Surf Pioneer

Born in New York City in 1937, his family relocated to Santa Monica, California when Muñoz was 6. He began surfing at age 10 and soon was the one to watch during the early days in Malibu’s lineup. He always had a hankering for trying new things. During a spontaneous, fun-loving session at Sacres in 1959, Muñoz set up for the shorebreak like a matador waiting for the approaching bull – spawning his patented stance known as the “quasimoto.” He continued to keep things fresh and new, soon inventing the “misterioso” and “el telephono.” Surprisingly, he was also cast as a stunt double for Sandra Dee in the 1959 movie Gidget.
Aside from being a stunt man, big wave pioneer and small wave innovator, Muñoz was also a stellar competitive surfer during the 60’s. He finished runner up in the 1962 and 1963 West Coast Championships and took third in the 1964 United States Championships. In 1965, he received a prestigious invite to the Inaugural Duke Kahanamoku Invitational, and then won the Tom Morey Invitational noseriding contest; claimed second in the U.S. Championships and that same year took fourth in the World Championships.
While most of his peers were slugging it out on 10 foot noseriders, Muñoz was spotted experimenting on the 6’8” he shaped for his son. He also built boards for Hobie Surfboards. Despite his entrenchment in the budding SoCal surf scene, Muñoz remained true to the original stoke of wave riding during the 70’s and 80’s before resurfacing in the early 90’s to the legendary icon status he truly deserved. Presently, Muñoz continues to design surfboards and lives in Capistrano Beach. He has two children.