A native of Encinitas California, Linda Benson started surfing when she was 11 years old. She learned to surf at Moonlight Beach, where she'd wait until her brother, or one of his friends would lose a board and then she'd paddle it back out to him. At 13 her father let her buy her own, a beat-up old board that cost $20. At 5'2" and 105 pounds, Linda would prove a gutsy and talented athlete, dominating women's competitive surfing for over 10 years.
In 1959, at the age of 15, Linda became the youngest contestant ever to enter the International Championship at Makaha. She won. That same year she became the first woman to ride Waimea when she borrowed a board from the shortest guy surfing with her, paddled out and caught a couple of waves.

Using the equipment of the early 50's, not to mention a goofyfoot in a time when most spots surfed were rights, she still managed to hold her own and gain respect for her fearless big wave riding and her ability to charge.