Yallingup waterman Rich Myers originally from Santa Monica, California began his saltwater journey in the 1960s. He surfed, sailed and fished around the world before moving from California and Hawaii to Yallingup, Western Australia, in the 1990s.
From 1986 to 1988, Rich won three consecutive Aloha Classic World Wavesailing Masters titles at Ho’okipa Beach, a famous windsurfing and surfing destination located on the north shore of Maui in Hawaii. The events were held in waves ranging from 2 to 20+ feet. He won his first Masters Title in 1986 in surf exceeding 20ft—the largest waves ever ridden in a wave sailing contest at the time. Clink on link below for coverage of the 1986 titles.
A few weeks later in 1986, Rich also won the 6th Maui Steinlager Grand Prix Masters Waveriding title at Ho’okipa Beach, Maui, defeating renowned windsurfers/surfers Gerry Lopez (Haw), Midget Farrelly (Aus), Fred Haywood (US), Paul Miller (US) and Bill Boyum (US). He won the Masters opening round on Day 6 in 6ft waves before tying with Doug Hunt in the Day 11 final in 4ft waves.
6th Annual Sailboards Maui – Steinlager Grand Prix fact sheets & results
1986 6th Annual Sailboards Maui – Steinlager Grand Prix. Day 6 Rich Myers winner Masters Waveriding Preliminaries.
1986 6th Annual Sailboards Maui – Steinlager Grand Prix. Day 11 Fact Sheet and Results – Rich Myers tie with Doug Hunt Masters Wave Riding Finals.
1986 Rich Myer’s first Place trophy Masters Wave Riding final Sailboards Maui Steinlager Grand Prix.
1986 Rich Myer’s first Place trophy Masters Wave Riding final Sailboards Maui Steinlager Grand Prix.
1986 Rich windsurfing Ho’okipa Beach in Maui Hawaii. Photo Clark Merritt.
1986 Rich windsurfing Ho’okipa Beach in Maui Hawaii. Photo Erik Aeder.
1986 Rich windsurfing Ho’okipa Beach in Maui Hawaii. Photo Erik Aeder.
1986 Rich cover shot windsurfing Maui in More Wind Magazine (Japan). Photo Erik Aeder.
Rich. “I stopped pro windsurfing in 1988 because I knew my luck was running out and saw the new generation exploding & thought might as well end it with a win.”
The former actor, model, pro surfer, wave sailing champ (and lots more) age 71 in 2026, lives, works, surfs, dives and fishes in the Southwest.
Thanks for sharing your Hawaiian windsurfing memories Rich.
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