The Cardiff Kook

Officially titled "Magic Carpet Ride", yet known popularly as "The Cardiff Kook" ("kook": slang for a novice surfer), this 6-foot cast bronze sculpture of a young surfer sits on a 10-foot granite base with poetry inscriptions by Robert Nanninga.

The artist's original design included a wave component to illustrate a particular surfing maneuver or stance, but this component was omitted due to budget constraints. The sculpture's final form received negative criticism from the surfing community and prompted an on-going series of pranks and spoofs that dress the figure in humorous banners, costumes, and elaborate backdrops, often associated with current events.