If anyone has the right to proclaim the “greatest surfer in the world,” it would be a nightly Hollywood-focused gossip television program, right? Not likely, but that being said, love him or hate him, respect him or deride him, one thing is an absolute certainty: Laird Hamilton has done a whole lot for surf in the way of innovation as well as mainstream appeal and success — and he doesn’t mind one bit talking about that innovation and success. Speaking to ET (yep, Entertainment Tonight, the show that celebrates, well, celebrity), the waterman shared his San Francisco beginnings and taking the sport to new heights with tow-in and, er…stand-up paddle? Whatever your thoughts on Laird and SUP, there is no denying that the dude is one rugged amphibian. And quite frankly if the rest of the world thinks we’re all as chiseled and manly as Laird, that’s a reputation I don’t mind having.
The program even had him take actor Eric Christian Olsen (NCIS: Los Angeles) on a paddle session around his mainland home of Malibu. It makes for entertaining b-role to say the least.
