Interviews

1. Sneaking around family to go surfing

2. Vagabond part of surfing

3. How he began surfing

(1942–2005) Surfer and surfboard artist.

Vagabond part of surfing

The vagabond part of surfing is pretty much gone. I think that was the most fun. Being able to work wherever you wanted to. Make as much money as you think you needed, and then take off for the next town, or go up the Coast or something, and with the money you have, and just hang out ‘til it started running out, and go find a surfboard shop that you can go work at for two, three days and keep going. That was a lot of fun.

surfing

Date: July 29, 1999

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Brian Niiya

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum.

Interviewee Bio

Wayne Miyata (1942–2005) was a pioneering professional surfer in both Hawai`i and Southern Calfornia and was known as a leading big wave rider. Originally from Hawaii, Miyata appeared in the classic surfing film The Endless Summer in which he was one of the first surfers to be filmed successfully surfing a tube ride through the hollow of a large curling wave. He also became one of the leading surfboard shapers in Southern California. He died in Hermosa Beach, CA at the age of 63. (August 10, 2005)