Editor’s note: Bob McKnight, the past Chairman of Quiksilver who founded SIMA with Michael Tomson, wrote this tribute to Michael on behalf of SIMA. Michael, the founder of Gotcha, passed away Thursday. He was 66.
Bob McKnight:
“Michael was an amazing, bright and talented, unique individual that many of us were fortunate to know well.”
“The news of his passing is so very sad on many levels. He was certainly one of the most powerful, inspirational and important visionaries to the surf industry. We have all learned a lot from his insights, philosophy and execution of brands.”
“I met Michael back in the early seventies on the North Shore. I was taking a break from college and spent the winter of ’73 hanging with Jeff Hakman, Shaun Tomson and Phil Byrne were our roommates in a house up in Pupukea. I was thrown right into the fray of a very hard-core notable crew surfing Sunset and Off the Wall every day. The blend of surfing, hanging out with friends, enjoying the fruits of the North Shore, partying, laughing, sharing stories and plotting future surf travels began giving us a vision of, “maybe we could make this into a job!” “
“Michael was a very powerful, stylish, bull of a surfer who always had his way with Pipe, Off the Wall and Sunset. He was also always the most handsome guy in the room, so it was important to always hang out with him!”
“We became lifelong friends through surfing, and later became fierce competitors in our brands, Quiksilver and Gotcha. We founded SIMA together and became the first two Presidents of the new Surf Industry Manufacturers Association. Together we created and produced the ‘Waterman’s Ball’ and other programs in early SIMA, which are still active and relevant.”
“Michael and I never let the industry competition get in the way of our friendship, family, our love of the ocean and surfing, and our common goal of leading the surf industry through the early days while always wanting to make it cool and keeping it hardcore.”
“Michael is one of the most profound luminaries of surf culture ever. His view of style, prints, music, team riders, marketing, presentation and theatrics was always out of control, outrageous, cutting edge, full tilt and unapologetic.”
“He ran his life, his brands, his friends, his business, his surfing and his travels all the same – full throttle, fearless, raw, aggressive, with unstoppable energy and with a laser focused vision on what the rewards and consequences of his legacy would be. Rebellious and always taking chances, Michael lived a full life.”
“He will always be remembered for his relentlessness, progressive styling of products, bright colors, blunt loud graphics, provocative advertisements, and ‘pedal to the metal’ attitude of his brands, Gotcha, Girl Star and later MCD. The Gotcha fishman logo is legendary.”
“Once he entered a Surf Expo trade show party in the early 80’s wearing a glittery white one-piece jumpsuit. We all whispered behind his back, ‘what a kook,’ until all the best looking models in Florida were quickly lining up. Then, we all wondered where we could get one!”
“Michael was a wonderful, intelligent, creative, competitive, generous, articulate human being with a huge heart. His stoke was infectious. We will all miss him dearly.”
