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From the days of surfing movies and the Beach Boys musical hits walks Mike Doyle. Baja's resident chairman of the board. Doyle brings his board with him when he paddles out from shore, still searching for the mythical perfect wave. He has been surfing nearly all of his 64 years and counts among his accolades a 1970 World Surfing Championship, the 1969 Duke Kahanamoku title, and was twice voted Best Surfer in the the Surfer magazine pole. And was recently inducted into the prestigious Surfers Hall of Fame. |
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L-to-R: Felipe Pomar, Mike Doyle, Paul Strauch, Corky Carroll, Fred Hemmings |
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THE DUKE CLASSIC, The Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Classic was inaugurated in 1965. 24 of the top surfers in the world came to compete in the first Duke Classic. The concept of the Duke Classic was to have the very best of the best competing in a prestigious event. It was a honor to be invited. The initial event was held from December 13-17, 1965.
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These days you are as likely to find Doyle riding a canvas with a paint brush as you will tucked in the curl of a wave. He seeks out the mythical perfect subject indigenous to the Baja. A crusty fisherman, the sun bleached skull of a bull, the cactus with almost human arms, and of course, the contrast of ocean and desert. |
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Doyle's works are bright with colors inspired by local landscapes and the odd creatures that inhabit them. Its an art infused with Doyle's devotion to a life of soul and adventure. A well respected art critic once called me a Primitivist says Doyle. I think that is an appropriate term for my art. I use my intuition and create spontaneously. Sometimes a mistake will become my theme and the painting flows from there. Its similar to a jazz musician moving into another phase and spontaneously creating as he improvises. Also the very atmosphere of being at lands end keeps me energized and able to create. |
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To be at Lands End as he puts it, seems to be Doyle's natural place. Throughout his life he has stood at the tip of events, and been the first in some remarkable ways. He was the first Ironman, the inventor of the Doyle Soft Surfboard and created prototypes of a new surfboard for snow skiing which eventually became the snowboard. His colorful paintings can be viewed at The Doyle Gallery situated opposite to The Cabo Surf Hotel on Acapalquito Beach. For inquires feel free to email Mike a doylejack@yahoo.com or call me at 624-144-5045 |
