Surfing community stoked about Surfers’ Hall of Fame inductees

One of the driving forces in getting surfing into the Olympics, the winner of that first gold medal and a local journalist who has told their stories and those of many others, were inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame on Friday, Aug. 5.

Fernando Aguerre, Laylan Connelly and Ítalo Ferreira join the lineup of more than 90 surfers who have cemented their feet and hands in concrete at the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach for future generations to admire.

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Aaron Pai, founder of Huntington Surf & Sport and creator of the Surfers’ Hall of Fame, said all three inductees are gold medalists in their own ways.

“All inductees of the Surfers’ Hall of Fame have contributed greatly to this sport of surfing, whether through their talent, innovation and/or contribution to our culture,” Pai said. “This place becomes more special with every induction, every month and every year that goes by. After we are all gone, our kids and their kids will be able to come here and experience a little slice of our surfing culture from years past.”

Born in Argentina, Aguerre was introduced to surfing at 12 years old by his brother, Santiago. He’s been chasing waves ever since.

“He is a builder between organizations, cultures and countries as part of this objective of helping to build a better world” Pai said. “He uses surfing to bring people and groups and countries closer together.”

For nearly three decades, Aguerre spearheaded the effort to get surfing included in the Olympic Games – even when others said it was impossible. His determination paid off in 2021 when surfing was included in the Tokyo Olympics.

His four children who attended Friday’s ceremony said Aguerre, who is also president of the International Surfing Association, inspired them to always believe in the impossible.

Aguerre warned of not trying or doing something because that comes with regret.

“That would be the saddest road to go down. Regretting things that you should have, you could have, but you didn’t,” Aguerre told the crowd gathered for the ceremony. “Get inspired. I don’t know how, but get inspired and don’t give up.”

It was Ferreira won the first Olympic gold medal for surfing in the Tokyo Games. Born on the northeastern coast of Brazil and the son of a fisherman, Ferreira began surfing at the age of 8 using the lid of an ice cooler.

“When he arrived on tour, I honestly underestimated his talents,” 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater said in a message he sent along for the Hall of Fame organizers to read. “He has proven to be one of the most exciting and dynamic surfers ever on tour. He won the heart of hearts of surfers and fans around the world and showed us some things nobody has done before.”

Ferreira said he was honored to be a part of the Hall of Fame, adding the honor was not his alone.

“I represent everyone,” Ferreira said. “It’s not only my feet here, it’s all the talent that came from Brazil. You can be the next, keep dreaming.”

Connelly is The Orange County Register’s beaches and surf culture reporter, who organizers said was being recognized not only for her love of surfing, but for her talents in storytelling that have helped connect the surfing community with the non-surfing world. Connelly has documented OC’s surfing community for some two decades.

“It’s really an art to write surf for the general public because you have to write something they’re going to understand. But at the same time, you want to write what you feel,” said Corky Carroll, a past Hall of Fame inductee and surfing champion who also writes a column for the Register. He at times took over emcee duties during Friday’s ceremony.

“Laylan is really good at bringing the heart and soul of how we as surfers feel and talk, yet, their mothers can understand it, too,” he said.

Connelly said it had been a nice moment to take a step back and reflect on the stories and people she has encountered over the last 20 years.

“It was really with this concept of people didn’t want to always read about the bad news and the bummer stuff and the things that consumed the media,” Connelly said of building her beaches beat. “They wanted something to be stoked about and be happy, things that they can relate to.

“Surfing is not just my job, but my life.”

The induction ceremony is held each year during the World Surf League’s US Open of Surfing, which continues this weekend with more heats on Saturday and the finals for both men and women on Sunday on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier.