien Hobgood, Dean Randazzo, Peter Medina, Todd Holland and Scott McCranels.
“I feel so blessed to have this honor, and owe so many people for this,” said Price, who was tearful at times. “Especially Pete Dooley and his Natural Art powerhouse.”
“From the time I first met Rich, I could see how much passion he had for both the sport and the craft. I am honored to have known him for the past 50-plus years,” Loehr said.
Carl “Tinker” West, a California transplant to the Jersey Shore in 1965 and Founder of Challenger Eastern Surfboards, was also chosen for the 2026 Pioneer Category
Dyatona, Florida’s Bernie Crouch wins 2026 Legends Category
Bernie Crouch, AKA “Mad Dog,” began surfing as a youth in Daytona Beach.
After years of strong competition on the ASP Pro Tour, he shifted his focus to shaping and ownership of Mad Dog Surf Shop in South Daytona Beach. His Shaping and Surf shop proved to be pivotal in Daytona, along with his presence at Ponce Inlet.
Well-known by many Volusia and Brevard surfers, his boards have been a favorite for both professional and recreational surfers alike.
The second inductee to the 2026 class, Jay Reale, of Maryland, is the first bodyboarding champion to be inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame. He is considered the Global Ambassador of Bodyboarding.
The final three inductees to the class of 2026
Media. North Carolina’s Matt Pruett’s first job in the surf media was as an editorial intern for Eastern Surf Magazine, one of the most popular magazines on the East Coast. He has published three books: First Peak Project, Wavescape: Portrait of the Planet’s Best Surf Spots, and North of Nowhere.
Industry. Tony Giordano, a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame and long-time owner of Ocean Hut Surf Shop in Monterey Beach, N.J., he is still a respected competitor in the ESA and has been a representative in the Championships many times in his age division.
Culture. Drew Brophy, of South Carolina, is one of the few professional artists to be inducted into the ECSHOF. A native of Myrtle Beach has painted thousands of boards and fine art surf pieces for world champions, top brands, and musicians.
He said he was destined to paint surfboards, and the sport saved his life.
The East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame expanded its board of directors last year to include four new leaders- Sharol Wolfe Cranston, Jim Cartlant, C.J.Hobgood and Ricky Carroll.
All nominees go through a rigorous process for consideration and approval, and all board members and advisors are unpaid.
Germain closed the event, thanking the volunteers and community.
“The mission that started here with Greg and Cecil has been extraordinary and gets better every year. We are focused on expanding our community footprint to capture the full spectrum of East Coast Surfing Culture and continue to make this organization not just a place for recognition, but a historical hub of East Coast lore for surfers past, present and future.”
For more about the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame: visit www.eastcoastsurfinghalloffame.org
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: East Coast Surfing HOF inducts 12 new members at 50th annual Surf Expo
