Top 6 Best Men's Surfers of All Time

The art of surfing has been around for generations and passed down through many different cultures, evolving into the sport that we know today. Through the years, countless surfers have adopted their own styles of riding waves, with a few truly mastering their craft and proving to be the best of all time. Here are the top six best men’s surfers of all time.

Who are the top 6 best men’s surfers of all time?

1. Kelly Slater
2. Shaun Tomson
3. Andy Irons
4. Mark Richards
5. Tom Carroll
6. Mick Fanning

1. Kelly Slater

• 11 World Titles
• 55 career victories
• Five straight World Titles from 1993-1998
• Youngest and oldest World Champion in men’s surfing history

Kelly Slater is widely considered to be the best men’s surfer of all time. Slater began surfing professionally in 1990 and quickly became a phenomenon, winning his first World Title in 1992 at only 20 years old. He is also the youngest surfer to win a National Championship in men’s history. Slater continued to dominate, winning five straight World Surf League Championships between 1994 and 1998 and breaking the record of four straight titles previously held by Mark Richards. He stepped away from the World Tour in 1999 but couldn’t stay away, rejoining in 2002, where he found more success, winning the World Title in both 2005 and 2006. In 2011, Slater claimed his most recent and 11th World Title. He continues to compete professionally today.

2. Shaun Tomson

• 1977 World Champion
• Six consecutive wins at the Gunston 500
• 12 World Tour victories
• Competed on the world circuit for 14 years
• 21-year career

Shaun Tomson is considered to be one of the most influential surfers in men’s history. Tomson grew up in South Africa and began surfing at the age of 10. Only four years later, he won the Gunston 500, a large surfing competition in his hometown of Durban. In 1976, Tomson joined the World Championship Tour during its first year and was the second surfer to win the tournament the following year. He quickly became well-known for his barrel riding and was the first surfer, along with Mark Richards, to ride a double-barrel wave caught on film. Tomson retired from professional surfing in 1990 but continued to have an impact on the surfing community, running several clothing brands, publishing his own self-help book, and making public appearances where he gave motivational speeches.

3. Andy Irons

• Three consecutive World Championships (2002, 2003, 2004)
• National Amateur Title (1995)
• Ranked 1st on the ASP World Tour three times (2002, 2003, 2004)
• 10 year career
• Quiksilver Pro France Champion three times (2003, 2004, 2005)
• Rip Curl Pro Search title twice (2006, 2007)

Andy Irons is another one of the greatest surfers of all time. Born and raised on the Hawaiian island of Kaui, Irons began surfing at a young age alongside his brother Bruce. In 1995, he began to establish himself as a competitive surfer, winning the National Amateur title. Shortly after joining the professional landscape, Irons began to struggle with the intense lifestyle filled with traveling and constant media attention. With the support of his friends and family, he made a strong comeback to the World Championship Tour and won an impressive three consecutive World Titles from 2002 to 2004. Only three other surfers have won as many World Titles, including legends Kelly Slater, Mark Richards, and Tom Curren. On November 10, 2010, Irons passed away while traveling home to Kaui. 

4. Mark Richards

• Four consecutive World Championships (1979-1982)
• 1975 Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Champion
• Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985
• Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1994
• Awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000
• 2001 ASP Grandmasters World Champion
• Awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001

Mark Richards is one the most decorated men’s surfers in history, alongside Kelly Slater. Richards began surfing at age six and quickly developed his skills, becoming one of the best young surfers in Australia and earning a spot on the National Team for the Amateur World Championship in 1972. He was very talented at shaping surfboards and used this gift to his advantage, surfing on his unique boards to help him win four straight World Championships from 1979 to 1982. Richards became the first professional surfer to win multiple titles before leaving the World Tour. He returned to the tour in 2001 but competed in the Master ranks, winning the title for his age group at 44 years old.

5. Tom Carroll

• Two-time World Champion (1983, 1984)
• Inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 1990
• Inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1992
• Won Australian Junior Title (1978)
• Won the Pro Juniors Title twice (1977, 1980)
• Won the Pipe Masters (1987)
• First surfer to sign a million-dollar contract in 1988 with Quiksilver

Tom Carroll is another one of the most decorated men’s surfers of all time. Carroll grew up surfing in Australia and quickly made himself known, winning the Australian Junior Title in 1978 along with the Pro Juniors in both 1977 and 1980. In 1979, he joined the IPS World Tour and made it all the way to the Pipe Masters finals, where he finished 24th. The next few years, Carroll continued to climb in world rankings before winning his first World Title in 1983, becoming the first goofy foot surfer to win a World Title. The following year, he found more success, winning another World Title along with the Surfer Poll, proving his popularity among fans.

6. Mick Fanning

• 22 World Tour wins
• Three World Titles (2007, 2009, 2013)
• Australian Male Surfer of the Year nine times (2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016)

Mick Fanning is known for his high-speed, powerful style of surfing. While his speed propelled him to the top of the surfing realm, Fanning faced many obstacles along the way, including the passing of two of his brothers, a serious hamstring injury, and even a shark attack on live television. Despite these challenges, he became one of the best Australian surfers of all time, competing for 17 years on the World Championship Tour from 2001 to 2018. During his years on the tour, Fanning accumulated 22 career wins, finished in the top five 11 times, and won three World Titles.

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