Inaugural Surf Legend Award honors Randall “Crawdaddy” Miod, lost in the Palisades Fire
He is remembered as the quintessential free-spirited surfer. He is remembered as a loyal friend — always optimistic, always willing to lend a hand. He is remembered as a cherished son, gone far too soon.
Accepting the award were Miod’s parents, Lawrence Miod and Carol A. Smith. Smith, visibly emotional, acknowledged that the honor would not have come to fruition without the leadership of Chris Wizner — a longtime friend of Miod and the driving force behind the creation of the Surf Legend Award.
Family, friends, and community members gathered at the Malibu City Council meeting in December to celebrate and honor Randall “Crawdaddy” Miod, 55, who perished in the Palisades Fire inside his Malibu home on Jan. 7, 2025 In a moving tribute, the council presented Miod with the first-ever Malibu Surf Legend Award, a new honor created to recognize the surfers who helped shape the culture and identity of Malibu.
“Chris is Randy’s brother from another mother,” Smith said. “We wouldn’t be here tonight accepting this award without him. We are deeply grateful.”
Wizner, born and raised in the Malibu community, said the new award represents a milestone for the city. “History was made,” he remarked. “The Malibu Legend of the Year Award marks the first time the city has officially honored the very sport that put Malibu on the map.”
Wizner spoke passionately about Miod, recalling the depth of their friendship and the character that made Miod beloved throughout the surf community. “Randall Miod, the inspiration behind this award, was like a brother to me,” Wizner said. “He was lost in the Palisades while trying to save his cat. Randall lived the endless summer every day. He was a constant presence at Surfrider Beach — an incredible surfer with a distinctive crawl-like stance, which earned him the nickname ‘Crawdaddy.’”
Wizner described Miod as humble, kind, and fun-loving — someone who never imagined he would become part of Malibu history. “He never would have imagined he’d be our first surf legend,” Wizner said. “I am deeply grateful to everyone at the city who worked with us to make this possible. I look forward to seeing future recipients honored in Randall’s memory — the inspiration behind it all.”
Miod moved to Malibu in his early twenties, renting a small studio apartment next to the “Crab Shack,” a well-known surfers’ hangout across from Duke’s on Pacific Coast Highway. Over the next three decades, he became a fixture in Malibu’s hospitality scene. He began his career at Pierview Café and later managed the Coral Beach Cantina and Zooma Sushi, where his warmth and easygoing personality endeared him to both coworkers and patrons.
Those who knew him spoke of his unwavering generosity, his artistic spirit, and his unmistakable laugh — qualities that, together with his surfing, defined his presence in the community. Beyond the waves, Miod expressed himself through art, often drawing inspiration from the ocean that shaped his life.
His final farewell took place last May at Surfrider Beach, where friends and surfers held a traditional paddleout and surfside service. In that moment of collective remembrance, Michele Caesar captured the essence of both Miod and the newly established Surf Legend Award.
“May the endless waves and colors of the ocean forever carry Rand’s art and love of surfing,” Caesar said. “His memory will always ride with the tide.”
With the presentation of the inaugural Surf Legend Award, Malibu formally recognized not only Randall Miod but also the generations of surfers who have defined the city’s heritage. As the council looked ahead to future recipients, the spirit of “Crawdaddy” Miod lingered in the room — an enduring reminder of a life lived with joy, generosity, and a deep devotion to the sea.
