My niece is an ICU nurse at RPH. She cared for Mike and said that both him and his family were such lovely people. Rest In Peace legend.
Quite shocked and saddened to hear of Mikes passing.
Mike was certainly a character, I first met him at Hookipa on one of my many trips there, he was always donning the Dakine chest harness, bow legs, a big smile, and his old Simmer board and sails. He'd happily talk to anyone but behind his "mad" exterior he had a serious side too.
He lived the dream life for many of us, half the year in Maui and the other half in WA. I'll have a beer for Mike on Saturday, over here on the east coast, and will be thinking of the family he has left behind.
Just found out the sad news! Will miss a legend. The photo is from 1994. There was no wind forecast for the next couple of days so we headed into Gero, grabbed a carton and set up chairs and umbrella in the water at Coronations. Every now and then tourists and sightseer's were taking photos of us drinking and laughing. Mike would yell out, "we won lotto" in his German accent. Every 30 minutes a set wave would come through and bowl us off our chairs. This was one of the many memorable highlights! Mike certainly lived the life. God bless to the family...