TONY HUSSEIN DIES
TONY HUSSEIN HINDE: Maldives Pioneer Dies
Surf pioneer, Tony Hussein Hinde, passed away last week, on May 27, while surfing his beloved Pasta Point in the Maldives. Reports suggest that he suffered a heart attack after riding a wave. He was found floating face down near the end section of the reef and was administered CPR but couldn’t be revived.
Hinde is co-credited as one of the first surfers to uncover the flawless wave-potential of the Maldives. He was shipwrecked there, along with fellow Australian surfer Mark Scanlon, in 1973 during a boat crossing from Sri Lanka to Africa. After sampling the surf during his initial serendipitous (but unplanned) stay, he spent the next 20 years exploring the nation's wavescapes, essentially surfing alone. He married a local woman, converted to Islam, became a Maldivian citizen, and opened Atoll Adventures, a surf camp located in Tari. Of his extraordinary experiences in his adopted nation, Hinde once said this:
“Hardly a sunrise goes by that I don’t thank Allah for that shipwreck. I paddle into the see-through waves. The coral bottom seems to bend up to meet me. Carving my first few waves, I have to tear my eyes away from the reef below in order to beat the curl above. Not that I’m complaining.”
Hinde is survived by his daughter, Mishal, and son, Ashley. His wife, Zulfa, passed away in January of 2008; the day Hinde died marked the couple’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. A true surf pioneer who touched the lives of wave riders the world over, Hinde will be laid to rest during a funeral service at Mollybrook cemetery in New South Wales, Australia on June 3. He will also be memorialized during a tribute paddle out at Pasta Point on June 8.
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READER COMMENTS
Tue Jun 3, 2008, 4:07 AM
JUST RE-NAME 'PASTA's' to 'TONY'S BY TRIBUTE . THE WORLD OWES HIM THAT MUCH AND MORE. EVERY HERO SHOULD HAVE A PEAK OR A STAR OR MONUMENT NAMED AFTER HIM OR HER, IT'S A GIVEN HONOR, AND TONY DESERVED THAT AND MORE. THANKS TONY FOR TAKING US TO YOUR SHANGRI-LA IN THE 80's AND ON TO BEACON'S AND ANOTHER WORLD IN THE 90's, YOUR HOME WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU THERE. - Bernie
Tue Jun 3, 2008, 8:45 AM
Am sorry to hear the sad news. Tony, you were a true surfing legend and a thoroughly nice bloke. Rest in peace mate.
Tue Jun 3, 2008, 5:20 PM
Thanks for blazing the trail to epic waves. The best sessions of my life. TP
Wed Jun 4, 2008, 10:09 PM
I surfed many sessions with Tony at Pasta Point. He was a true gentleman and a graceful surfer. He will be missed.
Tue Jun24, 2008, 5:39 PM
You taught us how to surf and was like a father to us maldivian surfers.thanx for all the luv u and zulfa gave. we'll always miss u both. may both yr kids have a gr8 life. luv.
Wed Jul16, 2008, 1:58 AM
only visited pastas once so far, and was truly the best two weeks of my surfing adventures to date. Tony was an awesome man! he welcomed us maui boyz with open arms. he had so much appreciation for his life and and pasta point and all he wanted to do is share it with his surfing brothers. if you have a chance to visit pastas, jump all over it. but remember the man who made it possible. you will be truly missed. the world was a better place with you on it. and now for our traditional maui boy send off...................(those who need know, know what is the maui boy send off, chee hoo)
Sat Sep20, 2008, 9:32 PM
So sorry to hear the news, Terrific bloke, hospitable, generous and a true surfer. After looking after us in the Maldives in 2001 on the way out I said to him Tony, thanks, want to come to the Mentawais and catch a few waves, you've got 45 mins to get your stuff together and were on. He didn't hesitate, just said" I am in" and started packing. Doing it for all the right reasons and if you have to pass, well doing it at your home break is a pretty fitting way to go for a guy of his calibre to sign out. The world need more like him-Martin