John Severson, father of surf media, dies at 83

John Severson, an icon of Southern California surf culture and the father of surfing media, has died at age 83. He passed away in his sleep on Friday, according to Surfer.

Born in Pasadena, Severson began surfing in San Clemente, where his family moved when he was 13. When he received still and film cameras, he took them to the water and began making home movies of surfing.

He continued his hobbies after he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Severson was stationed in Hawaii, where he was assigned to the Army's surf team with orders to practice every afternoon.

He used some of the footage he had shot there for his first film, "Surf." It was a minor success and he went on to make more movies including "Surf Safari," "Surf Fever" and "Big Wednesday." The last of these stars Jan-Michael Vincent, Gary Busey and William Katt as three surfing buddies who come of age against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Severson took these films on tour up and down the West Coast. 

 big wed trailer

Severson, who received an M.A. in art education from Long Beach State College, often drew the promotional art for these films.

In 1960, he created a mini-magazine to advertise the release of "Surf Fever." That morphed into Surfer Quarterly and, later, Surfer magazine.

"I like to feel that surfing is a little more artistic and light with a sense of humor because of Surfer magazine," he said in a short film about his life.

Severson sold the magazine in 1972 and moved with his wife and two daughters to Maui, according to the OC Register. He continued surfing, painting and pursing other artistic projects until the end of his life.

He received a lifetime achievement award from Surfer in 2011.

In 2014, Severson released "Surf," a book of oil paintings, photographs, drawings and prints about surf culture.

award vid