24 Facts About Fred Hemmings

Fred Hemmings retired from competition and created the first major pro surfing events including the Pipeline Masters, 1971.

Fred Hemmings served as a Republican member of the Hawaii Senate from the 25th District from 2001 to 2011.

Fred Hemmings inaugurated the Pipeline masters in 1971, and owned and produce all the events in the Triple Crown of Surfing.

All three major television networks had contracts with Fred Hemmings to cover his events.

Fred Hemmings was a steersman on four Molokai to Oahu Outrigger Canoe racing Champion teams, and to this day is a pioneer canoe surfing steersman.

Fred Hemmings attended Punahou School where he is an inductee of the Punahou School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Fred Hemmings was inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame, and in 1999 the Hawaii State Sports Hall of Fame.

Fred Hemmings was the Republican nominee for Governor of Hawaii in the 1990 election.

Fred Hemmings has authored several books including his best seller Local Boy: A Memoir.

Four years later in 1958, Fred Hemmings began competing in surfing events.

Fred Hemmings placed first in the following years that he entered.

Fred Hemmings continued to enter surfing contests taking him as far as Peru, where he won the Peruvian International Championship.

In 1968, Fred Hemmings won the World Surfing Championship in Puerto Rico.

In 1969, Fred Hemmings produced the Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships which became the de facto professional world championships.

Fred Hemmings created the Pipeline Masters surf competition in 1971 which is the longest standing surf contest in the world.

Fred Hemmings consistently spoke out against substance abuse in surfing.

Fred Hemmings was a strong advocate for women in professional surfing.

In 1975 Fred Hemmings founded the World Cup of Surfing championships with events for both men and women.

Fred Hemmings continued to pursue his dream to make professional surfing a reality.

In 1976 Fred Hemmings co-founded, along with Randy Rarick, the organization of International Professional Surfers.

In 1983, Fred Hemmings combined the Pipeline Masters at the Banzai Pipeline in Oahu, the Duke Classic at Sunset Beach, and the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa Ali'i Beach Park, into the Triple Crown of Surfing.

Simultaneously with surfing, Fred Hemmings is known as a champion canoe paddler and steersman.

Fred Hemmings was on the championship teams in the Molokai to Oahu canoe races in 1967,1968,1975 and the Masters in 1984.

Fred Hemmings has four children: son Heath, Daughters Meaghan and Kaui, step son Gordon and seven grandchildren Trevor, Merrick, Hanna, Eleanor, Leo, Talcott, and Kiera.