Tony Hussein Hinde

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Anthony Hussein Hinde (1953[1] - May 27, 2008) was an Australian-born Maldivian surfer and surfing pioneer. Hinde is considered to be the "father of surfing in the Maldives." [2][3] He is co-credited with discovering the surfing potential in the Maldives, along with Australian surfer, Mark Scanlon, and kick staring the nation's emerging tourism industry.[3][4]

Hinde's life in the Maldives began in December 1973. Hinde and fellow Australian surfer, Mark Scanlon, were shipwrecked on the North Malé atoll in the Maldives aboard the Whitewings, a ketch in which they had been hired as crewmembers.[2] The Whitewings had been enroute across the Indian Ocean from Sri Lanka to Réunion Island when they ran aground.[3] Hinde spent several unplanned months in the Maldives repairing the boat.[2] However, he quickly discovered how good the surfing potential was in the northern Maldives and decided to stay in the country.[2][3]

In order to stay in the country Hinde became a Maldivian citizen and converted to Islam. (By law all Maldivian citizens must be Muslim). He married a Maldivian woman, Zulfa, on May 27, 1983.[3] Hinde largely managed to keep the surfing possibilities of the Maldives an open secret among surfing friends for almost fifteen years.[2] However, in the mid-1980s Hinde opened Atoll Adventures, a surfing camp in Tari village, in response to plans by foreign investor to open resorts in the area.[2] Hinde continued to run the surfing camp and hotel, which changes its name to Dhonveli Beach & Spa in early 2000.[2] It is now known as Chaaya Dhonveli, or Dhonveli Beach.[2][4][5]

Tony Hussein Hinde died on May 27, 2008, while surfing at Pasta Point in Malé Atoll in the Maldives at the age of 55.[3] Hinde suffered an apparent heart attack after riding a wave.[3] He was found floating face down in the water, but CPR failed to resusitate him.[3] He was buried at Mollymook cemetery in his native New South Wales, Australia, on June 3, 2008.[3] Local Maldivian and foreign surfers held a memorial at Varunulaa Raalhugandu, the main sufing spot in the capital city of Malé, and at Pasta Point on June 8, 2008.[2][3]

Hinde was survived by his daughter, Mishal, and his son, Ashley.[3] His wife, Zufia, whom he married in 1983, died in Janaury 2008.[3] The same day that Hinde died - May 27, 2008 - would have marked the couple's twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.[3]

The Dhivehi Observer, a Maldivian newspaper based in the United Kingdom, said of Hinde that "In fact most Maldivians think he is a Maldivian but is an Australian who has bridged that cultural gap." (between the two countries).[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.surfingaustralia.com/article.aspx?nid=8343
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tony 'Hussein' Hinde dies in Maldives surfing accident", Global Surf News, 2008-06-02. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wilson, Alex. "TONY HUSSEIN HINDE: Maldives Pioneer Dies", Surfer Magazine, 2008-06-02. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  4. ^ a b c "Tony Hussain Hinde, surfer who 'found' Maldives, dies", The Daily Telegraph (Australia), 2008-05-29. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
  5. ^ "Tributes paid to Maldivian surf legend Tony who died yesterday", Dhivehi Observer, 2008-05-27. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 

[edit] External links