Mike Stewart

Born in 1963 in Honolulu, Mike Stewart is a nine-time bodyboarding world champion, and a one-time bodysurfing world champion. Stewart became the face of bodyboarding in the 1980s, earning more than $100K per year in contest earnings and sponsors' salaries. He was featured in a Surfer magazine profile in 1987—the first bodyboarder ever to receive that level of coverage in a surf mag. In 1991, Surfer ran a piece titled "Is Mike Stewart the Best Surfer in the World?" So many firsts: Stewart was among the first to ride Teahupo'o in Tahiti in the late '80s. He was the first bodyboarder to ride 20-foot plus waves on the outer reefs of Oahu's North Shore. He was the first bodyboarder to ride Jaws, on Maui, in 1993. Stewart brings a scientific take to his wave riding. In 1996, he spent seven days following a south swell, riding it first in Tahiti, then Hawaii, then California, and finally in Alaska. Through it all, he's had something of a preternatural relationship with Pipeline, having won upwards of 15 bodyboarding events out there, and upwards of 20 bodysurfing events (Stewart himself has lost count). In this episode of Soundings, Stewart talks with Jamie Brisick about devoting a lifetime to Pipeline, tube mechanics, working for Tom Morey, the form and function of bodysurfing, and shark encounters. Presented by Rainbow® Sandals Produced by Jonathan Shifflett Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin) Become a TSJ member at surfersjournal.com