Another legend has passed. If you followed Mike on Facebook, you know that he made the best of the time he had left. Very inspiring with a great attitude and sense of humor. Thoughts and prayers for his family and friends.

That sucks...never met the guy but have heard nothing but good things.rip to an east coast legend 

Last issue of Surfers Journal had a good Mike Tabeling write-up.

-------------------------

www.JimKnowsBeachHomes.com 

I met Mike several years ago when he was working at CBSC, great guy - RIP Mike, glad I got a chance to meet ya. Prayers for the family too!

I posted this in the History forum several years ago:

The best surfers I ever saw:
(and where I saw them)

1. Mike Tabeling
Lake Worth Pier around 1971, cold front waves scrapping off the bottom of the pier. Perfect with brisk off shore NW wind. Tabeling riding a Webber Pig board carving S-turns for 200 yards all the way to the beach and then running back to paddle out next to the pier.


I saw MT this past summer in July at the Surf Studio. He looked great and paddled out in some clean 2 footers. I swapped a few stories with him and told my grandkids about him.

I am feeling the emotion of the loss. All sympathy to family and friends. A LEGEND.....

-------------------------
So if you are a surfer I wish you the prosperity that allows you more time to pursue the salt water dream, and the true happiness that comes from warm water, clean waves and the companionship of your fellow surfers. If you are an internet troll just spewing bs then f off.

Great memories of Mike and his Dad. They were true believers that the ocean is a playground. He fought the good fight.

RIP

All those many years ago, , , , surfing Old O'Club, when 25 people out was a Big Crowd, Mike would paddle out and show everybody else how it was done.

We did not really "know" each other, other than from "being around", but it was always a gas talking with him at CBSC. It was always a pleasure to visit the Tabling's shop on 520. Mike's dad was always the best.

And, , , , does anybody have a copy of his video of Cape St. Francis?

-------------------------
Dora Hates You

I had a Tabeling board in high school, it was a cool board, still one of the best logo's around. I did see him at CBSC, and told him all about it, I was very stoked to see him there!

One of my first surfing heroes. Very sad.

-------------------------
Life is a garden*Dig it!

(

-------------------------
I've decided to accept the fact - I'll always be a big kid!

2nd that!! as a grom I can remember seeing Mike ripping apart 1st Peak back in the 60's, it's a great loss to a true surfing legend

-------------------------
The Wavecaster

So sad rip MT

-------------------------

http://pureisland.com

Rip MT

-------------------------
Style is what you make it!

Encycopedia of Surfing, Matt Warshaw.  

Mike at Scripts Pier La Jolla California Aug 2012 at a Legend Contest which was a fund raiser for cancer.

 He went out on his own terms. He Know the end was near but didn't cry and nash his teeth asking why me? He went and lived his life sharing his stoke and saying goodbye to old friends and making new friends. You have to admire that. You get dealt a bad hand and instead of tears you get a twinkle in your eye and give the one finger salute to fate and Finish the hand laughting and haveing fun.  He seems to have lived more in his years then most will do in 10 life times.  

To Those that knew Mike and those that loved the man You Have my condulances.  

 When my old surf buddies have passed on I like to think that they have just paddled out to a reef beyound the Horizon a wave that peels and opens up Everyone hoots for your best rides and laughts and talk story in the line up.   Dewey Weber will be there Hobie,  Doc and many more.    I can hear Velvzy saying " Hay kid your from the east coast? Show us what you got? The next one is yours. Aloha Mike wish I had gotten to Know you. 

 

I think it is appropriate to tell some stories about those who have gone to the great wave in the sky. I had been in the water with MT many times and many places before I met him and spoke with him. One time I was coming back from SoFla in the green van with Jim Stapp , Doug Wright and a few others. We were going by Electric Lady Land( Wabasso) . There is a dude hitch hiking on the side of the road with some kind of stuby fish looking board. Sure as ship its MT. We pick him up. We are stoked to have MT and start peppering him for his takes. First thing he does is offer us some primo. We bowl it up and just start yaking all the way to CB.

Once a bud brother allways a bud brother. Saw MT many times after that and he was allways cordial and full of life and surf. epic legend....

-------------------------
So if you are a surfer I wish you the prosperity that allows you more time to pursue the salt water dream, and the true happiness that comes from warm water, clean waves and the companionship of your fellow surfers. If you are an internet troll just spewing bs then f off.

I wonder if the VW bus he crashed in Morocco is still there? We need to bring that back for the Mike Tabeling Museum. I never personally met him but really enjoyed the article in Surfers Journal. RIP

World class. Rest in peace

RIP to a surfer's surfer.

-------------------------
Replace turf grass with native plants that don't need irrigation and synthetic fertilizers or chemicals that can go into our waterways and ocean