Tom Blake

A great read on Legendary Surfers



http://www.legendarysurfers.com/surf/legends/ls07_blake.shtml

Introduction by Gary Lynch

Tom Blake is the obvious link between the ancient South Pacific waterman and the twentieth century Anglo waterman. Not only did he precede most other Anglo visitors to Hawaii that surfed, he understood and adopted the Aloha frame-of-mind and possessed the unique ability to produce water craft in harmony with the previous one thousand years of surfing's progression.

Blake placed surfboards, paddleboards, and life saving equipment within reach of the interested athlete, lifeguard, and seaside visitor. In Blake's life, there was no separation between religion, surfing, swimming, building surfboards, eating, and exercise. At the time, no one guessed that his unorthodox life style would one day become the accepted standard for the beach culture.

Blake's early published work, both word and photographic, awoke new generations of surfers and educated them to the vast richness of their surfing heritage. His pioneering efforts continue to inspire today's surfers with the knowledge that their lifestyle is one firmly seated in traditions both intelligent and legitimate for generations to come.

-- Gary Lynch, November 1999