Michael Peterson

“The Rebel with a Lightning Bolt”

🌊 Basic Info

🏆 Career Highlights

Championships & Titles

• 3× Australian National Champion (1972, 1973, 1974)
• 1975 Bells Beach Rip Curl Pro Champion – legendary win considered one of the best performances ever at Bells
• Dominated the Aussie competitive scene in the early 70s with unmatched style and aggression

Notable Competitions

Bells Beach, Coca-Cola Surfabout, Queensland State Titles. Shaped the competitive surfing scene before the world tour officially launched.

Signature Moves

• Fluid yet explosive surfing – known for high-speed cutbacks, deep barrel lines, and pocket surfing
• His transitions from turn to turn were so tight and fast, they seemed years ahead of their time
• Also a standout on twin-fins and early thruster-style boards

🏄‍♂️ Surfing Style & Equipment

Board Preferences

Often shaped his own boards or worked closely with Morning of the Earth Surfboards. Rode single-fins early on, then transitioned to shorter, faster templates for Kirra’s long tubes.

Wetsuit & Gear

Wore classic 70s surf trunks and Aussie wetsuits—style was always cool, even when minimal. Part of the Hot Buttered and Lightning Bolt era of iconic surf branding.

Training & Fitness

MP didn’t train like today’s pros—his “training” was surfing Kirra day in and day out. A natural talent with uncanny ocean intuition and quick-twitch reaction time.

Wave Preferences

Loved fast, hollow right-handers – Kirra was his kingdom. Also excelled at Bells, where he could link power turns with rail precision.

🌍 Life Beyond Surfing

Hobbies & Interests

Shaping, painting boards, music (deeply inspired by the counterculture). Was known for being reclusive, enigmatic, and sometimes misunderstood.

Social Causes

• Later in life, his story shed light on mental health struggles, particularly schizophrenia
• His journey inspired greater awareness and compassion for surfers dealing with internal battles

Fun Facts

• MP famously evaded police in a high-speed chase across the Gold Coast after a psychotic break—this moment marked his retreat from public life
• The film Searching for Michael Peterson captures his genius, rise, and fall
• Often referred to as the “Jimi Hendrix of surfing”—raw, brilliant, and gone too soon

🎥 Photos & Videos

Watch Morning of the Earth to see MP in his prime—particularly at Kirra and Lennox Head. His Bells Beach rides are etched into Aussie surf lore.

📢 Latest News & Updates

• In 2025, MP’s legacy is honored through MP Classic Surf Contest, held annually at Kirra
• A newly restored version of Searching for Michael Peterson is set to hit streaming platforms this year
• Surfboard replicas of MP’s favorite templates are being re-released by cult Aussie brands, sparking renewed appreciation for 70s-era surfing

📱 Social Media