Anthony Hussein Hinde (1953 [1] – 27 May 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-starting 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 en route 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, adding Hussein to his name. He married a Maldivian woman, Zulfa, on 27 May 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 27 May 2008 while surfing at Pasta Point in Malé Atoll in the Maldives at the age of 55. [3] He suffered an apparent heart attack after riding a wave. [3] He was found floating face down in the water, but CPR failed to resuscitate him. [3] He was buried at Mollymook cemetery in his native New South Wales, Australia on 3 June 2008. [3] Local Maldivian and foreign surfers held a memorial at Varunulaa Raalhugandu, the main surfing spot in the capital city of Malé, and at Pasta Point on 8 June. [2] [3]
Hinde was survived by his daughter, Mishal, and his son, Ashley. [3] His wife, Zulfa, whom he married in 1983, died in January 2008. [3] The same day that Hinde died 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]
References
- ^ True Surfing Pioneer Taken Tragically - In a sad loss to surfing one of the sports true pioneers Tony Hussein Hinde passed away on 27 May 2008 at Pasta Point. Surfing Australia. Archived 2 June 2008 at archive.today
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tony 'Hussein' Hinde dies in Maldives surfing accident". Global Surf News. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wilson, Alex (2 June 2008). "TONY HUSSEIN HINDE: Maldives Pioneer Dies". Surfer Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
- ^ a b c "Tony Hussain Hinde, surfer who 'found' Maldives, dies". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). 29 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
- ^ "Tributes paid to Maldivian surf legend Tony who died yesterday". Dhivehi Observer. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2008.