[Aktungbby]

A genuine cult hero has passed at 80; Hobie Alter, inventer of the light surfboard and Hobie-cat sail boat upon which I learned, raced and frolicked much of my youth away( till I discovered of course!) and still sail to this day. My cousin was a national Hobie champion and my brother still surfs all over the planet: all of us in semiretired dotage! Without Mr. Alter, there is no Beachboys immortal:" Let's Go Surfin' Now", 'Gidgit' or Chasing Mavericks (I worked on that flick). Without him there is just no US! To the end he just wore 'blue jeans, a T shirt and occasionally a ratty ol' sweater'. The dean of Southern California 'beach subculture' if ever... " Surf's UP! Gnarley Dude!" http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-hobie-alter-20140331,0,3871167.story#axzz2xeO3HUvZ A surfer dude to the end in his native habitat: catchin' a wave with all those Hobie-Cats as the backdrop! Offshore winds and giant rollers Sir!