Jeffrey "Jeff" Hakman
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Jeff Hakman is an ex-world surfing champion and multi millionaire founder of clothing giant Quiksilver , who lost it all to a heroin addiction - twice.[citation needed]
Jeff started surfing in 1956 at age eight in Palos Verdes (California) and at the age of ten moved to Hawaii with his parents. He surfed Waimea Bay at fourteen years old and at seventeen won the prestigious surfing title, The Duke Kahanamoku Classic. From twenty one to twenty seven he won the most major surfing titles on the planet including the first Pipeline Masters, 1976 Bells Beach and was 1974 and 1975 unofficial World Champion.
In 1976 Jeff founded Quiksilver America with Bob McKnigh and in 1984 founded Quiksilver Europe with Harry Hodge, Brigitte Darrigrand and John Winship.
Today Jeff Hakman is travelling continuously, living in France half the year and Hawaii the other half. He is the Marketing Director for NaPali SA (Quiksilver) in France and still enjoys surfing big waves.