5 Best Professional Surfers of All Time

Most people hardly believe surfing. Riding on a piece of wood as huge waves push you towards shore sounds too crazy to be done, but in fact it is done regularly by some of the most talented athletes in the world. So who are these people? Well if you're interested in finding out who the best surfers around are then you've come to the right place. These surfers are the stuff of legend.

1. Kelly Slater
This American pro surfer is known for his skill and experience. He has been crowned the ASP World Champion a record 9 times including five times in a row from '94 to '98! He was the youngest at twenty and the oldest at 36 to win the title. He is definitely the most famous surfer in the world with countless victories, amazing videos, and even a video game named after him.

2. Mark Richards
Also known as MR, this Australian surfer became a legend back in the late 70s as one of the first all-star surfers. He won the world championship title four times during his career. Unfortunately, due to a back condition, he began to surf less and less until he fell out of professional surfing. Still, he is among one of the most respected surfers to have ever lived.

3. Laird Hamilton
Born, Laird John Zerfas, this California American pro surfer was the co-inventor of tow-in surfing. For those unfamiliar, tow-in surfing consists of a surfer being towed by a helicopter or boat by holding onto a line. This makes it easier to get on top of huge waves that would otherwise be too big to surf on. Despite being an excellent surfer, Laird has never been a fan of the professional surfing world; he considers surfing an art form. Besides surfing, he also has had some success as a male model.

4. Rob Machado
An American surfer, but actually born in Australia, Rob is known for his "laid back" style both in and out of the water. He has won a number of prestigious surfing competitions including Hawaii's Pipeline Surfing and the U.S. Open of Surfing. He is now retired from professional surfing due to injuries, but he continues to release videos and so still remains in the public eye.

5. Taj Burrow
Born in 1878, Taj Burrow is a very well known Australian surfer. He began surfing very young and went pro at age 20. He has written a book about surfing and produces his own surfing videos. In 2007, he won the Rip Curl Pro and in 2009 he won the Billabong Pipeline Masters.

Choosing the five best can a be a difficult job. There are so many great surfers out there. Who knows when the next great one will show him or herself.

Sources: Wikipedia - pages of names