Photos: Laird Hamilton talk draws huge crowd

The Malibu Library speaker series continued on Wednesday night last week with author Susan Casey’s “The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean,” and special guests big wave surfers Laird Hamilton and Makua Rothman. The library meeting room was standing room only with more than 120 attendees. Guests were fascinated as Hamilton and Rothman recounted their harrowing stories of riding monster waves around the world. Casey shared her experience of exploring the world of big waves and the surfers that ride them. A Q&A followed with light refreshments and book signing. A portion of the book’s sales will benefit SurfAID, whose aim is to “improve the health, wellbeing and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing.” 

A big crowd overflows the library entrance for last Wednesday’s speaker series with author Susan Casey and guest speakers Laird Hamilton and Makua Rothman. Portions of the book sales will benefit SurfAID. 

City Councilmember Laura Zahn Rosenthal and Kathy Eldon, founder of the Creative Visions Foundation, visit before the event. 

Legendary big wave surfer Laird Hamilton speaks about riding monstrous waves all over the world and his contributions to the surfing community by discovering ways to ride bigger and higher waves. 

Hamilton and fellow big wave surfer Makua Rothman (far right) “hang loose” with Dolphin and Bella Casper on Wednesday last week at the Malibu Library.