Shaun Tomson

Former world champion surfer Shaun Tomson tonight will present a slide show retrospective of professional surfing at Patagonia in Ventura, where he was recently hired as director of sportswear and surf wear. Tomson, 40, recently moved from his native South Africa with his wife, Carla, and 5-year-old son to take the job at the Ventura-based outdoor clothing company. During his 15 years on the world professional surfing tour, Tomson became the unofficial spokesman for the sport.

The waves at Malibu State Beach crest at about 3 feet and the sun cuts through the morning haze as former world surfing champion Shaun Tomson rides the last swell to shore. It's been nearly 30 years since he won a world title, but Tomson wows the 50 or so surfers in the water with his sharp cutbacks and slicing U-turns. In the parking lot afterward, he changes out of his wetsuit. A lanky teenager in a bucket hat steps up and introduces himself.