Photos by Erik Jay
The South Bay surf community came together in a powerful show of love and respect, paddling out at 16th Street in Hermosa Beach to honor Greg Browning, a cherished surfer, filmmaker, and friend. With boards in hand and hearts full, friends, family, and fellow wave riders paid tribute to Browning’s legacy in the very ocean that helped define his life, following his passing from complications related to ALS.
The morning was calm, the sky clear, and the water inviting as dozens of surfers made their way past the break, forming a circle just offshore. Flowers were scattered across the water’s surface, and Browning’s ashes were released into the sea, a quiet, powerful tribute to a life spent chasing waves and capturing moments.
Browning grew up in Hermosa Beach, learning to surf near his family’s home on 11th Street. But it was the waves at 16th Street, bigger and more challenging, that became a meaningful part of his surf journey. That stretch of sand and water became the natural place to return him to the ocean.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Browning helped define surf filmmaking. He was a key figure in the Momentum Generation, a group of surfers who rose to prominence on the North Shore of Oahu, including names like Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, and Benji Weatherley. His connection to the sport ran deep, both in front of the camera and behind it.
In 2002, he launched the Drive Thru series, a mix of travel, surfing, and personality that followed pro surfers to far-flung destinations. The series captured the spirit of surf culture with a fresh, lighthearted take, showcasing not just the skill but the camaraderie and energy of the lifestyle. It remains a standout contribution to surf media.
Greg Browning’s influence went far beyond the waves he rode or the films he created. He captured the rhythm of surf life with honesty and humor, leaving behind a lasting impact on a global community. On that Saturday morning, as the tide moved in and the sun rose higher, he was released back to the place he always belonged, the ocean.
