Kit Horn

Big wave surfer Christopher Mason "Kit" Horn was born on November 10, 1929 in Hollywood, California. Horn first started surfing at age eleven in Santa Monica, California. Kit and his good friend Peter Cole were amongst the first two surfers to ride the big waves at the popular surfing spot Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, California. Moreover, Horn played an instrumental role in helping surfing grow from a small subculture into an international pastime. Outside of surfing, Kit was also an avid waterman who would dive for abalone and lobster in Santa Monica Bay and fill a gunny sack with either in an hour's time. Kit attended the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the swim team and graduated with a degree in business in 1954. Following graduation from college, Horn went on to serve two years in the Air Force and worked in sales for chemical companies. In addition, Kit made a name for himself in the 1960's as one of the top surfers to brave and best the big waves on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii. Horn continued to surf well into his seventies. Kit died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 80 at his home in Encinitas, California on March 25, 2010. He was survived by his wife Gwen, daughters Pamela Kelso and Lizabeth Lamberty, and sons Brit and Kirkland.