Godfather of the Waves

From the golden beaches of Durban to the thunderous waves of Hawaii’s North Shore, Godfather of the Waves charts the extraordinary life of Mike Larmont – the man who shaped South African surfing in every sense of the word.Raised on South Beach, Larmont’s ocean odyssey began with borrowed surf mats and a dream. By the time he was a teenager, he was hand-shaping boards with a breadknife, launching a movement that would define a generation. His story surges from the heady surf culture of the 1960s and ’70s – a time of wild waves, wild parties and fierce freedom – through the challenges of sporting isolation in the 1980s, to the renaissance that followed.Along the way, Larmont became a world traveller and entrepreneur: forging friendships with legends like Hawaiian Eddie Aikau, manufacturing boards and other surfing gear, running the local franchise of global brands such as RipCurl, co-founding Zigzag magazine, establishing windsurfing in South Africa, and coaching South African surfers in world championships. His journey is one of grit and grace – from underground shaper to international icon, surviving shootouts, wipeouts and the relentless tides of change.Told with honesty, humour and heart, Godfather of the Waves captures the untamed spirit of surfing and the soul of a man who never stopped chasing the next perfect ride.

Mike Larmont is one of South Africa’s most influential surfing pioneers – a champion surfer, master board shaper, entrepreneur and adventurer whose career has spanned more than five decades. He founded Larmont Surfboards, co-founded Zigzag magazine, introduced windsurfing to South Africa, and helped shape the country’s modern surf culture. Revered by generations of wave riders, Mike has travelled the world in pursuit of the perfect wave and the freedom it represents. He lives in Salt Rock, KwaZulu-Natal, where he still surfs whenever the swell allows.Graham Spence is the co-author of the bestselling trilogy, The Elephant Whisper, Babylon's Ark and The Last Rhinos, which he wrote with conservationist Lawrence Anthony, as well as No Retreat, No Surrender, with water-sport world champion Oscar Chalupsky. A former journalist and editor from South Africa, he now lives in England.