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Kicking a Hornets Nest!
I had no idea just how explosive an innocuous conversation over dinner could become. The conversation I refer to was with a few close friends and regarded surfing world champions.
I simply, and without prejudice, asked the diners to rank their top five surfing world champions, male and female.
It was fascinating to hear the difference of opinion regarding who the table thought were amazing champions. It was equally intriguing to hear those that weren’t considered to be quite as good.
However the previously calm occasion soon descended into a raucous affair.
After a cacophony of surfing world champions names were called out, and people’s opinions on their friends choices were well represented, a truce was called. We decided to team up and rank every surfing world champion in order of greatness. Pen and paper were fetched and we went to work.
An hour later we had failed. The paper was a scrawled mess with names scribbled out and written over. We had no definitive list and resigned ourselves to the fact that we simply would not agree. We’d each come up with our own surfing world champions rankings, but they differed so much that common ground was unachievable.
The Ultimate List of Surfing World Champions – A Survey
I couldn’t let it go however and spent the next day thinking how I could collate our choices into the ultimate list of surfing world champions. It was genuinely exciting to find out how the list would develop.
A decision was made to take the names of the 21 surfers who have held the mens world title and the 15 surfers who won the female crown, and put them into a piece of survey software. I then emailed the survey out to dozens of friends, colleagues, social media contacts, and anyone I thought would have an interest in completing it. They ranged from current and former pro surfers, die hard surf fans, surfing historians, and surfers with an interest in the world tour.
Respondents could simply drag and drop the surfers into ranking order and when they were happy with the list hit the complete button. The software then crunched the numbers and provided a leaderboard of world champions.
I asked the guys to rank the surfers according to how impressive the surfer was during their era, at their prime. To consider how many times they won the title, how many back to back titles they won and how strong the field was during their reign of dominance. What I was trying to avoid was a cross generation situation like “would Kelly Slater have beaten Rabbit Bartholemew?”
If you would like to have a crack at the survey I would love to see your own personal rankings. Check it out here. I will update the ultimate list of surfing world champions as and when changes in the rankings take place.
A Fantastic Response
The feedback was amazing. Responses ranged from “that was really fun” to “my whole evening was taken up doing your damn survey, I must’ve re-jigged my top five like twenty times!” I’d like to say thank you to each and every one of the people who took the time to complete the survey.
It was awesome to see how people interpreted the rankings. How a surfer would be a clear top 5 on one list, yet rank a lowly 13th on others.
The Ultimate List of Surfing World Champions
Mens Rankings
Here we have the greatest men’s surfing world champions ranked from 21st to 1st place.
Number 21 – CJ Hopgood: Unfortunately the 2001 world tour was disrupted, and ultimately shortened by the catastrophic events of 9/11. Combined with the fact that CJ did not win an event during his championship year means the Floridian goofy foot will always have an asterix after his name. 
Number 20 – Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholemew: Rabbit won the 1978 world title and went on to finish in the top 5 in the world for the next seven years. Bugs is one of the most stylish surfers in history. He probably should have won more titles, but like Steve Soderburg said in his 1987 film Ticket to Ride “Rabbits one pro who doesn’t just go for the points, he goes for the thrills.” 
Number 19 – Peter Townend: PT has the prestigious title of being the sports first ever official world champion. Winning the inaugural trophy in 1976 cemented Townend in the sports history. We sometimes forget the quality of opposition that PT overcame on his way to the number one position. 
Number 18 – Derek Ho: A true legend of the sport. Not only did Derek win the 1993 world title, the first Hawaiian to do so, he was also a four time Triple Crown winner. Following his untimely passing in 2020, Derek Ho’s legacy lives on amongst all Pipeline surfers. 
Number 17 – Adriano De Souza: It took the powerful Brazilian a decade on tour before he secured his 2015 world title. De Souza was heralded for greatness following his 2003 World Junior Title at the age of 16, but success on the world stage didn’t come quite as easily as expected. Adriano is a competitive animal who’s consistency eventually culminated in the number one position. Sometimes criticised for his style and use of competitive tactics, you cannot deny De Souza’s passion. 
Number 16 – Barton Lynch: Known as the thinking mans surfer. Barton was able to calculate his way to seventeen world tour victories, and ultimately the 1988 world title. Although not heralded as the most exciting surfer on tour, Lynch proved that there is more to winning than just flashy surfing. Barton Lynch’s unique ability to break down surfing strategy makes him one of the best coaches and commentators in the world. 
Number 15 – Sunny Garcia: The powerful Hawaiian natural footer won an unprecedented six Triple Crowns and clinched the 2000 world title. Sunny is well known for his devastating hacks, often overpowering waves of consequence. The only blemish on Sunny’s amazing world title is that it was achieved during Kelly Slater’s hiatus from competitive surfing. Surfd wishes Sunny and the Garcia family the very best during the difficult times they are currently facing. 
Number 14 – Joel Parkinson: One of the most gifted and naturally talented surfers to have graced the world tour. Joel’s style is the blueprint for any aspiring professional surfer. Parkinson’s career included four runner up finishes, before finally securing the number one prize in 2012. If Joel had picked up further titles I am certain he would rank significantly higher on this list. 
Number 13 – Shaun Tomson: Shaun had long been regarded as one of the best and most pioneering surfers on the planet, years before securing his title in 1977. The South African tube rider extraordinaire is one of the most recognisable and well liked professional surfers of all time. As with Joel Parkinson, I believe that it is Shaun’s lone title that prevented him ranking higher. 
Number 12 – Damien Hardman: What did Damien Hardman do when critics announced his 1987 world title as a one off? He asserted his “Iceman” persona and took down the tour again in 1991. Hardman is renowned as one of the toughest competitors in surfing history and the Narrabeen goofy foot won nineteen professional contests during his illustrious career. 
Number 11 – Italo Ferreira: The 2019 world champion and 2020 Olympic champion is one of the most exciting surfers on the planet. Say what you will about the Brazilians style, it is undeniable that Italo’s unpredictable approach to competitive surfing makes him a force to be reckoned with. Time will only tell if Ferreira can once again rise to the top against his phenomenally talented peers. 
Number 10 – Mark Occhilupo: Okay, lets get it out of the way. Occy’s lone 1999 world title came during the Kelly Slater competitive hiatus. But it’s everything that goes along with the legend of Occy that ranks him in the top 10. The fact that the phenom finally secured his prize after years of trying, especially considering his resurrection from the couch, makes the Occy story so incredible. 
Number 9 – Martin Potter: The highest ranked one time world title winner. The 1989 champ is regarded as one of the most progressive and explosive surfers to have graced the sport. Pottz continued to push his surfing in a direction that few could comprehend, pioneering aerial surfing along the way. To this day there are few surfboard airbrushes more iconic than Martin’s world tour winning quiver. 
Number 8 – Tom Carroll: Twenty six world tour wins. The first surfing millionaire. Three Pipeline Masters. More than 99% of pro surfers achieve in a lifetime. But Tommy went even further by winning back to back world titles in 1983 and 84. It was only in later life that Carroll told the world about the struggles he fought through on his way to being one of the greatest of all time. 
Number 7 – Mick Fanning: The three time world champ is one of the true legends of competitive surfing. Not only did Mick secure the trophies in 2007, 2009, and 2013, he was seemingly in the title race every year. A model professional, Mick Fanning is a true ambassador for the sport. Was I surprised that Mick didn’t rank a bit higher? Maybe. But that is testament to the level of surfers yet to come. 
Number 6 – John John Florence: From child prodigy to two time world champion. When John John went back to back in 2017 and 2018, very few people were surprised. He surfs at such a high level that it almost feels like a healthy, uninjured Florence can win events at will. I think it’s inevitably that more world titles will come John Johns way over the next few years. 
Number 5 – Gabriel Medina: When Gabby won his first title in 2014, the surfing world held it’s breath in anticipation of a Kelly Slateresque period of dominance. It’s surprising that Medina took a further four years to win again in 2018. However, the way that Gabriel dominated the 2021 season is a shot across the bows of every aspiring world champion. It looks like something has clicked with the Brazilian’s mindset and we might yet see records broken. 
Number 4 – Mark Richards: The most dominant surfer of his era, Mark Richards legacy has stood the test of time. Not only did MR win four world titles, he went back to back from 1979 until 1982. There is only one other surfer in history who has achieved that phenomenal feat. His wounded gull style and twin fin surfboards are a thing of beauty. Mark Richards will always be remembered as one of the greatest of all time. 
Number 3 – Tom Curren: The margin of votes that had TC beating MR to the third position was less than 1%. So what set Tommy just slightly ahead? His thirty three world tour wins and three world titles in 1985, 1986 and 1990 are impressive enough, however, the fact that Tom came back from retirement and surfed his way through the trials, with the lowest possible seeding, on the way to securing the 1990 tour is something that is unlikely to be repeated. 
Number 2 – Andy Irons: It is going to take a significant effort from the current and future crop of world champions to dislodge the late Andy Irons from the number two spot. Not only did he win three back to back world titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004, he also went head to head with the most dominant competitive surfer of all time, and beat him. Andy Irons is recognised as one of the most complete surfers to have graced the sport, but we only learned of his struggles with addiction following his untimely death in 2010. The Andy Iron’s story is one that will be told for many, many years to come. 
Number 1 – Kelly Slater: For me there are few things more difficult than writing about Kelly’s dominance of professional surfing. I struggle for the words to describe just how good the G.O.A.T really is. Let me try to build a little perspective. Slater could have hung up his wetsuit for the last time in 1998 and still been considered the most successful world champion of all time! The eleven time champion went on to win a further five world titles and is still competing at the highest level at almost fifty years of age. Kelly redefined surfing and it is highly unlikely that his records will be surpassed anytime soon.
Womens Rankings
Here we have the greatest women’s surfing world champions ranked from 15th to 1st place.
Number 15 – Chelsea Georgeson: It seems a little unfair on Chelsea to rank fifteenth considering what a tremendous competitive year she had in 2005. Georgeson took down the Billabong Pro Tahiti, the Rip Curl Pro France, the Triple Crown and ultimately secured the world tour trophy by winning the Billabong Pro Maui. 
Number 14 – Kim Mearig: Growing up alongside Tom Curren at Santa Barbaras groomed point breaks was a great start for Kim. 1983 was a fantastic year for the stylish regular footer, taking out the OP Pro in dominant fashion on the way to winning the world title over fierce rival Frieda Zamba. Mearig was unable to emulate her 83 form and after a runner up finish in 84 her competitive powers diminished somewhat. 
Number 13 – Debbie Beacham: You may have seen the name Debbie Beacham in conjunction with the promotion of women’s surfing contests, however, Debbie is best known as the 1982 World Champion. Beacham absolutely charged in the large powerful waves of Sunset and Bells Beach and is held in high regard by both her peers and the new generation of female surfers. 
Number 12 – Sofia Mulanovich: In 2004 Sofia won half of the world tour events as a dominant world champion. The first Peruvian world champ, and powerful regular foot proved her pedigree and longevity by also winning gold at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games. 
Number 11 – Pauline Menczer: The powerful surfing of Pauline Menczer dominated the 1993 world tour. A career total of twenty tour event victories is a stellar achievement for the ripper from Bondi. 
Number 10 – Pam Burridge: I absolutely believe that Pam Burridge would rank higher on this list if she had secured more world titles than the 1990 trophy. Pam used her tall, athletic frame to surf with a style few girls could rival. 
Number 9 – Lynn Boyer: The most dominant female surfer in 1978 and 79, Lynn took down back to back world titles. Boyer’s low centre of gravity based surfing has been compared to the great Larry Bertleman. Boyer really did spark a new generation of radical surfing. 
Number 8 – Tyler Wright: The 2016 and 2017 world champ has re-written the playbook for power surfing on the women’s world tour. Tyler turns harder than any of her rivals and will be a threat to win more titles every year she is on tour. 
Number 7 – Margo Oberg: There is not enough space here to break down Margo Oberg’s achievements in surfing. The first female professional surfer won two “unofficial world championships” prior to taking out the first world tour in 1977. Oberg returned to her dominant ways in 1980, smashing the field again in 1981. 
Number 6 – Wendy Botha: The higher rankings are dominated by surfers who took a firm grip on the world title multiple times. First up is the stylish South African Wendy Botha. World champion four times, Wendy took her first title in 1987, reclaimed the crown in 1989, and then secured a dominant back to back streak in 1991 and 92. Wendy Botha was a tour de force on the women’s world tour 
Number 5 – Frieda Zamba: The class of the Floridian goofy foot is undeniable. Frieda was virtually untouchable during the 1984, 85, and 86 tours, picking up her first three world titles. She came back to show the rest of the girls how its done in 88 by dominating the tour for a fourth time. 
Number 4 – Lisa Anderson: Two words synonymous with Lisa Anderson? Style and dominance. Four back to back world titles between 1994 and 1997 make Lisa Anderson one of the greatest competitive surfers of all time. 
Number 3 – Carissa Moore: Things just keep getting more impressive. Five time world champion, Moore’s surfing is on another level to virtually every other surfer on tour. The question is can the current world champion hold off the next generation of rippers to break the records set by her peers? 
Number 2 – Layne Beachley: Forget surfing for a second. Name a more impressive sporting reign of dominance than Layne Beachley winning six, yes six, back to back world titles between 1998 and 2003? Oh, and then coming back in 2006 to take out her seventh title! Layne Beachley is a legend of surfing and will be an icon of the sport for decades to come. I would place a bet that Layne’s back to back streak will not be surpassed. 
Number 1 – Stephanie Gilmore: Steph took the number 1 spot over Layne by less than 1% of votes! The seven time champion is regarded as one of the best and most stylish surfers in the world. Gilmore has surfed against, and beaten the best surfers of different generations on her way to the 2007, 08, 09, 10, 12, 14 and 2018 world titles. Steph remains a perennial threat on the world tour at 33 years of age. Never count Steph out to surpass Layne and challenge for Kelly Slater’s record!
Do You Agree?
Obviously ranking the surfing world champions in order of greatness is subjective. The lists above are the result of dozens of submissions from a broad range of surfers, but I would love to hear your thoughts! Why not comment below or alternatively don’t forget that you can submit your own choices on the survey page. I will update the rankings as and when changes occur.
The 30 Best Surfers Ever
Why not head over to the fantastic article The 30 Best Surfers Ever and see how many of our ranked world champions feature!