Kelly Slater reveals biggest wish of surf guru Doc Paskowitz, who has died aged 93

Can there be peace between Palestine and Israel? — Founder of Surfing For Peace makes emotional plea to Slater a few days before his death yesterday evening, November 10.

Surf and health guru Doc Paskowitz, the father of the so-called ‘first family of surfing’ – a nomadic clan of 11 who lived an unorthodox life centred around surfing and wellbeing – has passed away aged 93.

Doc was born in Texas to Russian Jewish parents and abandoned his medical career sometime around the 1950s – after visiting Israel for a year – to search for a different way of life.

He and his family spent approximately the next 25 years on the road, surfing, learning and living a healthy lifestyle – Doc eventually wrote a book Surfing and Health about his wellbeing philosophies.

In recent years, Doc founded a charity Surfing For Peace with Kelly Slater, which delivered surfboards to the small surfing community in Gaza and aimed to promote peaceful relations between the Palestinian and Israeli communities.

According to Kelly, peace between these nations was his biggest wish.

Says Kelly on his Instagram: “Blessings to you, Dorian #DocPaskowitz. You’ve been a beacon of truth, light, knowledge, and determination for all of your surfing brothers. Despite numerous reports of Doc’s passing over the last week, he quietly said his #LastGoodbye this evening. I was lucky enough to spend time with him a few days ago and get a couple of big hugs and this final photo.

He was passionate about diet and exercise but his biggest wish was to see peace in Gaza between Israel and Palestine and always believed that those who could surf together, could live together peacefully. He told me that if they would ‘pave the streets of Palestine in gold’ there would be peace between the people. He personally donated surfboards over the Israeli border to give to his Palestinian surfing brethren as a sign of respect and acknowledgment. Maybe one day his true dream will be realized.

I’ll miss this crazy, old man who helped raise my little brother and teach me about the ways of the world. Condolences and love to his wife and 9 children. #Surfing4Peace #SurfersHealing #PaskowitzFamily”

Speaking to Huck six years ago, in issue 14, Doc said this: “I have been a beach bum since I was twelve years old. On top of that I became a lifeguard, a research physiologist and a medical doctor. But you know, it was all what you might call T-shirts on top of a bare-skin beach boy. It was a great life. I’m sure I’m gonna miss it.”


You might like

Two people at street demonstration: person in yellow holding non-binary pride flag, person in black hoodie with transgender pride flag.
Activism

Euphoric portraits of queer joy and resistance at Trans Pride Brighton

Let us piss — Now over a decade old, the event grew to become Europe’s largest trans pride march. In a year when trans rights have come under the microscope more than ever, we went to this year’s edition, finding grassroots unity and collective rage.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Black and white image of two people lying on ground amongst debris and scattered papers, with tree trunk visible in background.
Activism

Remembering the radical anti-nuclear Greenham Women’s Peace Camp

Life at the Fence — In the early ’80s, a women’s only camp at an RAF site in Berkshire was formed to protest the threat of nuclear arms. Janine Wiedel’s new photobook revisits its anti-establishment setup and people.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Large outdoor mural showing red Mars planet, astronaut figures, and silver rocket with "SEND THEM TO MARS" text. High-vis workers nearby.
Activism

Led By Donkeys: “It’s weird when right-wing commentators get outraged by left politics at Glastonbury – what did they expect?”

Send them to Mars — With their installation in Block9 launching the billionaire class into space, we caught up with the art and activism crew to chat about the long intersection of music and politics at the festival, how wrong the tech bros are, and more.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Elderly man with white hair and beard wearing glasses, dark jacket and light shirt, sitting at wooden table against white curtains.
Activism

Jeremy Corbyn confirms new party with Zarah Sultana: “Change is coming”

A real alternative? — Sultana revealed that she was quitting the Labour Party yesterday evening, saying that she was going to co-lead a new party with the former Labour leader.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Group of people holding white banner reading "Hermaphrodites with Attitude" in red and black text on building steps.
Activism

There have never been only two sexes — intersex people exist

Hemaphrodite Logic — Juliana Gleeson’s new book explores the intersex movement from 1990-2025. In this exclusive extract, the author outlines intersex liberation as an “unlikely offspring” of feminist and gay/lesbian struggles.

Written by: Juliana Gleeson

A crowd of protesters holding placards and banners, including flags of Ireland, with "Defend the right to protest" and "Defend knee" written on them.
Activism

In photos: Hundreds gather outside court to protest Kneecap terror charge

‘Free Mo Charah’ — With drums, smoke and applause, protesters greeted the rapper outside court as he was released on unconditional bail.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...