The tributes, accolades and flowers for Michael Peterson’s much celebrated life continue to pour in to the Peterson Tweed Heads home from all over the surfing world and rightly so.
Michael Peterson is considered one of the best surfers to evolve from the Coolangatta era of the golden seventies. Everyone wants to leave a last word, a last memory and a last tear, as MP, Reg or the Mad Monk prepares to leave our world.
"I have a lot of great memories of growing up and competing with Michael and his younger brother Tommy. Michael’s room had wall to wall posters of Nat. What a surfing legacy he left behind and now his legendary status will be emblazed forever", says Andrew McKinnon, a longtime surf friend.
Tweed Heads first surfing pioneer and surfboard manufacturer Joe Larkin was instrumental in helping Michael to shape surfboards with his number one shaper the late Brian “Furry” Austin.
Stories about those colourful days will no doubt come to life at Joe’s night, at the Surf World Surf Museum, Currumbin, on the 4th April, at 6pm, prior to Michael service on Thursday 5th April 11.30am at the Tweed Crematorium.
Mick Fanning, Darren Handley and Asher Pacey as well as close mate Rabbit Bartholomew took out their single fins at cracking Kirra on Thursday afternoon, to celebrate the life of Michael Peterson.
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is now dedicated to Michael who won at Bells from 73, 74, and 75. The 40th annual Pa Bendal event, on the Sunshine Coast over the Easter weekend, will pay tributes throughout the competition that Michael won on the famous Xmas Tree design in 75.
A Paddle Out at Kirra for MP will now be held on Saturday 14th of April meeting at Queen Elizabeth Park from 10am.
Discover the life of Michael Peterson in pictures.