On January 13 at the 2012 Surf Expo in Orlando, Florida, Tim Briers of Indian Harbor Beach was one of three Central Florida surfers inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.
“The East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame is dedicated to the preservation of the history and heritage of East Coast Surfing and to enshrine forever the people who have been responsible for its development and growth, and to preserve, protect and display artifacts and historically valuable lore of East Coast Surfing,” as stated in its mission statement at EastCoastSurfingHallofFame.com.
As a ferocious competitor in both the amateur and professional settings, Briers has paved a way through the surfing industry one wave at a time. From the moment he caught his first wave, Briers has been shredding the waves of Central Florida. And this goofy footed surfer has used his talent to surf waves from New Jersey all the way to the shores of Hawaii. “I Enjoyed over thirty years of competitive surfing both amateur and professionally,” said Briers.
Dick Catri, surfing legend and fellow Hall of Famer, said, “Timmy got in the hard way by being a great surfer. The most difficult category in the Hall of Fame is surfing itself. Every two years, we select four people who are chosen for their surfing ability and surfing history.” Catri said that in addition to Briers amazing surfing career, Briers is a wonderful person and that he has always been a gentlemen in the sport.
When asked about why Briers thought he was inducted, he said, “Dick Catri told me right before the Induction ceremony that he thought I got in the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame by the pure merit of my surfing ability. That was flattering to say the least. I always thought it was fun to compete. If that's good enough for Dick Catri, well ... that's good enough for me.”
Briers said that being inducted into the Hall of Fame was an amazing experience. “I was surrounded by all my family, friends and my surfing heroes from when I was growing up,” said Briers.
Briers Hall of Fame surfing career had its start right here in Brevard County. “The first wave that I ever caught was at Ocean Avenue in Melbourne Beach. I rented a board from the Flying Dutchman, which was this surf shop that used to be where the Melbourne Beach Library is now,” said Briers.
Briers started competing around the age of twelve. His first contest was the "Underdog Surf Contest" put on by Dick Catri at the Indialantic Boardwalk. Briers did not win that contest, but when asked how that contest impacted his life Briers said, “I got my first good taste of a contest and the pressure that goes with it. I was hooked.”
By his early twenties, Briers’ talent won him a spot on the famed Ocean Avenue surf team. Coached by Bruce Walker, another Hall of Famer, Briers and the Ocean Ave team spent most of the eighties tearing up the surfing competition.
“My time on the Ocean Ave team was awesome. I will always remember the trips traveling up and down the coast with the team surfing and selling boards,” said Briers.
Two of Briers most notable finishes in his career were in 1976 where Briers placed Fifth in the longboard division at the U.S. Championship in Hawaii, and in 1978, Briers beat out a pool of talented surfers in Cape Hatteras, N.C. finishing first making himself the 1978 U.S. Championship winner.
When asked about role models, Briers said that Greg Loehr was his hero. He said that Loehr actually shaped the board that he won the U.S. Championship on in 1978.
Most people would probably think that the competitions were Brier’s most memorable moments, but Briers said that “although winning is one thing, surfing with my bros is another.” Even with an accomplished resume in the surfing community, Briers said that his greatest memories are surfing at the inlet with his friends.
Briers has collected a wealth of stories from his experiences surfing over the years. Even with all his experience and wisdom, Briers still acts like kid when he is out in the water. He might have a competitive spirit as fierce as a gladiator, but underneath it all, he has always made sure to first and foremost enjoy the water. Briers explained that over all the things that surfing has provided Briers over the years, a love an appreciation of the ocean has always been number one. “Being near the ocean has always been what I am most grateful for that surfing has given me,” said Briers.
Briers still calls Brevard County home and is currently living in Indian Harbor Beach. He tends bar at Squid Lips in Melbourne, and he surfs every chance he gets. Every so often you can still find Briers around the competitive surfing scene as a judge.
Summary of Briers’ Most Notable Finishes
- U.S. Championship fifth place finish in the longboard division 1976
- East Coast Championships third Place finish 1977.
- U.S. Championship first place finish 1978
- Southeast United States Surfing Championships senior men’s first place finish 1994
- East Coast Championships senior men’s second place finish in 1994
- Southeast United States Surfing Championships grandmasters first place finish 2001
- Two- time Florida State Champion.
- Daytona Pro Surfing Champion.
- The inaugural St. Augustine Pro Surfing Champion. Florida Pro runner-up(2nd).
- E.S.A. District Champion(Central Florida)in every amateur age division (Boys- Jr. Men- Men- Masters- Sr. Men- Grandmasters)
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