Surfing World Shattered as 74 Year Legend Passes Away

Australia has produced many famous surfers over the years. From Mick Fanning to Joel Parkinson to Sally Fitzgibbons, the country is rich in surfing icons. One of the earliest surfers to enrich such a culture was the legendary Queenslander Rick Neilsen. Having won numerous surfing championships throughout his career, Neilsen has left an indelible mark in the surfing world. As he recently passed away at age 74, Rick Neilsen leaves behind a vast legacy for fellow surfers to follow.

Roderick James Neilsen was born on July 20, 1948, to a builder boss-cum-lifeguard father and a seamstress mother. Loved by the whole surfing community of Queensland, Neilsen went on to be one of the greatest surfers from the region.

How Rick Neilsen got into surfing

As per Surfer Today, Neilsen was one of 6 brothers, including Len, Kevin, Paul, Jon, and Gary. Growing up in the Broadbeach area of Gold Coast, Neilsen attended state school before his father introduced him to surfing. It was only after National Junior champion Peter Drouyn emerged out of the area, that Paul and Rick Neilsen seriously started considering surfing as a full-time vocation.

It was 1967, and Neilsen was still a teenager when he started out by shaping surfboards at Lawrie Hohensee’s. He took the opportunity to design surfboards for himself and his brother too. From there on, he followed in the footsteps of Drouyn and represented Queensland in successive National Titles from 1967-1972. His career had started on a high note.

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Neilsen also won the 1970 Noosa Open, where some of the best surfers from around the globe, including Hawaiian champions Jimmy Blears and Gerry Lopez, participated. A flurry of victories followed for him soon.

Neilsen’s love of surfing took him to glorious heights

Neilsen won the Australian Open Men’s title in 1971 and became runners-up at the Bells’ National that same year. The very next year in 1972, Neilsen was selected for the Australian team at the World Surfing Championships in San Diego, California. However, his best international results came at the Smirnoff Pro that same year, where he reached the semi-finals of the event at Haleiwa, North Shore, Oahu. Neilsen loved surfing in Oahu. His 6’2″ height with thin, long legs made him the perfect fit for the waves of Oahu.

Neilsen also suffered tragedy in his family, with his wife Elaine passing away after an accident. However, Rick Neilsen forged and fought through life, and most importantly never gave up his love for surfing. He is survived by his son Adam.

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