It’s a name that’s not often heard these days, but in his prime — the mid ’50s to early ’60s — “Chubby” Mitchell was renowned as a graceful and highly skilled surfer, fleet-footed on his longboard in spite of his two hundred and eighty-something pounds of weight. On land, his light touch and agility extended to his musicianship — he was an accomplished ukulele player — and to his demeanour, characterised by warmth and a quick wit; but not to his gait and general bearing, which was slow and cumbrous. He was also borderline narcoleptic; according the Encylopedia of Surfing’s Matt Warshaw, he once fell asleep leaning against a Waikiki surfboard locker mid-surf check.

Paul Strauch, who has Chubby’s weight at nearly 400 pounds, remembers him as an “unbelievable guy” and “incredible surfer”. “Once when he was angry,” recalled Strauch, “I saw him take a parking meter and bend it right over. I’ve never seen anybody do that.” On another occasion, as Strauch drove down the Pacific Highway, Chubby extended his bare arse out of the passenger’s seat window to moon a passing car, whereupon he became stuck. Strauch had to pull over, and it took the strength of two people to dislodge him.

Originally from Honolulu, in his late teens Chubby moved to California, where he played American football for San Jose State College and thereafter remained for most of his life. He died aged 40, in 1972, of heart failure — one of the admitted downsides of obesity.

https://vimeo.com/54998875