Michael Petersen Passed Away

It is with regret I pass my sympathy to Joan (Mother) and Tommy (brother) of the Petersen family. Michael Petersen known by some as ‘The monk man’, ‘MP’ by others or just plain Michael.

I have no doubt he is the greatest surfer this country has produced. Diagnosed with a mental illness in the 1980’s and misunderstood by many, Michael spent his last decades at home with his mother. I acknowledge the fantastic sponsorship and support from the Rip Curl company in Torquay, Victoria. Rip Curl showed a compassion towards Michael that has largely gone unnoticed. Well done.

Michael’s surfing was at such a high level he was required to design and make his own boards in order to push his surfing to levels already beyond anyone else of his time. He was a genius in the shaping room and a master in the water. sadly missed.

Peter F Hughes