Herbie Fletcher
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Master surfer, inventor of Astrodeck, filmmaker behind the Wave Warriors series and patriarch of surfing's most influential family. Super 8, 16mm and videotape.
Above: Herbie Fletcher, Maalaea, Maui, 1976 · Photo: Art Brewer
Herbie Fletcher
Born October 18, 1948, in Pasadena, California, Herbie grew up in San Clemente and began surfing at nine. He rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, pushing performance surfing at Pipeline and other heavy Hawaiian breaks, with features in films like Free Ride (1977).
He founded Herbie Fletcher Surfboards and in 1976 invented Astrodeck, the world's first surfboard traction pad.
Fletcher films
In the mid-1980s Herbie began producing and directing groundbreaking surf videos: Wave Warriors (1985), Wave Warriors II (1987), III (1988) and IV (1989), and later Super Natural (1991) starring his son Christian. He produced over 50 surf films as director, producer or featured surfer.
His films were known for high-octane footage, jet skis in big-wave filming and punk-rock soundtracks. All of these classics have been restored and stream only on Nalu TV.
Jet skis, Teahupoo
and art
Herbie was among the first to bring jet skis into big-wave surfing and filming, towing into giant swells at Pipeline and Waimea Bay. He filmed daring family sessions at Teahupoo and early projects like The Sweet Ride (1968) at Hollister Ranch.
His art blends surf culture and contemporary design. Married to Dibi Hoffman since 1969, daughter of surf pioneer Walter Hoffman and sister of champion Joyce Hoffman, Dibi has been the backbone of the family business.
Surf royalty
Sons Christian (born 1970) and Nathan (born 1975) carried the torch: Christian revolutionized aerial surfing in the 1990s, and Nathan pioneered helicopter drops into giant waves. Grandchildren like Greyson, a pro skateboarder, blend surf and skate.
Now in his late 70s, Herbie remains active in San Clemente, creating art, shaping boards and mentoring. His story is told in Fletcher: A Lifetime in Surf (2019), by Dibi.
Clips from the
archive
Herbie Fletcher Archives
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