{{Short description|South African surfer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Use South African English|date=August 2012}} {{Infobox surfer | name = Shaun Tomson | image = ShaunTomsonHeadshot.jpg | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1955|08|21}} | birth_place = Durban, South Africa | height = | weight = | years_active=1969–1990 | best_year = 1977 | career_earnings= | sponsors= | major_achievements = 1977 IPS World Champion | stance = Regular (natural foot) | shapers= | quiver= | favorite_waves= | favorite_maneuvers= | website= https://shauntomson.com/ }}
'''Shaun Tomson''' (born 21 August 1955) is a South African and American<ref>[https://premierespeakers.com/speakers/shaun-tomson Shaun Tomson] Premiere Speakers Bureau. Retrieved on 6 November 2024</ref> professional surfer<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ojZVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6277,81412&dq=shaun-tomson&hl=en|title=Surfer Fighting a Wipe-Out|date= 1 August 1983 |work=The Age |access-date=2018-06-21}}</ref> and former world champion, environmentalist, actor, author, and businessman. He has been listed among the top ten surfers of the century, and was the 1977 World Surfing Champion.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://bereamail.co.za/135858/shaun-tomson-surfs-into-sa-hall-of-fame/|title=Shaun Tomson surfs into SA Hall of Fame|work=Berea Mail|date=7 July 2018}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Tomson was born in Durban, South Africa, and is Jewish.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sapeople.com/2018/05/13/watch-surf-legend-shaun-tomson-sa-trip-was-greatest-thing-ive-done-in-my-life/|title=WATCH Surf Legend Shaun Tomson: 'SA Trip Was Greatest Thing I've Done in My Life'|date=13 May 2018|work=SA People News}}</ref> His mother, Marie (1930 - 2021), grew up in Malta, where she survived the Siege of Malta, bombing raids by the air and naval forces of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany and was evacuated to South Africa.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tomson |first=Shaun |author-link= |date=2022 |title=The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive and Ride Life's Waves |url= |location=New York|publisher=Workman |page=143 |isbn=1641706554}}</ref> She later converted to Judaism.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tomson |first=Shaun |author-link= |date=2022 |title=The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive and Ride Life's Waves |url= |location=New York|publisher=Workman |page= |isbn=1641706554}}</ref> His father Ernie (Chony) Tomchinsky (1930 - 1981), was born to Jewish parents, with Shaun's grandfather, Samuel Tomchinsky fleeing pogroms in the Russian Empire (present-day) Latvia in the early 1900s.<ref name=lat>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-06-26-sp-1148-story.html THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA : Shaun Tomson Has Left His Homeland and Overcome One Fear of Surfing] ''The Los Angeles Times''. 26 June 1985</ref><ref>[https://guykawasaki.com/shaun-tomson/ Meet Shaun Tomson, one of the greatest surfers of all time.] Guy Kawasaki. Retrieved on 7 November 2024</ref> Ernie was a world class swimmer, whose sporting career was cut short by a shark attack.<ref name=lchaim>[https://www.lchaimmagazine.com/riding-lifes-waves-with-purpose-meaning-joy-and-humility/ Riding Life's Waves with Purpose, Meaning, Joy and Humility] ''L'Chaim''. 11 March 2024</ref> Shaun had his ''Bar Mitzvah'' at his familial shul, Temple David, a Reform congregation.<ref name=iol>[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/lifestyle/wise-words-to-buoy-you-through-life-encouraging-a-path-of-purpose-hope-and-faith-599c3b4f-c038-4da0-a905-7b8e7ef8cf7c Wise words to buoy you through life, encouraging a path of purpose, hope and faith] IOL. 5 December 2022</ref>
Tomson was educated in Durban, first attending Clifton Preparatory and then completing his high school education and matric at Carmel College, a Jewish High School.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tomson |first=Shaun |author-link= |date=2022 |title=The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive and Ride Life's Waves |url= |location=New York|publisher=Workman |page=37 |isbn=1641706554}}</ref> He later enrolled at University of Natal, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Business Finance.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.huckmag.com/outdoor/surf/shaun-tomson/|title=Shaun Tomson interview|date=22 August 2012|website=Huck Magazine}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://tmp.ucsb.edu/about/people/shaun-tomson|title=Shaun Tomson|date=30 November 2016|website=UCSB's Technology Management Program}}</ref> He graduated from Northeastern University with a Master of Science in Leadership with a focus on social change.
He learned to surf in the beachbreaks in and around Durban under the watchful eye of his father Ernie, and alongside older cousin Michael Tomson and brother Paul Tomson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.surfersjournal.com/product/interview-michael-tomson/|title=Interview: Michael Tomson|date=1 March 2018|work=The Surfers Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eos.surf/entries/tomson-michael/|title=Tomson, Michael|first=Matt|last=Warshaw|website=eos.surf|date=10 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2016/12/02/shaun-tomson-shadow-sharks|title=Shaun Tomson: In the shadow of sharks |work=Swellnet Dispatch |date=2 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.peoplemagazine.co.za/celebrity-news/happy-birthday-shaun-tomson/|title=Happy Birthday, Shaun Tomson!|first=Brenda|last=Taylor|date=21 August 2017|work=People}}</ref>
As a Jewish athlete, he was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.<ref>[https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/shaun-tomson-the-legendary-south-african-surfing-star Shaun Tomson: the legendary South African surfing star] ''Surfer Today''. Retrieved on 6 November 2024</ref><ref>[http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/ShaunTomson.htm SHAUN TOMSON (TOMCHINSKY)] International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 6 November 2024</ref>
==Career== Tomson went on to dominate amateur surfing competition in South Africa and began venturing over to Hawaii in the late 1960s, courtesy of a ''bar mitzvah'' present from his father.<ref name="auto2"/> It was on one of these trips that an awestruck 14-year-old Tomson witnessed first hand the so-called "Biggest Wave Ever Ridden" by Californian Greg Noll at Mākaha in 1969.<ref name="auto2"/> Hawaii's surf proved to be a daunting challenge for Tomson, but he continued to mature and train in South Africa's hollow waves, such as Cave Rock, the Bay of Plenty, and Jeffrey's Bay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patflan.co.za/shaun-tomson-an-article-in-zigzags-legends-journal/|title=Shaun Tomson |work= Zigzag's Legends Journal|author= Patrick Flanagan|date=8 August 2017 }}</ref>
Tomson won 19 major professional surf events, has been listed as one of the 25 most influential surfers of the century and as one of the 10 greatest surfers of all time. During his career he was both the youngest and oldest surfer to win a pro event, and is considered to be one of the architects of professional surfing.<ref name="auto3"/><ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto4"/>
=== Surfing and the Free Ride generation === In 1975, Tomson was an integral part of the "Free Ride" generation. Along with Australians Wayne Bartholomew, Mark Richards, Ian Cairns, Peter Townend, and Mark Warren, they rode waves along Oahu's legendary North Shore. Collectively, these surfers changed the face of surfing and were the first to really apply themselves as serious professional surfers. Tomson won the International Professional Surfers World Championship in 1977.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swellnet.com/news/talking-heads/2015/10/26/surfing-gracefully-1977-world-champion-shaun-tomson|title=Surfing gracefully: 1977 World Champion Shaun Tomson | Talking Heads|author=Craig Jarvis|date= 26 October 2015|work= Swellnet}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://surfd.com/2018/11/the-legend-that-is-shaun-tomson/|title=The Legend That Is Shaun Tomson|date=11 November 2018|website=Surfd}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes/5598/shaun-tomson?yearResultsTourCode=mct&yearResultsYear=1977|title=Pro Surfer: Shaun Tomson - 1977 Men's Championship Tour event results|website=World Surf League|date=12 July 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.today.com/popculture/world-champion-surfer-shaun-tomson-shares-his-inspiration-code-6C10867715|title=World-champion surfer Shaun Tomson shares his inspiration in 'The Code'|website=TODAY|date=12 August 2013}}</ref>
On a performance level, Tomson changed the way the tube section of the wave was ridden, using a style of pumping and weaving through and around collapsing sections of the barrel. A quote of his from the period was, "Time is expanded inside the tube." An aspect of Tomson's inventiveness was his in the tube punch throughs where he escaped unscathed from hideous closeout sections over a shallow reef.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewmanpodcast.com/2014/01/tnm-149-shaun-tomson-the-code-the-power-of-i-will/|title=Shaun Tomson; The Code; The Power of I Will|date=3 January 2014|website=The New Man Podcast}}</ref>
===Accolades and honours===
In 2014 Tomson was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scjewishsportshof.com/tomson.html|title= SHAUN TOMSON; Surfing - 2014|website=Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame}}</ref> He has also been inducted into the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame (1997), the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1998), the South African Sports Hall of Fame (1977), and received the SIMA Environmentalist of the Year Award (2002) and the Surfrider Lifetime Achievement Award (2009).<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto4"/>
In 2024, at the South African Jewish Board of Deputies' 120th anniversary gala dinner, he was honoured among 100 remarkable Jewish South Africans who have contributed to South Africa.<ref name=gala>(28 November 2024) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jorzdQVRhI 100 Jews who have contributed to South Africa] SABJD. Retrieved on 1 February 2026.</ref> The ceremony included speeches from Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, and Tomson was honoured among other sports figures such as Jody Scheckter, Ali Bacher and Joel Stransky.<ref name=gala/><ref>[https://www.sajr.co.za/story-of-tenacity-board-honours-great-south-africans/ Story of tenacity: Board honours great South Africans] ''South African Jewish Report''. Retrieved on 1 February 2026.</ref>
==Other ventures== Tomson founded, managed, and sold two multi-million market-leading clothing brands, with the Surf focused '''Instinct''' in the 1980s, and Solitude in the 1990s.<ref name="auto2"/>
Tomson is a motivational speaker who focuses on the influence of positive values have on success in life and business based on his own experiences, in and out of the surf. An attitude of commitment and positivity is the basis for Tomson's business philosophy based on his "Surfer's Code – 12 Simple Lessons for Riding through Life". He has spoken internationally and has shared the stage with well-known personalities, including Sir Richard Branson and Malcolm Gladwell, for corporations such as General Motors, Cisco, Price Waterhouse, Toys R Us, Sasol, Disney, Google, Primedia, MTN and Adcock Ingram.{{citation needed|date=March 2026}}
In October 2024, he relaunched his brand, '''Instinct'''. Tomson explained: “In our divided and fractured world, Instinct what I'm intending to inspire, and unite people through the values in the Surfer's Code.”<ref>[https://www.surfer.com/news/1977-world-champ-shaun-tomson-discusses-relaunch-surf-brand-instinct Inside 1977 World Champ Shaun Tomson's Relaunch of Iconic Surf Brand Instinct] ''Surfer''. 28 October 2024</ref>
Tomson is also the author of ''Surfer's Code – 12 Simple lessons for riding through life'' and The Code - The Power of ''I Will''.<ref name="auto3"/><ref>Shaun Tomson (2011). [https://www.amazon.com/Surfers-Code-Simple-Lessons-Through/dp/1423622278 ''Surfer's Code: 12 Simple Lessons for Riding Through Life'']</ref> He also authored ''Bustin' Down the Door – Revolution of '75'', a companion to the film of the same name and ''Krazy Kreatures – Under my Surfboard!'', a collection of illustrated rhymes for children.<ref name="auto2"/> In 2022, he released The Surfer and the Sage with Familius Publishing.
Tomson has released 3 iPhone/iPad applications – ''Surfboards, a reference guide for surfboards''; ''Surfer – a digital form of Surfer's Code'' and ''Surf Creatures, animated rhymes for children''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shauntomson.com/projects/surf-creatures|title=Shaun Tomson - Surf Creatures - Surf Creatures iPhone App Learning about surf creatures is awesomely awesome fun, with rhymes that will make kids laugh and imagine themselves in the surf|website=shauntomson.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wavescape.co.za/surf-news/breaking-news/shaun-tomson-launches-iphone-app.html|title=Shaun Tomson Launches iPhone App|work=Wavescape|date=19 March 2010}}</ref>
== Personal life == ===Family=== In 1980, Tomson relocated to California. He was joined by his mother Marie, sister Tracy and brother, Paul.<ref name=lat/> In 1983, Tomson began dating Carla Winnick. The pair married four years later at his familial shul, Temple David in Durban.<ref>Allan, Jani. "Jani Allan's Week - Life on the 4-metre waves". ''Sunday Times'' (South Africa), 26 July 1987</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Tomson |first=Shaun |author-link= |date=2022 |title=The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive and Ride Life's Waves |url= |location=New York|publisher=Workman |page=39 |isbn=1641706554}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Tomson |first=Shaun |author-link= |date=2022 |title=The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive and Ride Life's Waves |url= |location=New York|publisher=Workman |page=160 |isbn=1641706554}}</ref>
The Tomsons' son Mathew died at 15 years of age on 24 April 2006 in Durban, South Africa, from an accidental death caused by playing the "choking game."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/surfing-star-mourns-son-killed-in-prank-1.276286|title=Surfing star mourns son killed in 'prank'|work= Independent Online|location=South Africa|access-date=2018-06-21|language=en|author=Barbara Cole |date= 3 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.surfline.com/surfnews/article.cfm?id=2545|title=Shaun Tomson loses his son, MATHEW TOMSON: RIP |work=Surfline}}</ref> In his autobiography, published in 2022, Tomson wrote about reconnecting with his Jewish faith in the wake of the tragedy of his son's death and returning to Temple David.<ref name=iol/>
Tomson lives with his wife and adopted son, Luke in Montecito, California, in Santa Barbara, California, and surfs daily.<ref>[https://www.sajr.co.za/judaism-helps-surfer-swim-towards-the-light/ Judaism helps surfer swim towards the light] ''The South African Jewish Report''. 9 March 2023</ref><ref name="auto2"/>
===Identity=== In 1985 he spoke to ''The Los Angeles Times'' about his South African identity: "I didn't leave South Africa for moral reasons. California was the place for me in terms of my future. I know there are a lot of things inherently wrong in South Africa. But I've never denied I'm from there." He continued: "I feel South Africa has potential to be a great country. But there has to be a form of power share. The black man has no say in the government at the moment, and you can't get away with it, it's an unfair situation. I've come out publicly that I do not like the policy of apartheid and am opposed to the kind of system of government in South Africa. But I'm also opposed to violent change.”<ref name=lat/>
Amid the Gaza War and rising levels of antisemitism, Tomson has spoken about his Jewish identity: “So my relationship with my religion and Israel has changed…I am now no longer Jewish. I am a Jew...”<ref name=lchaim/> Tomson travelled to Israel at the invitation of Omer Levy of '''Shabbat Surf Club''', where he participated in a memorial paddle for the twenty-six surfers killed in the terrorist attacks of October 7th perpetrated by Hamas.<ref name=lchaim/>
== Environmentalism == Tomson is a board member and ambassador for Surfrider Foundation, the environmental group dedicated to protecting the world's oceans, waves, and beaches. In 1984 he was the first professional surfer to become a member of the foundation and was chairman of the advisory board.{{citation needed|date=March 2026}} In 2002 he received the Surf Industry Manufacturer Association Environmentalist of the Year Award for his environmental efforts. Tomson co-founded and remains affiliated with the environmentally active celebrity surfer organization Project Save Our Surf.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2013/11/19/a-conversation-w-project-save-our-surfs-co-founder-actress-surfer-tanna-frederick-2/|title=A Conversation w/ Project Save Our Surf's Co-Founder—Actress & Surfer Tanna Frederick |website=National Geographic|date=19 November 2013 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-21}}</ref>
==Filmography== Tomson has appeared in films, including ''Free Ride'', ''Fantasea'', ''Many Classic Moments'', and ''In God's Hands''. Tomson also co-produced an award-winning full-length feature film about the benchmark mid-1970s surfing era called ''Bustin' Down the Door'', which premiered in early 2008.<ref name="auto2"/> He wrote and narrated a documentary about Jeffreys Bay called ''A Pure Line''.<ref name="auto"/>
==See also== * List of Jewish surfers
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://shauntomson.com/}} * {{IMDb name}} * {{WSL profile}} * [http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/tomson_shaun.cfm Surfline.com biography] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051124150842/http://www.surfhistory.com/html/profiles/tomson.html Surfhistory.com biography] * [http://www.surfrider.org/ Surfrider Foundation] * [http://www.24.com/entertainment/movies/?p=Features_Article&i=972585 Tomson on Channel24] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080805070525/http://www.learnfrommylife.com/ShaunTomson learnfrommylife feature] * [http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/ShaunTomson.htm International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame - Shaun Tomson] * [http://www.bigspeak.com/shaun-tomson.html Tomson profile page on BigSpeak.com]
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|ach}} {{Succession box | title = International Professional Surfers World Champion (men's) | years = 1977 | before = Peter Townend | after = Wayne Bartholomew }} {{s-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomson, Shaun}} Category:1955 births Category:International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame inductees Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Durban Category:South African surfers Category:South African writers Category:White South African people Category:World Surf League surfers Category:South African Jews Category:South African people of Russian-Jewish descent Category:South African people of Latvian-Jewish descent Category:Jewish South African sportspeople Category:Jewish American sportspeople Category:University of Natal alumni Category:Northeastern University alumni Category:People from Montecito, California Category:Sportspeople from Santa Barbara County, California