In 2019, I had the honor of sitting down with legendary bodysurfer Mark Cunningham at Sunset Grade School across the street from Pipeline for a podcast. The man had so many stories but what struck me most was the calm, almost soothing way that he spoke. He is a natural leader and unifier of people you could tell, and that makes sense. As a longtime North Shore lifeguard, he watched, and knew personally, most of the all-time greats who surfed there, while also keeping tourists out of harm’s way. Two dichotomies of the North Shore he always navigated smoothly, like the open face of a wave.
But that’s because he is a gifted waterman himself. He’s been the voice and face of bodysurfing for decades now, thanks to films like Sprout, A Brokedown Melody, and Come Hell or High Water.
He recently set down with PBS Hawaii to talk about the iconic bodysurfing spot Point Panic. He delves into other things as well, like why he loves surfing without a board so much. “I find the embrace of the ocean very natural and soothing for me,” he said. Yes, Mark Cunningham is truly an icon.
