Even after more than three decades in the sport, the question of who inspires Kelly Slater in the surfing world still feels relevant. Over the years, Slater has named several figures who shaped his journey. He credits Brandon “Big Wave” Davis with having a major influence, praising his “knowledge and poise in large surf” for motivating him to take on massive waves. As a kid, Slater idolized Buttons Kaluhiokalani and Tom Curren, while later in his career he admired surfers like Andy Irons and Dane Reynolds, who he felt challenged him and elevated the sport. Still, there’s one name you might notice missing from that list.

The missing name? Dale Webster. The Northern California legend who paddled out every single day from 1975 to 2015—no breaks, no excuses. Three waves a day, minimum, whethe

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