Surfer to cement history

Things were quite different when Randy Lewis surfed for the first time 49 years ago.

There was no video, no Internet, no media hoopla surrounding surfing, the way the sport is covered from all angles today, he said. Lewis is far from complaining. In fact, he said he's more than thrilled about the exposure and coverage today's surf athletes and the sport are receiving.

On Friday, Lewis will receive his just due when he steps into the limelight to be inducted into surfing lore.

At 10 a.m., the lifelong Huntington Beach resident will become a lifetime member of the Surfers' Hall of Fame in front of Huntington Surf & Sport at the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. He's part of a class that includes Australia natives Ian "Kanga" Cairns and Stephanie Gilmore.

"This is probably one of the best things that has happened to me," said the 60-year-old. "I'm very humbled by the honor. Aaron Pai and everyone at Huntington Surf & Sport has been so wonderful. I'm beyond thrilled.

"I'm proud to be part of this class. I represent the past. Ian represents the present — he's done so much with bringing a professionalism to surfing in the U.S., and he brought a scholastic angle to surfing in schools with the NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Assn.). Believe me, if I was in school then, I'd have been a scholar. And Stephanie, she is the future. She's a world champion and enjoying a great career. To have all these generations of surfers here makes it a special day."

Lewis, Gilmore and Cairns will each receive a piece of the sidewalk on Main Street where they will place their hand and foot prints, along with a message and signature, on their individual tile. They will bring the Hall of Fame tile total to 43, to go along with the two Hall of Fame plaques dedicated to the late Carl Hayward and Dick Baker, who grace the area.

"To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is really special," Gilmore said Monday. "I always try to watch it every year and to see all of the icons and heroes in surfing history be honored. It's so cool. I don't believe I've achieved enough to be inducted next to the legends so quickly, but I'm very excited to have my own piece of land in HB."