Montgomery Ernest Thomas Kaluhiokalani 1958-2013
Known as 'Buttons', this beautiful man from Hawaii was the single fin maestro we used to look to in the 1990s when everyone was seduced by pointy nosed, banana-rockered 2 inch thick 'thrusters' and that ugly style of surfing they encourage. Because Buttons could do anything (and more) on his 1970's shapes, the freedom of no leg rope made it even more joyful to watch. As we get more into surfing we realise that it isn't about the board or even really the wave, it is about the soul of the rider, their sensitivities, their character and their dance; the oneness with the gyro-energy that is a wave and how they interact with it.