Mission Statement
The East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame is an independent, non-profit educational institution created to honor and memorialize the pioneers, legends, champions and individuals who, through their passion and dedication, have made outstanding and significant contributions to the development and recognition of Surfing on the East Coast of the USA.
Nominations, Voting, and Awards
Every two years the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame inducts 10 new members through a transparent publicly-supported process, plus a Cecil Lear President’s Award winner selected by the Board of Directors. Every inductee represents the finest surfers, artists, media and industry legends the East Coast has to offer.
Board of Directors
GARY M. GERMAIN, PRESIDENT
Gary Germain is a New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame member, Class of 2015.
GREG LOEHR, NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Greg Loehr was a member of the East Coast Weber Surf Team, East Coast Champion in 1974.
Greg surfed professionally in the Smirnoff Pro, the Duke in Hawaii, and the Gunston 500 in S. Africa. He also won the Stroh’s Pro, Canaveral Pier Pro, and the Lacanau Pro in France. inducted into the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame in 2016. Owner Resin Research Inc, an experienced member of the nominating committee (18 years), Greg brings significant background in all things related to ECSHOF nominations. East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame Inductee class of 2000.
BOB MIGNOGNA, SENIOR ADVISOR
Bob Mignogna is the former publisher of Surfing Magazine, where he had a 30-year career, 1974-2003.
Mignogna served on the Boards of the USSF, NSSA and Surfing America. He was a founding Board member of the Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association (SIMA), and continues to serve as Senior Advisor. Mignogna is also Senior Advisor to the Surfrider Foundation, and Founding President of the San Onofre Parks Foundation, which includes the surf breaks at Trestles and San Onofre. Mignogna also served as Director General of the International Surfing Association, 2010-2014, contributing to the successful inclusion of Surfing in the Olympics. Although born and raised in New York, San Clemente, CA is home and Trestles his home surf breaks. He was inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame in 2008, when he also received ESM’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
DAVID A. SCIBAL, FINANCE COMMITTEE
Dave Scibal grew up surfing the Southern Jersey Shore in the 1960s and early 70s, where he competed locally and earned invitations to the East Coast Surfing Championships.
SHARON WOLFE CRANSTON
Sharon is a four-time U.S. Women’s Surfing Champion and East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame Inductee 2010.
She grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida where she participated in competitive surfing as a member
of the Salick and Quiet Flight Surf Teams and won the Eastern Surfing Association Women’s
Championship at Hatteras, and the U.S. Women’s Surfing Championship four times with titles in Girls,
Junior Women, Women, and Senior Women divisions, between 1979 and 1991.
Sharon served as a board member for the Florida Surf Museum, where she was Competition Director for the annual Waterman’s Challenge and was a Founding Member of the Florida “Women of the Waves” event. She has also assisted with judging and competition support of the annual Rich Salick National Kidney Foundation (NKF) contest and the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA).
She has worked for nearly two decades in the youth services department at her local library, where she
develops and manages programs and events. Her outreach activities provide academic, artistic and
cultural experiences extending from the local community to national and global audiences.
Wolfe Cranston still lives in Cocoa Beach and continues surfing in her 60s.
JIM CARTLAND
Jim Cartland was born in Miami in 1953 and moved to Cocoa Beach in 1958 during the golden years of the space age and early days of East Coast surfing.
CECIL LEAR, CO-FOUNDER, FOUNDING PRESIDENT
Cecil Lear was the Co-founder of the New Jersey Surfing Association as well as its President from 1963-1967.
He was also Co-founder of the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) and served as its Competition Director from 1967-1970. From 1971 to 2017 he was the ESA’s Secretary and Historian. In 1996, Lear Co-founded, along with Greg Noll, the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame and served as its President from then until 2017, when he became President Emeritus. He is also a member of the ECSHOF Class of 1996 and the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame Class of 2015. In 1969 Lear was given the Surfer Magazine, “Surfers Cup Award;” in 1974 the Nancy Katin “Recognition Award,” and in 2015 Lear was presented the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center (SHACC) “Lifetime Achievement Award” at a formal ceremony held at The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Lear passed away in January 2022 at 91 years of age, just days after participating in the Class of 2022 Induction Ceremony.
Advisory Council
MICHAEL BAYTOFF
Michael Baytoff began surfing on Long Beach Island, New Jersey around 1971.
He developed an interest in photography influenced by his mother, Inge, and an old camera handed down by his German grandfather, Ulli. Shooting stills and motion pictures, Baytoff documented the underground Long Beach Island surfing scene in the 70’s, 80’s and began traveling the East Coast, Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe shooting surfing lifestyle and action pictures. In 1981, he became the Chief Photographer for the Beach Haven Times, eventually moving on to work on assignments for The Atlantic City Press, The Associated Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today. Earning his living shooting assignments for hire, as well as self-produced assignments, Baytoff then became represented by the Black Star picture agency of New York. His environmental work included documenting oil spills, including the tragic Valdez spill in Alaska, ocean pollution issues, dolphin die-off on the east coast, as well as bald eagle and peregrine falcon research. Magazines such as Time, Newsweek, US News & World Report, People, Audubon, Natural History, Outdoor Photographer, Forbes, Esquire, and Playboy, published his work. Select images from his environmental work was featured in a traveling exhibit by the National Geographic Society. He has photographed world famous celebrities such as; Frank Sinatra, Cher, Aretha Franklin, Sammy Davis Jr., Mike Tyson, Michael Spinks, Vanna White, Donald Trump, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Henry Kissinger. His work has been published in hundreds of books, magazines, newspapers, calendars, and periodicals worldwide. Through all this, Baytoff still made time to shoot surfing images for Surfing and Surfer magazines. Today, he can still be found shooting his favorite surf breaks on LBI and other Jersey locations, either from the beach or in the water.
GLENN BRUMAGE
Glenn Brumage is the former Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Surfing Heritage and Culture Center (SHACC) in San Clemente, California.
He was born and raised on the beaches of San Clemente and has been a lifelong participant in the surf, skate and snow industries. His extensive experience in the water and the office led him to serve on the boards of both trade and cultural non-profit organizations. Brumage’s love for sharing the influence of surf culture in our society led to the inclusion of historic surfing artifacts in the Smithsonian Museum of American History during the celebration of Duke Kahanamoku’s 125th birthday in 2015. Brumage currently serves on the Boards of the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum and Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame while building a ranch in North County San Diego.
RICKY CARROLL
Ricky Carroll started surfing in the early 1970s in Satellite Beach while still in elementary school, and he built his first surfboard at the young age of 13 after watching his neighbor, Mary Ann Hayes (ECSHOF 2006) build one at her home.
Soon, Carroll was surfing in the ESA and working at the Natural Art Surfboards factory.
In 1975 at the age of 15, Carroll qualified for the ESA Championship at Cape Hatteras and continued to compete in the event for the next 10 years winning numerous divisions. He also took first place in the US Surfing Championship Paddle Racing and Kneeboard Divisions, along with a Windsurfing title through another organization. Carroll competed on the USA Surf Team at an ISA World Surfing Championship in Australia as well. Turning pro in 1983, Carroll competed in US and Caribbean pro surfing events for a stretch of seven years and followed that with competing on the ASP Longboard Pro Circuit for a number of years.
During his time as a pro, Carroll continued shaping and building surfboards for Natural Art until he opened his own factory in Rockledge, FL along with a retail store in Satellite Beach, Ricky Carroll Surfboards. Today he continues to manufacture under his name brand but also as a licensee for Takayama Surfboards, Local Motion Surfboards and Surfboards Hawaii. Carroll has shaped for many top pros including C.J. Hobgood (2001 ASP World Champion, ECSHOF 2022), Bonga Perkins, Danny Melhado (OP Pro Junior champ and 3X ASP East Champ), Damien Hobgood (ECSHOF 2020), Cheyne Horan, Justin Quintal (2019 WSL Longboard World Champion), Connie Arias, Daisy Nerida Valdez (PHI), Larry Bertelmann, Rachel Presti and many other stars in the sport.
In 2007 Carroll won the inaugural “Tribute to the Masters Shape-Off” at the Sacred Craft Surf Show in San Diego and won the same title another three years in a row as well as winning the inaugural “Block of Foam Challenge” at the Boardroom Show at Surf Expo. Carroll is now the host and lead judge at the “Florida Shape-Off” held annually at the Surf Expo Trade Show in Orlando. Finally, Carroll believes in giving back to the sport that has given him so much. Through the years he has supported numerous organizations and charity events with funding, time and sponsorships including the ESA, Surfrider Foundation, local schools and a myriad of other events.
PETE DOOLEY
Pete Dooley was an early proponent of shortboard performance surfing beginning in the the late-1960s when he compiled a team of craftsmen, driven to make high-performance surfing products, and helping found Natural Art Surfboards in Florida.
KEVIN GRONDIN
Kevin Grondin grew up in New Hampshire where his family traveled to Boynton Beach, Florida during the cold New England winters.
While in Florida, Grondin began competing every Christmas to Easter although he did not fare well at first. Eventually, he discovered there were plenty of waves in the Northeast, finding great surf in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He continued to compete and enjoyed the travel and meeting many qualified surfers. As he refined his competition skills, he earned a spot in the 1974 U.S. Championship at Cape Hatteras, where he made the finals, one of two regular foots – the other being Floridian, Bobby Owens – at the predominantly left breaking Lighthouse Groin.
After High School, Grondin went to college in Florida and Hawaii, where he continued his competitive drive competing in short board, long board and knee board events. Grondin starred, eventually winning nine East Coast Championship and six U.S. Championship titles. His surfing and communication skills were so good that he was asked to coach the U.S. National Team, which he led to an ISA World Championship in 1996. That team included CJ and Damian Hobgood, Shea and Cory Lopez, Benny Bourgeois, Bryan Hewitson and many other well oiled competitors.
Now in his mid-60s, Grondin enjoys working with his favorite charity, “Surfing with Smiles,” which focuses on a surfing experience with autistic and special needs children. He also makes time to volunteer for Wounded Warriors, helping vets with disabilities enjoy a day of surfing. Grondin still loves mixing it up, short and long boarding in his home waters of New Hampshire as well as at his home-way-from-home, Rincon, Puerto Rico.
PAM HILL
Pam Hill grew up in Ormond Beach, Florida, where she lived one block from the surf.
Hill won her first surf contest in 1967 on a 9’9″ Hanson 50/50. She joined the Eastern Surfing Association in 1973 and competed at the Eastern Surfing Championship for over 40 years, winning several Iron Women trophies. Hill was also victorious at the 1993 US Amateur Surfing Championship in Oceanside, California.
Hill graduated from Montverde Academy and attended Daytona Beach State College (formerly DBCC), where she received a degree in Photography. She spent 32 years as a UPS Delivery Driver while also volunteering as District Director for the North Central Florida District of the ESA. In 2012 she became the ESA’s Southeast Regional Director, a position she continues to hold today.
Hill’s work with the surf community has extended beyond the ESA as she has helped manage the Slater Brothers Invitational, the National Kidney Foundation Surf Classic, the Easter Surf Fest, and the Tommy Tent Memorial Surf Contest.
HUNTER JOSLIN
The surfing boom of the 60’s hit Hunter Joslin full tilt in 1965 after the 450’ freighter Amaryllis
ran ashore on Singer Island, Florida, thereby creating the best surf break in South Florida.
the same time, with the newly discovered urethane wheels reviving the sport of skateboarding, he
began building skateboards, skimboards and balance boards, which led to his creating the unique
Indo Board design in 1975.
announcing the first Henry Hester Pro Bowl Series in 1978. In 1983 he picked up the microphone at a pro surfing event for the first time in Jensen Beach, Florida. To date he has announced over 150 professional surfing events including 16 ASP Pro Tour contests. Hunter’s extensive travels helped him develop into a world-class longboard surfer, recognized as a member of the legendary Donald Takayama Hawaiian Pro Designs Team.
MITCH KAUFMANN
Mitch Kaufmann was born and raised in Jacksonville Beach, Florida and grew up surfing around his neighborhood heroes like Bruce Clelland, Joe Roland, Dick Rosborough, and Larry Miniard.
He is a lifetime member of the Eastern Surfing Association, starting in 1972 at the age of 13, and was the North Florida Director for 15 years, from 1996 until 2011.
NANCY LEAR
Born in Belmar, NJ, Nancy Lear is the youngest of Cecil and Mary Lou Lear’s three daughters.
She grew up at the beach traveling the ESA contest circuit with her father, the ESA’s co-founder, attending countless hometown and New Jersey ESA contests Lear and her family made annual family treks up and down the East Coast to contests at Gilgo Beach, Virginia Beach, Cape Hatteras and Cocoa Beach. Lear made the move to Dallas, TX where she is an Environmental Social Governance professional working in both the financial services and retail industries. Presently she works for global retailer, 7-Eleven, managing the company’s sustainability and social impact initiatives. Prior to that, Lear worked for PNC Bank managing its Corporate Citizenship and Foundation functions. In her free time, Lear enjoys family and friends, and loves the outdoors – hiking, kayaking, dogs/dog rescue, art, music, architecture and volunteering. She has made numerous trips to Hawai’i and the North Shore, and has visited Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria and Italy. She loves to return to hometown Belmar whenever possible, especially summer for sunrise at the beach and body surfing with family and friends. Lear has been involved with the ECSHOF since the organization’s inception in 1996 supporting her father, Cecil, with administration, communications, logistics and staffing for Surf Expo and the ECSHOF Induction Ceremonies.
DICK MESEROLL
“Mez” has been a lifelong fixture of the East Coast surf scene. His first surf shot was published in 1972, in Surfing Magazine.
MIKE MAY
Born in 1955, Mike May’s family roots in Atlantic City, New Jersey go back to the early 1900’s.
He first tried surfing in 1965, and after seeing The Endless Summer and meeting Bruce Brown in 1966, he was hooked. By the 70’s he was a mainstay at Atlantic City’s best wave, States Ave. May was active in local contests and ESA events through the 80’s and 90’s along with competing at the top ranks of the competitive South Jersey ESA District. He served on the Board of the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation and was the founder of Paddle For a Cause, its most successful charity event. May is also a founding member of the NJ Surfing Hall of Fame and one of the seven Induction Committee members. He wrote the definitive story on East Coast Surfing Hall of Famer and protege of Duke Kahanamoku, Sam Reid. Noted surf journalist Matt Warshaw published an excerpt of the Reid story in his Encyclopedia of Surfing. May was a casino executive for many years and lives in San Diego with his wife Kate. He has three sons – Steve, Matt and Chris, and a grandson Zephyr. Still an avid surfer he continues to travel to Bali to surf his favorite wave at Uluwatu.
SANDY ORDILLE
Sandy Ordille grew up on a South Jersey sand bar, barrier island aptly titled Ocean City.
It was, and still is, a hotbed for talented athletes in water sports, in particular surfing.
Ordille’s competitive surfing began at age 12 with participation in town contests, and in 1967 she began competing in ESA events where she usually made the Finals, winning a few events along the way.
Ordille moved to La Jolla, California in 1973 and began to master riding the rock reefs surrounding the coastal community. She became an active member of the Windansea Surf Club, competing in the regional contests up and down the California coast. This was great training for the inaugural years of the International Professional Surfers (IPS, now WSL) Pro Tour, in which she was an active competitor from 1977 to the mid-1980’s.
In 1977 she placed third in The Gunston 500 in Durban, South Africa and third in the Waimea 5000 event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1982 Ordille was a third-place finalist in the Mazda Women’s World Surf Sport Championship, which took place in San Diego. She was also a finalist in The Mabo International at Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park in 1983.
In 2016 Ordille was inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame and in 2017 the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame.
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PETER “PT” TOWNEND
Peter Townend was born and raised in Coolangatta, Australia in the 1950s and 60s.