But his greatest feat was winning the Surfer Poll Award in 1968 as the best surfer in the world. He won the International Big Wave Championship in 1967 in Peru and the World Small Wave Champiosnhip in 1968 in Florida.
Carroll's success was built on years of hard work, including working nights as a "mower" at Hobie Surfboard factory, where he would whittle down the foam that shapers would later work on. Recognizing Carroll's talent, owner Hobie Alter offered to pay Carroll $80 a week to use and promote his surfboards.
Carroll said he learned a lot from Alter and Mickey Munoz.
"Hobie for how he did business, and Mickey for teaching me how to act and how to develop as a person and as to how I did business as a pro surfer," Carroll said.
Later, Carroll taught himself to play the guitar and diversified as a musician. He has performed numerous gigs and has several albums to his credit, including the hit "Tan Punks on Boards," produced by the Monkees' Mike Nesmith. He was also the face for Miller Lite Beer commercials.
He lives in Huntington Beach with wife Pamster, daughter Kasey and son Clint.
9. Dave and Leslie Carlos
Favorite surf spot: Snapper Rocks, Queensland, Australia and Velzyland, north shore of Oahu.
Influenced by: Dane Kealoa, Michael Ho and Peter "PT" Townend
It's not often that two people can have such a huge influence on surf cinema. Dave and Leslie Carlos are responsible for reviving the genre in Huntington Beach and pushing independent back to the forefront with their Big Red Productions Surf Theater.
"Once you stand on top of water on the board, it's the best feeling you could have," Dave Carlos said.
