The Endless Summer was a transformative film that left an indelible mark on surf culture and beyond. It helped popularize surfing as a global sport and encapsulated the beach lifestyle associated with it. On a broader cultural scale, the film inspired countless young people to travel, explore the world, and chase their passions. Its distinct style and cinematography have become iconic, influencing filmmakers to this day.
Mike Hynson, one of the film’s stars, often reflected on the magical day at Cape St. Francis, South Africa, immortalized in the movie. “That Cape St. Francis was always flat when I went back,” he said, reminiscing about that perfect surf captured on film. “It was a gift from God that day.”
After filming in South Africa, Hynson smuggled five rolls of the 16mm film shot at Cape St. Francis under a loose Hawaiian shirt, slipping through customs unnoticed before boarding their flight to Australia. “And that was it, baby,” he later said. “We all knew what had happened and that we’d just made the movie.”
Bruce Brown, the visionary behind the project, recruited Hynson in 1963 as the concept took shape: two surfers chasing an endless summer as the season moved across the globe. At the time, 21-year-old Hynson was grappling with fears of being drafted to fight in Vietnam. “I was like, ‘I’m outta here, man,’” he recalled in an interview with The Guardian. “We were all little rascals in Pacific Beach, San Diego, always trying to cut corners.”
The Endless Summer was more than just a film about surfing. It was a manifesto for breaking free from the chains that bind us, a celebration of the possibilities waiting just beyond the blue horizon.
Hynson’s later years were marked by his involvement in the countercultural movements of the 1960s, spending time in Maui during its peak as a hub of alternative lifestyles. While some say he fell into the drug culture of the era, what remains clear is the enduring impact he had. For me, he opened my eyes to life’s possibilities.
Mike Hynson’s passing was confirmed by Donna Klaasen Jost, the sister of his longtime partner Carol Hannigan and co-author of his autobiography. While no cause was disclosed, his legacy lives on, captured in the waves and spirit of adventure immortalized in The Endless Summer.
Hynson is survived by Carol Hannigan of Encinitas; stepchildren Haley Ogden of Encinitas, Toby Ogden and Krys Ogden of Vista, and Damien Ogden of San Juan Capistrano; his son, Michael Hynson Jr. of Laguna Beach; and multiple grandchildren.
Skeeter Wesinger
January 17, 2025
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