Miki Dora (1934-2002)

Of all the surfers of the Sixties, Miki Dora was, by far, the most notorious. 

Dora had started making a name for himself in the Southern California surfing scene of the "Pre-Gidget Era," in the mid-1950s. By 1957, he was already well-known throughout the surfing world. As champion surfer and fellow Malibu rider MikeDoyle reminds us: "the unrivaled king of Malibu in those days was Mickey Dora, 'Da Cat.'" 

The way Dora rode was widely emulated and his attitude toward the commercialization of the sport was eventually shared by many of us. Dora was extremely influential throughout the 1960s and 1970s. His "legend" continues on, despite his death in January 2002. And, although less so than in those days of yore, the Dora mystique continues to effect surf culture -- more so than we know or some would care to admit.

The LEGENDARY SURFERS ebooklet on Miki Dora simply titled "DORA" was written and self-published in the 2001-2003 period of my writing about the history of surfing and its legends. For almost 20 years, it was only available as a for-purchase ebook. It is now freely readable, downloadable and shareable by getting it at the link below. When prompted for a password, enter: moondoggie

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QgcqHzDdX6ZyReOnSc56fic-LCzhY9rA/view?usp=sharing

Aloha and Thank You for Your Interest in My Writings!

Malcolm Gault-Williams

More on Miki:

David Rensin wrote the best and most detailed look into Miki Dora's life. All For A Few Perfect Waves is highly recommended. Below, David tells a bit about Miki and writing his Dora biography:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18wRdpLsE4/

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Contents of Dora:

  GARD CHAPIN
  CRY BABY AT THE SLOUGHS
  JOE QUIGG'S 5TH PINTAIL
  THE TWO MICKEYS, 1954
  PRE-GIDGET MALIBU
  GIDGET, June 27, 1956
  BIG SURF OPENING NIGHT, CULVER CITY, 1957
  A BURNING MISTAKE, MARCH 8, 1957
  DRAG RACING
  THE KIVLIN STYLE
  DORA & EDWARDS
  COMPETITIVE BUT NON-CONTEST
  THE HUMAN TABLE, SEPTEMBER 3, 1958
  THE TRESTLES PASSWORD
  GIDGET,THE BOOK, 1957
  SHOOTING GIDGET, 1958-59
  RIDE THE WILD SURF
  "RECLUSE ON A CROWDED DAY," AUGUST 1963
  THE MID-1960S
  WAVES YOU CAN'T MAKE, 1962
  CORKY'S PERUVIAN ESCAPE
  "DA CAT" MODEL
  SWASTIKAS & TENNIS, BEVERLY HILLS, 1964
  BRUSH FIRES
  P.O.P. PIER, 1968
  SALTWATER
  TRAVELLING THE 1970s and '80s
  JAIL TIME, 1983
  DA CAT MODEL RE-ISSUE
  DORA'S END
  DORA IN RETROSPECTIVE