Dale Webster, Surfer Who Rode Waves For 14,642 Consecutive Days, Dies Aged 77

Dale Webster, nan Northern California surfer who paddled retired each time for much than 40 years, has died astatine nan property of 77. News of his decease was shared connected societal media by friends and chap surfers. No origin of decease was given.

Known arsenic Daily Dale and Daily Wavester, Webster holds a Guinness World Record for nan longest streak of consecutive days surfed: an bonzer 14,642, a agelong that began successful 1975 and ended successful 2015. His feat required him to surf astatine slightest 3 waves a day, rainfall aliases shine, successful sickness aliases successful health, done frigid Pacific waters and nan shark-rich lineup disconnected Sonoma County.

Born successful Alhambra, California, successful 1948, Webster began stand-up surfing successful 1961 astatine nan property of 13. In 1973, he moved to Bodega Bay, astir 70 miles northbound of San Francisco. Two years later, a tally of ample swells known arsenic nan Monster from New Zealand sparked a individual challenge: surf each time for 100 consecutive days.

When he reached that milestone, a section newspaper wrote astir it. “That publicity gave maine a small pat connected nan backmost to make it to a year,” Webster told Surfer mag successful 2015. “So past nan situation became a year. And truthful forth.”

From 3 September 1975 until 5 October 2015, Webster ne'er missed a time successful nan water. Inspired by surfers for illustration Doc Paskowitz and Phil Edwards, he followed Edwards’ dictum that a activity wasn’t genuinely ridden unless it was taken each nan measurement to nan beach, fin dragging successful nan sand.

The streak was arsenic overmuch astir grit arsenic it was astir waves. Year-round h2o temperatures connected his agelong of seashore hovered astir 50F (10C), often dropping into nan 40s successful winter. Storms regularly battered nan shore, and nan surf could beryllium fickle aliases outright dangerous. Webster endured kidney stones, thyroid problems and, connected 1 searingly difficult day, still paddled retired aft his woman died of cancer.

He built his life astir nan pursuit, ne'er taking vacations distant from nan seashore and moreover quitting jobs that interfered pinch his sessions. “The only point I’ll person is nan representation of riding each those waves,” he told nan New York Times successful 2000. “When I’m retired location watching nan seals and oversea lions, and 30-inch salmon jumping, and I person each those waves to myself, it’s for illustration my ain individual Disneyland.”

His streak ended successful 2015 erstwhile he needed room for kidney stones. By then, Webster had ridden an estimated 43,923 waves. In 2003, his dedication was profiled successful Dana Brown’s surf documentary Step Into Liquid. Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater was among those who saluted him, writing: “#DaleWebster hasn’t missed a time of surfing successful #14641 days and I deliberation he’s awesome.”

Webster reflected connected his devotion successful philosophical terms. “Surfing is really a challenge,” he told Surfer. “It whitethorn not beryllium barreling, but nan enactment of putting connected a suit, going retired there, and conscionable being successful nan h2o feels wonderful.”