Bob Pike (surfer)

Pike was born in Sydney, the son of a former surf champion.{{Cite web |title=Bob Pike {{!}} Monument Australia |url=https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/sport/display/104647-bob-pike/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=monumentaustralia.org.au}} In 1954, Pike entered his first surf competition at age 14.{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-06-17 |title=Surf Tales and Tennis with Big Wave Legend Bob Pike |url=https://tracksmag.com.au/surf-tales-and-tennis-with-big-wave-legend-bob-pike-549371 |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Tracks Magazine |language=en-AU}} He would soon become noticed for his excellence at surfing big waves.{{Cite web |last=Pinto |first=Luís M. |title=The best big wave surfers of all time |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-best-big-wave-surfers-of-all-time |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Surfertoday |language=en-us}} In 1961, Pike travelled to Hawaii where he would pursue some of the state's biggest surf breaks.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Davis |date=2024-07-18 |title=Who was the father of modern Australian surfing? |url=https://www.surfer.com/news/history-of-surfing-bob-evans-the-father-of-modern-australian-surfing |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Surfer |language=en}} In 1962, he won a shorebreak competition in Peru, becoming one of the first Australian competitors to win an international surf competition.{{Cite web |title=Bob Pike, Australia's big sea rider |url=http://collections.sea.museum/objects/200846/bob-pike-australias-big-sea-rider |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=collections.sea.museum |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Bird part of Trofeo Country Club de Villa |url=http://collections.sea.museum/objects/200800/bird-part-of-trofeo-country-club-de-villa |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=collections.sea.museum |language=en}} Pike would later leave professional surfing, after disliking the way that competition had taken over the sport. Pike continued to surf recreationally and joined the fire brigade. He would eventually become station chief of Narrabeen Fire Station. After retirement in 1997, Pike suffered an injury that left him unable to stand on a surfboard. Two years later, Pike died by suicide in 1999.

In February 2000, Manly Council dedicated a plaque on Manly Beach to Pike's memory.

Pike appeared in the following surfing documentaries:

• Locked In! (1964)
• Stop the Wave, I Want to Get Off (1965)
• The Endless Summer (1966) (cameo)

{{Reference list}}

• [http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/surfaz.cfm?id=882 Bob Pike]—biography at SurfLine

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Category:1940 births

Category:1999 deaths

Category:1999 suicides

Category:Australian surfers

Category:Suicides in New South Wales

Category:Australian sportspeople who committed suicide

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