14 Facts About Mark Foo

Mark Sheldon Foo was a professional surfer who favored big wave surfing.

Mark Foo was born in Singapore on February 5,1958, to Colonel Charlie and Lorna Foo, Chinese photojournalists for the US Information Agency.

Mark Foo spent his early childhood surfing the South Shore of O'ahu, and continued surfing throughout his teenage years.

Mark Foo's family moved several times during his adolescence but ultimately returned to Hawaii just before Foo finished high school.

Mark Foo studied for two years at the University of Hawaii.

In 1977, Mark Foo joined the IPS World Tour, a professional surfing tour.

When Mark Foo fell off the overhanging ledge, the crashing wave broke his surfboard and tossed him into the water.

Mark Foo had to be rescued by a nearby helicopter, yet he emerged from the crash unharmed.

On December 23,1994, Mark Foo died in a surfing accident at Mavericks, a big-wave surf location in Half Moon Bay, Northern California.

Surfer magazine wrote that Mark Foo was sleep-deprived after arriving in California on an overnight flight for the swell.

Mark Foo's body was discovered still tied to the broken tail section of his board inside Pillar Point lagoon over two hours later.

One of the participants, who was carrying a container with Mark Foo's ashes, paddled into the center of the circle and placed the ashes into the ocean.

Mark Foo helped elevate the popularity of the sport, with his talent, courage, and enthusiasm, and was recognized as one of the greatest big-wave surfers of all time.

Mark Foo was a favorite subject of photographers, and he had his own cable television surfing program.