The Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championships debuted in 1965, changed its name in 1968 (Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Classic), and ended after the 1984 event. For results, photos, and reports on individual Duke events, click any of the following years: 

While working chronologically through the events, I wondered who the most successful Duke surfers were over a given range of years. In this case (below), the 1970s.

The rankings work like this. Most of the Duke events in the '70s featured an eight-man final. For each final, I awarded eight points for a win, seven points for runner-up, on down to one point for 8th place.

The runaway 1970s overall Duke winner was Jeff Hakman.

Jeff not only won in a romp, he picked up all of his 34 total points during the first half of the decade. Beginning in 1970 and ending in 1974, Surf Chimp (I've always wondered how Jeff felt about that nickname) placed first, first, second, third, fourth. From then on, however, he didn't final once.

Working the other side of the decade, Michael Ho, #3 in total points with 26, did not final in the first half of the '70s, then owned the second half. Between '76 and '79, Ho had a win, a pair of seconds, and a fifth.

Rory Russell was the only goofyfooter to final twice (3rd in '75, 8th in '73).

Here are the top-ranked Duke surfers from the 1970s.

1. Jeff Hakman (34 points)
2. James Jones (29)
3. Michael Ho (26)
4. Reno Abellira (20)
5. (tie) Eddie Aikau, Peter Townend, Mark Richards (19)
8. Ian Cairns (18)
9. (tie) Larry Bertlemann, Shaun Tomson (16)
11. Clyde Aikau (12)
12. Billy Hamilton, Bobby Owens (10)

 to see Duke contest power rankings for the 1960s.

 to see Duke contest power rankings for the 1980s.

1970s DUKE CLASSIC POWER RANKINGS: HAKMAN #1!

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