Jimmy Blears
{{Short description|American surfer (1948–2011)}}
{{Infobox surfer
| name = Jimmy Blears
| image = Jim-Blears-face.jpg
| birth_name = James Blears, Jr.
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|01|06}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|02|04|1948|01|06}}
| birth_place = Santa Monica, California,
United States
|death_place = Honolulu, Hawaii,
United States
| height =
| weight =
| years_active=1960s–1990s
| best_year = 1972
| career_earnings=
| sponsors=Weber Surfboards
| major_achievements = 1972 IPS World Champion
| stance = Goofy foot
| shapers=
| quiver=
| favorite_waves= Jockos
| favorite_maneuvers=
| website=
}}
James Blears, Jr (January 6, 1948 – February 4, 2011) was the 1972 World Surfing Champion.[https://books.google.com/books?id=-DWQSYRx4MUC&pg=PA67 Encyclopedia of Surfing] by Matt Warshaw, 2003; published by Harcourt Books
History
Jimmy Blears was born in California the oldest son of former NWA and WWA pro-wrestling champion, Lord James "Tally-Ho" Blears, also an avid surfer who appeared in the seminal surfing documentary, The Endless Summer.[http://www.worldchampionsofsurfing.com/jimmy-blears-biography/ Jimmy Blears - Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214102841/http://www.worldchampionsofsurfing.com/jimmy-blears-biography/ |date=2013-12-14 }} at World Champions of Surfing; published January 3, 2012; retrieved September 7, 2012 At the age of eleven Blears moved with his family to Hawaii, where he learned surfing from his father. During his career Blears was a professional C&C North Shore lifeguard for 25 years, as well as being a professional surfer.
Blears died in his sleep on February 4, 2011, in Honolulu, at the age of 63.
Family
Blears' sister, Laura, was one of the world's top female surfers during the 1970s.[http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/December-2011/Legendary-Surfers-of-Hawaiis-North-Shore/ Hawaii Surfers Surfing Past 60], by David Thompson; at Honolulu Magazine; published December 2011; retrieved September 7, 2012 His youngest brother, Clinton “Tallyho” Blears was also a noted professional surfer.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|dXBmgVtHie0|James 'Jimmy' Blears Champion Surfer Island Boy}}
- {{YouTube|FcFZGD80bhI|Jimmy Blears tribute}}
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{{Succession box
| title = ISF World Surfing Champion (men's)
| years = 1972
| before = Rolf Aurness
| after = Ian Cairns
}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blears, Jimmy}}