Mount Rushmore could use a facelift. Since 1925, the granite tribute to four of America’s early presidents has been an iconic symbol of greatness and patriotism. I propose a revision. I’m not personally going to get up there and chisel out four new 60-foot faces, but if the surfing equivalents could be represented, I have a few ideas about who we should see atop Mount Rushmore. Given that surfing and American politics rarely coincide, comparing past presidents to surfing greats is not exactly apples to oranges. But on this Presidents’ Day, let’s salute American politics and surfing’s history in one.
South Dakota just got a lot more interesting.
The Duke, Waikiki, around 1912. Photo: State Library of Queensland
1. George Washington : Duke Kahanamoku
Legendary Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku is the only natural fit to replace George Washington atop Mount Rushmore. Duke championed many firsts for surfing as George did for America. In setting the tone for future generations, Duke presented surfing as something that could be done with selflessness and aloha. While surfers at the time rode shorter boards, Duke shaped himself a ten footer and caught waves much deeper at Waikiki, allowing for longer, faster rides. A true pioneer, he also introduced and popularized surfing in varying degrees to the American East Coast, Australia, New Zealand and Southern California in the early 19-teens after competing in the Olympics.
Similar to George Washington, Duke also has a statue in his likeness. It stands at Waikiki’s Kuhio Beach – surfing’s equivalent to Washington, DC. Both have been written about endlessly, awarded numerous accolades (many posthumously) and blazed unmatched trails in their respective worlds.
2. Theodore Roosevelt : Dustin Barca
The youngest president in history at 42, Teddy Roosevelt was a bit of a spitfire. Not known for sitting idly by, he brazenly voiced his opinions regarding progressive policies both international and domestic. His willingness to confront American big business is part of what makes his presidency so memorable. Similarly, there are shades of Teddy in Dustin Barca – Kauai’s champion of anti-GMO and Monsanto. In a march on Oahu’s North Shore this past December, Barca and about 1,000 others walked through the streets of Haleiwa to protest GMOs in Hawaii. It’s for leadership like this that should see Barca’s mug on surfing’s Mount Rushmore. Chas Smith went one step further and said, “He should be President, or at least Secretary of Defense.”
3. Abraham Lincoln : Simon Anderson
Yep, three fins. Innovating.
Innovation is what links Abe Lincoln and Simon Anderson. Consider the thruster you may enjoy riding on epic, overhead swells. We have Simon Anderson’s ingenuity to thank for being able to pivot on a dime, drive harder through turns and apply added control to all aspects of surfing. Though he didn’t go on to dominate the world’s surf scene on his invention, this new board became the default for surfers the world over. Sadly, Anderson never patented the thruster setup, “…thus missing out on perhaps millions of dollars in licensing fees,” as EOS put it.
Initially the one to advocate that African-Americans get the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, not leaving the decision up to popular sovereignty, Lincoln pioneered the abolition of slavery. If advocating acceptance and human rights in a world then-rife with racism wasn’t innovative enough, consider that it led to the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 which freed slaves in all southern states and was the biggest step forward in human rights possibly ever. Merely a few years later, the 13th amendment was passed forever waving goodbye to slavery.
Gerry Lopez at Uluwatu, 1974.
4. Thomas Jefferson : Gerry Lopez
TJ and Gerry are both legends in their own right. Mr Pipeline broadened surfing’s horizon to include one of the world’s finest waves: G-Land. Around 1980, he had become a fixture at Java’s Grajagan Bay as well as other Indonesian spots. As Gerry brought G-Land to the forefront, so did Thomas Jefferson in the heart of the United States. Previously French territories, TJ bought the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 from Napoleon thus doubling the size of the US at the time. Ultimately, Jefferson made his way home to Monticello and to ponder architecture – something he was very skilled at as he designed the University of Virginia. Similarly, after all his accomplishment in surfing, earning the nickname Mr Pipeline for excelling far beyond anyone at the famed break and blowing the minds of even the most talented surfers, Lopez and family retired to Bend, Oregon, where he focuses on making snowboards, another passion of his.
