TODAYS COLUMN IN THE OC REGISTER REMEMBERING HOBIE By Corky Carroll By now I am sure all of you are aware of the passing of Hobie Alter, one of the all time surfing legends and Orange County Icon. Over the past few years I have written quite a bit about him and my connection with the Hobie empire, having worked for him for ten years and considering him a good friend since I was a teenager. I have been trying to think of something I could add to what I have already written about him. The guy was universally loved by everybody, never heard one bad word said about him. To say that he was a HUGE icon in surfing would be a HUGE understatement. The man was the foremost expert at figuring out how to turn his fun into profits. Turning fun into profits also meant jobs for a whole lot of people. Just the list of surfing names that at one time or another worked for him or rode one of his boards is staggering. During the days of the so-called “Dana Point Mafia,” Hobie was the Al Capone. That name came from the fact that most of the power in the surfing world at one time was based in or around Dana Point. John Severson was there with SURFER magazine, Bruce Brown was there with Bruce Brown Films, Grubby Clark was there with Clark Foam. And, of course, there was Hobie Surfboards. The largest surfboard brand on the planet. Naturally there was no “mafia,” but surfboard guys from other areas liked to refer to the powers that were during those days as that. So today I just wanted to pass on a few memories that I have of the man and what he meant to me. The Hobie I remember spent a lot of time in blue jeans and a white Hobie t-shirt. He wore that everyday. He also had a cigarette in his mouth and was drinking an Ole. (Olympia beer). I remember when I was very young and working in the Hobie shop in Dana Point as a salesman, his wife Sharon would drop off their family van and ask me to clean it up for them so they could have a family outing of some sort. The thing was always full of empty Ole bottles and cigarettes. The dude was always the ultimate casual. Extremely relaxed and easy to talk to and get along with. He was always incredibly nice to me and many times gave me great advice. There was never anything pretend about him. What you saw is what you got. Extremely honest and a very good person. I wouldn’t say that he was extremely social, but he was no recluse either. Just a very normal dude in all facets of the word. Other than that fact that he had the know how and willingness to turn something into something much better and profitable. He loved sailing. The Hobie Cat was genius. One time when he was just getting going making those things we were in Florida on a sales trip and he had one of the first Hobie 14’s. He asked me to go sail it with him one stormy afternoon, I think it was in Jacksonville. I mentioned that there was a possible hurricane coming and maybe it wasn’t such a great idea. “No problem,” he said. “More wind, more speed, more fun.” I could relate to that. In surfing more speed means more fun, so it must be the same with sailing. Did mention that I did not sail, nor did I know anything about it? Somehow we survived the zillion miles an hour wind and rainstorm and got back to shore alive, although I am sure I got struck by lightning along the way. The storeowner that was thinking to buy some Hobie Cats was impressed and made a big order. Hobie was happy and I was pretty sure sailing was not going to be my thing. Before long the Hobie Cat empire was booming. More fun and more jobs for more people. That is kind of how I remember Hobie. My friend and a guy who loved to have fun. And a guy who gave a lot of people jobs. Hobie was a really good guy and will never be forgotten. The PADDLE OUT for him is set for Doheny State Beach from 4 to 7 on April 18th. The State Beach is opening its gates free of charge that afternoon for friends, family and followers of this great man to come down and pay respects. You can be part of the paddle out yourself or merely hang on the beach with what I am sure will be many many members of the Hobie community.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 16:02:01 +0000
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