The clouds parted, and the sun peeked out. Perfect timing for a celebration of life, honoring Bob “Doc” Scott, a legendary Santa Cruz surfer and inventor, who was memorialized on Monday with a traditional paddle-out at Lighthouse Point.
Doc died last month at the age of 97. In addition to his day job as a literal physician, he was a fixture in the surf scene for decades, championing the younger generation of surfers, sponsoring surf competitions, and developing his patented ProPlugs – an early deterrent to the dreaded surfer’s ear.
One of the many surfers that Doc impacted along the ride was Santa Cruz’s own, Ken “Skindog” Collins, who remembered the late icon as such:
“Doc Scott was a bright star shinning positive vibes upon all of us in Santa Cruz. He ran the NorCal WSA surf contests and helped cultivate the progressive surf culture here in Surf City. He personally pulled many of us off the sidelines as young groms and placed us in a heat and put us in the game.
“In a time when most kids were in broken homes and headed in the wrong direction, me included, Doc changed our trajectory from doom mindset to a mindset of anything is possible. He gave us contests, and jobs working at Doc’s Pro Plugs. It is sad we have to say goodbye. but Doc lived a good life, helping others and bringing stoked to all. And we all should take note and pass it forward.”
Related: RIP: Legendary Santa Cruz Surfer Doc Scott
Santa Cruz photographer, Ryan “Chachi” Craig, was on-hand for the memorial paddle-out honoring Doc, and he shared the following images, showing the abundance of love for the late legend.
Rest in peace, Doc.
Related: Influential Santa Barbara Surfer, Filmmaker Passes Away