In the 1960s
Fremantle surfer Howard ‘The Ghost’ Kent was an acclaimed big wave rider in the
South West. Painted with white zinc cream all over his face he would scream
across Margaret River’s biggest waves.
The Ghost
would knee paddle out to the surf break and sit way beyond the bubble searching
for the gnarliest waves. He was used by other surfers as a marker buoy out the
back.
The
Ghost – I just
wanted to surf the biggest waves possible, because there would be less surfers
dropping in. Source Larry Anderson Wet Side News 1993.
Kevin Merifield – The Ghost had fair skin and used to put white zinc cream all over his face.He was a gutsy surfer but could hardly swim. On a big day at Margaret’s there was a strong offshore breeze. Ghost took off on a very large set wave, bombed out and started swimming to shore after his board. As I paddled back out to the line-up and met him, I told him the stiff offshore had blown his board back over the wave and was now heading out to sea.
Ghost turned around and swam back to the line-up and kept swimming after his board, but as he got 200-300 meters past us, I could see the board was going faster than he could swim. I paddled out to his aid and by the time I reached his board and Ghost got there, we were a good mile out to sea in very deep, black water. That is when you think about the wrong type of fins. It took us a good forty-five minutes to reach the shore where we both collapsed totally buggered and grateful to have our feet back on land. Source Surfing Down South book 2014.
This is
a collection of images of The Ghost surfing in the South West.
1961 The Ghost surfing Gallows on a King & Cole Surfboard made in Wembley. Photographer unknown. 1962 Howard Ghost Kent surfing Gallows. Brian Cole pic1962 Bob Keenan (crouching) and Howard Ghost Kent surfing Gallows. John ‘Dan Daragan’ Robertson pic. Bob Keenan was runner up in the Open Mens division of inaugural State Surfboard Championships in 1964 and went one better and won the Open Mens in 1965.1963 Howard Ghost Kent with his Holden panel van and Malibu surfboards at Yallingup. Image courtesy of Kent family.1960s Surf check at Moses Rock. Terry Williams pic L-R Howard Ghost Kent, Jim Mackenzie, Kevin Merifield, Charlie Roper, Keith Campbell, John McKnight, Dave Williams & Terry Jacks.
The Ghost suffered
from injuries received from serious wipe outs on big waves and retired from surfing
in the 80s.
Sadly, the
Ghost passed-away in 1997. His surfing friends and family held a Memorial at
Yallingup beach.
1997 Memorial to The Ghost at Yallingup. Photographer unknown L-R Steve Mailey, Kevin Merifield & Ken Gymm. 1997 Group photo at Memorial to The Ghost on Yallingup beach. Photographer unknown.
RIP Howard.
Many thanks to the photo contributors, Wet Side News & Surfing Down South book for helping with research on this matter.
In the 1960s Fremantle surfer Howard ‘The Ghost’ Kent was an acclaimed big wave rider in the South West. Painted with white zinc cream all over his face he would scream across Margaret River’s biggest waves.
The Ghost would knee paddle out to the surf break and sit way beyond the bubble searching for the gnarliest waves. He was used by other surfers as a marker buoy out the back.
The Ghost – I just wanted to surf the biggest waves possible, because there would be less surfers dropping in. Source Larry Anderson Wet Side News 1993.
Kevin Merifield – The Ghost had fair skin and used to put white zinc cream all over his face. He was a gutsy surfer but could hardly swim. On a big day at Margaret’s there was a strong offshore breeze. Ghost took off on a very large set wave, bombed out and started swimming to shore after his board. As I paddled back out to the line-up and met him, I told him the stiff offshore had blown his board back over the wave and was now heading out to sea.
Ghost turned around and swam back to the line-up and kept swimming after his board, but as he got 200-300 meters past us, I could see the board was going faster than he could swim. I paddled out to his aid and by the time I reached his board and Ghost got there, we were a good mile out to sea in very deep, black water. That is when you think about the wrong type of fins. It took us a good forty-five minutes to reach the shore where we both collapsed totally buggered and grateful to have our feet back on land. Source Surfing Down South book 2014.
This is a collection of images of The Ghost surfing in the South West.
Bob Keenan was runner up in the Open Mens division of inaugural State Surfboard Championships in 1964 and went one better and won the Open Mens in 1965.
L-R Howard Ghost Kent, Jim Mackenzie, Kevin Merifield, Charlie Roper, Keith Campbell, John McKnight, Dave Williams & Terry Jacks.
The Ghost suffered from injuries received from serious wipe outs on big waves and retired from surfing in the 80s.
Sadly, the Ghost passed-away in 1997. His surfing friends and family held a Memorial at Yallingup beach.
L-R Steve Mailey, Kevin Merifield & Ken Gymm.
RIP Howard.
Many thanks to the photo contributors, Wet Side News & Surfing Down South book for helping with research on this matter.
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