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Hawaii big wave surfer Brock Little dies at age 48

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brock Little catches a wave at the Mavericks surf spot in this file photo.

Friends mourned the death Thursday of hard-charging, big-wave surfer and stuntman Brock Little, who had been suffering from cancer.

The Haleiwa resident was 48.

Little, at age 19, was among the youngest surfers to participate in the big wave Eddie Aikau surfing competition at Waimea Bay in 1986, finishing in fourth place, according to Surfer Magazine.

World-renown surfer Kelly Slater said on Twitter that Little was “larger than life to me.”

“The world will never be the same. I love you, man,” Slater said.

Slater tweeted that Little died today surrounded by friends and family.

Surfer Kai Lenny, in another Twitter comment, described Little as one of the greatest surfers of all time.

Little announced in late January that he had liver cancer.

Glen Moncata, the event coordinator for the Quicksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave surf contest, said Little was strong even after his cancer diagnosis, and was listed as an alternate surfer in this year’s competition at Waimea Bay.

There were plans to honor Little if the Eddie had been held earlier this month. If the competition is a go in the next two weeks, Little will certainly be remembered.

Little moved to Hawaii from California as a child. He lived on the North Shore and grew up surfing.

“The big wave fraternity basically started when he (Little) came in, and Brock was at the forefront in that,” Moncata said.

Moncata said Little was runner-up in the 1990 Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest, after wiping out on an earlier wave and then catching a massive 25-foot wave.

Little also worked as a stuntman in movies and television and appeared in many films, including “Transformers,” “Tropic Thunder” and “Training Day,” according to the film website imdb.com.

“He just got a bad break,” Moncata said of Little’s illness. “Hopefully, he’s in a better place.”

21 responses to “Hawaii big wave surfer Brock Little dies at age 48”

  1. StifelHNL says:

    we will miss you; he was a Son of Oahu.

  2. inverse says:

    Sad story but wonder if he was a heavy drinker, smoker and/or smoked weed or other substances. Why is this important is because maybe there is lesson to be learned from Little passing away so young.

  3. Tita Girl says:

    Sorry to hear of his passing. Condolences to his ohana and friends.

  4. HanabataDays says:

    “Smoking weed” hasn’t been implicated in any form of cancer — and God knows they’ve searched long and hard.

    Much more likely, considering his (non-surfing) gigs, related to bodybuilding steroids or pseudo-steroids. There’s a well-recognized correlation.

    • inverse says:

      That makes sense as one would likely take steriods to improve their performance as a stuntman. With weed never know how it effects the body when combined with other drugs or factors but just smoking weed, like cigarettes, has got to irritate the delicate linings of the lung that over long period of time would either likely increase the risk for lung cancer or at least greatly reduce a persons lung capacity

    • Bdpapa says:

      I’m against the legalization of marijuana but it does not cause cancer!

  5. KWAY says:

    Big wave surfing and stunt work aside, Brock was always humble to a fault, self effacing, and oh so quick witted. So young, sad sad sad for the Little family and the surfing community.

  6. mikethenovice says:

    I saw the sign that professional surfers are needed in heaven. Rest in peace.

  7. CloudForest says:

    Dear LORD,
    Bless every one of Bock’s family and friends.
    We will all miss you,
    Your Surfing Ohana

  8. NanakuliBoss says:

    Rest in Peace.

  9. csdhawaii says:

    Peace be with you, my brother. You will never be forgotten.

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