This is a great loss for Maldivian surfing, the awesome crew (some more like adopted sons) who worked with him and mostly for his children Ashley and Mishal. His goes to his lovely wife Zulfa who recently passed away after a battle with cancer.
He died doing what he loved and he will forever be walking out into Pasta Point perfection.
Tony over 18 or so years and 6 trips to the maldives I experienced the pure joy you lived everyday that comes from a man completely at peace, happy and in tune with his life and his choices.
I lived my best surfing and many of my best life memories simply and easily in a very special place in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Because of your generous spirit, sense of humour and professional approach many of us grateful travelling surfers owe you a lifestyle karma thankyou greater than you could ever have known.
Peace mate.Carl, Penny and Max.
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From the Dhivehi Observer
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Tributes paid to the Maldivian surf legend Tony who died yesterday
Tony Hussain Hinde, the famous surf legend died on Tuesday afternoon in a freak accident whilst surfing at Pasta Point in Male' Atoll.
Tony is credited with introducing surfing to the Maldives in 1973. In fact most Maldivians think he is a Maldivian but is an Australian who has bridged that cultural gap. Tony and his surfboard were serendipitously shipwrecked in Maldives almost 35 years ago.
He is most famous for running the surf school in Tari Village, now Dhonveli Beach.
He once said "Hardly a sunrise goes by that I don't thank Allah for that shipwreck. I paddle into the see-through waves. The coral bottom seems to bend up to meet me. Carving across my first few waves, I have to tear my eyes away from the reef below in order to beat the curl above. Not that I'm complaining."
The surf community in the Maldives will greatly miss him.
On behalf of DO readers, we convey our deepest sympathy to Tony's family and friends. May he rest in peace.
