GODFATHER OF THE WAVES, the life and times of a surfing trailblazer

246pp., b/w & colour illus., paperback, Penguin South Africa, Cape Town, 2026

ISBN: 9781776392728

An autobiography by Mike Larmont, 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, ran the local franchise of global brands such as Rip Curl, coached South African surfers in world championships, organised and sponsored many surfing tournaments, and played a key role in establishing windsurfing in South Africa.

Mike Larmont was born in 1951, raised on South Beach, Durban, and began surfing at age 12. He lives in Salt Rock, KwaZulu-Natal, where he still surfs whenever the swell allows.

Former South African journalist Graham Spence is co-author of the trilogy The Elephant Whisperer, 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. He now lives in England.