It would be impossible to overstate the legend of Michael Peterson in the annals of Australian surfing. 1976 World Champ, Peter Townend, described him as: “Miki Dora, James Dean and Marlon Brando, all rolled into one.” At the time, he was regarded by many as the best surfer that had ever lived.

One of the most iconic images in surfing history is of Michael Peterson at Kirra in 1971 laying his board on rail in his iconic red trunks. The shot became the classic film poster for Morning of the Earth and was used as the cover of Tracks Magazine in February 1972. His Iconic turn consolidated his reputation as the fastest man to ever ride a surfboard. The Still image of this turn would go on to change the way surfers saw riding waves and would inspire infinite versions of it, generation after generation. 

In this special episode of Hardcore Surf History, host Tyler Breuer discusses the legendary Australian surfer Michael Peterson (MP) and the lasting impact of his iconic turn at Kira in 1971. Peterson's image became a hallmark in the surfing world, setting a standard for wave riding. To honor him, photographers Simon 'Shagga' Saffigna and Daniel Carmichael created the 'MP Classic Cutback Competition,' a global contest on Instagram where surfers compete to execute the best version of Peterson's famous turn. Esteemed judges include Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Dean Morrison, Steph Gilmore, Tom Curren, and Mark Occhilupo. The competition runs from June to September 24th, with videos tagged #MPCCC24 and following @only_one_MP. The episode features in-depth discussions with Simon ‘Shagga’ Saffigna and Daniel Carmichael about Peterson's legacy, the competition's origins, entry details, judging criteria, and its impact on the surfing community.

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