California Surf Museum’s
Silver Surfer Award

A lifetime achievement honor, the “Silver Surfer Award” will be presented annually by the California Surf Museum to a surfer who has made significant contributions to the culture and lifestyle of the surfing community and whose life has also inspired others to expand their awareness and continues to set a shining example of a true Silver Surfer. The recipient will be presented with a “Silver Surfer Award” inscribed with their name and year of honor; a perpetual “Silver Surfer Award” with names of the recipients will be housed at the California Surf Museum.

2026 Honoree recipients of the California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Lifetime Achievement Award:

Brad Gerlach
Greg Long
Mike Parsons
Justine Dupont

Each of these big wave pioneers brought extraordinary courage, preparation, skill, and commitment to Cortes Bank. Their accomplishments pushed the boundaries of big-wave surfing and redefined what the world believed was possible.

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Silver Surfer trophies designed and built by Larry Balma.

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2025

Bruce Brown (1937-2017), Dana Brown, Mike Hynson (1942-2025), Robert August, Robert “Wingnut” Weaver and Pat O’Connell
17th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Seabird Ocean Resort and Spa in Oceanside, Saturday, November 1, 2025.

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2024

LJ Richards, Fred Hemmings, Mary Lou Drummy, Mickey Muñoz, and Greg MacGillivray
16th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Cape Rey Hilton Resort in Carlsbad, November 2, 2024.

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2023

Joey Cabell, Fred Hemmings, Paul Strauch Jr., Butch Van Artsdalen and Marge Calhoun – In Memory
15th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Cape Rey Hilton Resort in Carlsbad, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2022

Yvon Chouinard, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman aka “Gidget”, and Bing Copeland
14th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Cape Rey Hilton Resort in Carlsbad, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2021

Debbie Beacham, Lynn Boyer, Kim Mearig, Joel Tudor, Tom Morey and Donald Takayama – In Memory 
13th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Cape Rey Hilton Resort in Carlsbad, Nov. 6, 2021.

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2019

Lisa Andersen, Tom Curren and Don Hansen
12th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Cape Rey Hilton Resort in Carlsbad , Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019.

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2018

Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Ian Cairns, Dane Kealoha, Margo Oberg, Mark “MR” Richards, Shaun Tomson and Peter “PT” Townend
Presentations at the 11th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Cape Rey Hilton Resort in Carlsbad, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2016

Joyce Hoffman and Nat Young
Presentations at the 9th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Spring Hill Marriott Oceanside, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipient – 2011

Skip Frye
Introduction by Michael Burner at the 4th Annual California Surf Festival, Brooks Theater, Oct. 16, 2011.

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2009

Gary Linden
Introduction by Paul Holmes at the 2nd Annual California Surf Festival, Brooks Theater, Nov. 22, 2009
Inaugural Silver Surfer Award presented by Larry Balma

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipients – 2017

Fernando Aguerre, Gerry Lopez and Jericho Poppler
Presentations at the 10th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Cape Rey Hilton Resort in Carlsbad, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipient – 2015

Greg Noll
Presentation at the 8th Annual Gala Fundraiser, Spring Hill Marriott Oceanside, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015

California Surf Museum’s Silver Surfer Recipient – 2010

Linda Benson
Introduction by Paul Holmes at the 3rd Annual California Surf Festival, Brooks Theater, Oct. 10, 2010
Speakers: Ty Ponder, Julie Cox and Sally Clevenger • Presented by Jim Kempton

2026 Gala Photo Gallery