Russell Hughes

Surfer Russell Hughes was born in 1946 in Australia. Hughes grew up in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and first started surfing as a member of the Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving Club in the early 1960's. Russell left home at age fourteen to pursue surfing full time and established himself as a top Australian surfer after he placed third in the 1966 Australian Titles Open Men's final. Hughes went on to win both the 1967 Queensland Open Men's state title and the 1967 Newcastle Mattara Open final as well as placed third in the 1968 World Surfing Championship contest that was held in Puerto Rico. In the wake of these impressive achievements Russell stopped participating in surfing competitions, but still continued to surf with his friends. Hughes lived in both California and Mexico in the 1980's before returning to Australia in the 1990's. Russell and his French-Canadian wife Monik finally settled down in Quebec, Canada. Outside of surfing, Hughes also enjoyed playing tennis, windsurfing, kite-surfing, and snowboarding. Russell died at age 64 from bowel cancer on May 26, 2011 in Quebec, Canada. He was survived by his wife Monik and son Kokee.