“Original Greats in Our Sport”: While Reminiscing a Former Surfing Legend, Kelly Slater Sends Out Personalized Invitation for His Upcoming Event

Surfing has many greats who have shaped the sport. They had managed to stamp their influence on the game. One such person was the great Dane Kealoha. The man known for his “Pig-dog style” of surfing dominated the surfing arena in the seventies and early eighties. He is a role model and inspiration to many.

On his first birth anniversary after his death, a memorial service is being conducted in his memory. The legendary Kelly Slater has sent out an invitation through his Instagram account with a personalized message. In the message, he remembers the star and cherishes his meeting with him. The paddle-out memorial service is called out and conducted by the Kealoha family. The memorial is to take place on Dane’s one of the favorite beaches in Hawaii.

Paddle Out in the Memory of Surfing Legend

Dane Kealoha was one of the pioneers of the sport. He died on 10th May 2023 after a long battle with cancer. The family had put a public invitation for a paddle-out memorial service in remembrance of the surfing legend. The surfing legend Kelly Slater endorsed the second memorial through his Instagram story today. He led an open invitation with a staunch caption. He penned, “One of the original greats in our sport. Was blessed to get some time with him in the past few years to talk story “.

The first was on the 25th of June at Honolua Bay, Maui at 10:30 AM. And the second is set for the 2nd of July, Dane’s birthday. It is to be held at ‘Ehukai Beach Park, Oahu at 11 AM.

The expense of the memorial service is being taken care of by GofoundMe Foundation. A public donation fund was set up, especially for the said purpose. According to the family, the left-out money will be donated to a local charity in Dane’s memory. The memorial was planned on two favorite beaches of Dane on two separate dates.

An illustrious career of King of Backdoor

A son of a carpenter grew up learning to surf on the famous Waikiki beach.  At the age of 15, he won the Hawaii state surfing title. He had a natural talent, which he displayed during his junior division national surfing championship, and won the title in 1976. The next year, he secured the third position in Duke Kahanamoku Invitational. Later, he developed the famous Pig-Dog style of surfing. The technique helped him ride deep inside the tube of the wave and pass it while maintaining balance and stability.

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He reached his peak in 1983 when he won the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational and Pipeline Masters championship. He retired at the early age of 25 when he got into some disagreement with the surfing governing body. After business stints, he opened his surfing school in Hyatt Residency, Waikiki.

The Surfer magazine has ranked him the sixth greatest power surfer of all time. His technique is still followed and taught in surfing schools. The paddle-out memorial is an effort to keep the memories alive in our hearts.

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