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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brock Little catches a wave at the Mavericks surf spot in this file photo.
Friends mourned the death Thursday of hard-charging, big-wave surfer and stuntman Brock Little, who had been suffering from cancer.
The Haleiwa resident was 48.
Little, at age 19, was among the youngest surfers to participate in the big wave Eddie Aikau surfing competition at Waimea Bay in 1986, finishing in fourth place, according to Surfer Magazine.
World-renown surfer Kelly Slater said on Twitter that Little was “larger than life to me.”
“The world will never be the same. I love you, man,” Slater said.
Slater tweeted that Little died today surrounded by friends and family.
Surfer Kai Lenny, in another Twitter comment, described Little as one of the greatest surfers of all time.
Little announced in late January that he had liver cancer.
Glen Moncata, the event coordinator for the Quicksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave surf contest, said Little was strong even after his cancer diagnosis, and was listed as an alternate surfer in this year’s competition at Waimea Bay.
There were plans to honor Little if the Eddie had been held earlier this month. If the competition is a go in the next two weeks, Little will certainly be remembered.
Little moved to Hawaii from California as a child. He lived on the North Shore and grew up surfing.
“The big wave fraternity basically started when he (Little) came in, and Brock was at the forefront in that,” Moncata said.
Moncata said Little was runner-up in the 1990 Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest, after wiping out on an earlier wave and then catching a massive 25-foot wave.
Little also worked as a stuntman in movies and television and appeared in many films, including “Transformers,” “Tropic Thunder” and “Training Day,” according to the film website imdb.com.
“He just got a bad break,” Moncata said of Little’s illness. “Hopefully, he’s in a better place.”
we will miss you; he was a Son of Oahu.
Sad story but wonder if he was a heavy drinker, smoker and/or smoked weed or other substances. Why is this important is because maybe there is lesson to be learned from Little passing away so young.
thank you for the beautiful thoughts
and to think his family and friends will partake in your deep musings.
To inverse…….when you get to the other side, ask Brock yourself, return and let us all know.
@inverse…not everyone who passes away at an early age “was a heavy drinker, smoker and/or smoked weed or other substances.” One of the veterinarians I worked with died of bone cancer at 52. She wasn’t a drinker, smoker or a partaker of herb. A distant cousin died of lung cancer at age 36. He wasn’t a smoker or a drinker. Sometimes life tosses us a curveball and it’s our time to go.
Sad, but true.
One of my brothers and a bunch of his friends all dies from liver disease caused by Hep C. They all lived in a surf community also.
WTH?? what kind of a comment is that? Brock was a true professional who loved what he did with such a deep compassion and who also loved life to its fullest with whom he loved the most, something you would never understand or fathom with your negative outlook in life….move on low life.
why do u even go there you I D I O T
Classy.
Sorry to hear of his passing. Condolences to his ohana and friends.
“Smoking weed” hasn’t been implicated in any form of cancer — and God knows they’ve searched long and hard.
Much more likely, considering his (non-surfing) gigs, related to bodybuilding steroids or pseudo-steroids. There’s a well-recognized correlation.
That makes sense as one would likely take steriods to improve their performance as a stuntman. With weed never know how it effects the body when combined with other drugs or factors but just smoking weed, like cigarettes, has got to irritate the delicate linings of the lung that over long period of time would either likely increase the risk for lung cancer or at least greatly reduce a persons lung capacity
u are a stoopid d u m b a s s
I’m against the legalization of marijuana but it does not cause cancer!
Big wave surfing and stunt work aside, Brock was always humble to a fault, self effacing, and oh so quick witted. So young, sad sad sad for the Little family and the surfing community.
I saw the sign that professional surfers are needed in heaven. Rest in peace.
Dear LORD,
Bless every one of Bock’s family and friends.
We will all miss you,
Your Surfing Ohana
Rest in Peace.
Peace be with you, my brother. You will never be forgotten.