16 Facts About Greg Noll

Greg Noll was an American pioneer of big wave surfing and a prominent longboard shaper.

Greg Noll produced a "legendary" series of five Search for Surf films.

Greg Noll subsequently adopted the surname of his stepfather, Ash.

At the age of three, Noll moved with his family to Manhattan Beach, California.

Greg Noll began surfing at the age of 11 in the South Bay.

Greg Noll was a member of Manhattan Beach Surf Club where he learned board shaping from Dale Velzy.

Greg Noll was a member of the Los Angeles County Lifeguards and competed in paddleboarding.

Greg Noll developed his big wave surfing off Palos Verdes at breaks such as Lunada Bay.

Greg Noll moved to Hawaii in 1954, where he finished high school, and lived and surfed at Makaha.

Greg Noll became known for his exploits in large Hawaiian surf on the North Shore of Oahu.

Greg Noll was the first surfer to ride a wave breaking on the outside reef at Banzai Pipeline in November 1964.

Greg Noll was readily identified in film footage while surfing by his iconic black and white horizontally striped "jailhouse" boardshorts.

Greg Noll later moved to Northern California and first worked as a commercial fisherman, before becoming a sport fishing guide.

Greg Noll provided his perspective on Hawaiian big wave surfing on the commentary track for DVD, along with Laird Hamilton and Jeff Clark.

Greg Noll lived in Hiouchi, California with his wife and started a business called "Noll Surfboards" that shaped re-creations of some of the historic boards from the sport of surfing.

Greg Noll resided in Crescent City, California, during his later years.