Surf-forecasting pioneer
Sean Collins, whose influence on surfing might have been greater than that of even the sport's elite wave riders, died Monday after suffering a heart attack while playing tennis near his home in Seal Beach, Calif. He was 59 and is survived by his wife, Daren, and sons Tyler and A.J.

Collins, a passionate surfer and sailor who traveled extensively in pursuit of perfect waves, will be remembered for taking the guesswork out of when and where swells will arrive, but also for his humble personality.
Though Collins had no formal training as a meteorologist, his career took off after he launched
Surfline.com in 1995, using an extensive network of weather buoys and computer models to predict the arrival and duration of ocean swells at destinations around the world.
The website, which contains surf reports and forecasting tools, as well as industry news reports, attracts more than 1 million viewers per month.
News of Collins untimely death, a day after Christmas, cast a pall over the global surf community.
Peter "PT" Townend, winner of the first ASP world surfing title in 1976, expressed his feelings on his Facebook wall: "TODAY we lost one surfing's most influential people. R.I.P. Sean Collins my mate!, you changed the way we went surfing!"

Kelly Slater, an 11-time world champion and arguably the most influential surfer of all time, Tweeted, "RIP Sean Collins. You've been a friend for over 25 yrs. Thanks for the memories, surf trips, and wave knowledge."
Surfer Magazine reported on its website: "Arguably one of the most influential surfers of his era, Collins reshaped the way surfers from across the world track swells and storms... Primarily self-taught, Collins was regarded as one of the most esteemed forecasters in the industry and regularly advised the World Tour on approaching swells and weather conditions."
The world's elite big-wave surfers developed close relationships with Collins, who helped them plan globe-trotting adventures in search of the largest waves. The surf media also relied largely on Collins' forecasting talents.
Allen Schaben, a Los Angeles Times photographer who got to know Collins over the years, posted on Facebook: "We photographers relied constantly on him and his crew to know when and where to get better shots. Sean has made a profound impact on the surfing community and will be greatly missed. May God's comfort, strength, peace and love surround his family during this time of loss."
Collins, whose Surfline headquarters is across the street from the Huntington Beach Pier, recently explained to the
Orange County Register why he got into the wave-forecasting business:
"I founded the [Surfline] because I saw a need, but primarily because I wanted to follow my passions and wanted to control my own future. I believe the real secret of my success was to surround myself with really good people who could help to build our business. The personal payoff is the lifestyle of continuing to be able to chase great surf around the world while getting paid for it, and I couldn't do that without my great team of people."
Collins was named one of the "25 Most Influential Surfers of the Century" by Surfer magazine in the summer of 1999. In 2008 he was inducted into the Surfers Hall of Fame, forever stamped as one of the sport's legendary figures.
As for Surfline, it probably will remain successful because of the team Collins put in place.
A report Tuesday on the website reads: "Sean's many accomplishments in surf science and forecasting made him one of the most influential surfers of all time. Surfline's entire staff--as well as countless surfers worldwide--are in a state of shock at the news."
Information regarding services for Collins is pending.
--Images of Sean Collins are courtesy of Surfline