Laird Hamilton is 61 years old.
Born on March 2, 1964, in a salt-water sphere in San Francisco, he’s spent over six decades basically defying every law of physics and aging. If you’re looking for a guy who has successfully middle-fingered the concept of a "biological clock," it’s him. While most guys his age are thinking about pickleball and prostate exams, Laird is still out there hunting 50-foot waves and carrying 50-pound dumbbells across the bottom of a swimming pool.
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It’s kinda wild to think about.
He didn't just grow up in the water; he became a part of it. Now, as we move through 2026, the question of how old is Laird Hamilton isn't just about a number on a driver’s license. It’s about how a human being stays that explosive and resilient when they’re pushing toward their mid-sixties.
The Numbers: Breaking Down the Timeline
Honestly, the math is simple. 1964 to 2026.
But the timeline of his life isn't just a straight line. It’s a series of massive, high-speed collisions with the ocean. He pioneered tow-in surfing because he was already "too old" for the limits of paddle-in surfing back in the 90s. Then he moved to foil boarding. Then he started XPT (Extreme Performance Training).
At 61, he’s currently in what most people would call the "twilight" of an athletic career. For Laird, it’s just another Tuesday in Kauai or Malibu.
He has three daughters—Izabella, Reece, and Brody—and has been married to volleyball legend Gabby Reece since 1997. They’ve basically become the first couple of American fitness longevity. You've probably seen them on every health podcast under the sun, talking about ice baths and turmeric.
How He’s Still Doing This at 61
You don’t stay this mobile by accident.
Laird is religious—kinda obsessive, actually—about his routine. If you want to know how he keeps the "old man" at bay, you have to look at the weird stuff he does before most people have even hit the snooze button.
The Morning "Engine" Start
He’s usually up by 5:00 AM.
First thing? Hydration. But not just a glass of tap water. He does a massive glass with lemon and Himalayan sea salt. Then comes the "Laird Superfood" coffee. We’re talking 4 to 6 shots of espresso mixed with fats like coconut oil and MCTs.
He doesn't eat a real meal until lunch. He stays in a fasted state to keep his metabolism flexible. Basically, he’s training his body to burn fat for fuel instead of waiting for a bagel to give him energy.
Heat, Cold, and Breath
If you visit his place, you’re probably getting in a sauna.
He’s a huge believer in heat shock proteins. He’ll sit in a sauna at blistering temperatures and then jump into a freezing ice tub. This isn't just for "the gram." It’s about vascular health. It keeps his heart and veins elastic.
Then there’s the breathwork.
Laird advocates for nasal breathing almost exclusively. He’s often said that if you can’t breathe through your nose during a workout, you’re going too hard. It’s a way of controlling the nervous system so he doesn't burn out his adrenals—a common mistake for older athletes trying to keep up with 20-somethings.
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The 2026 "Camp Laird" and New Ventures
He isn't slowing down on the business side either.
Right now, in 2026, he’s still running "Camp Laird." It’s this incredibly intense 5-day experience on the North Shore of Oahu. People pay thousands of dollars to go there and have Laird basically try to drown them in a pool—safely, of course—to teach them mental resilience.
He also just launched Hamilton House, a performance lifestyle brand he built with Gabby. It’s their attempt to bottle up everything they’ve learned about recovery and movement.
What People Get Wrong About His Age
Most people see a 61-year-old surfer and think, "Oh, he must have great genes."
Sure, being 6'3" and built like a Greek statue helps. But Laird has had dozens of surgeries. His hips, his knees, his back—the ocean has taken its toll.
The secret isn't that he’s "not old."
The secret is that he refuses to be stiff.
He focuses on "functional" movement. He does a lot of pool training because it’s zero-impact. He carries heavy weights underwater to build "breath-hold" capacity and bone density without crushing his joints on a treadmill.
Actionable Takeaways from the Laird Lifestyle
You don't have to be a big-wave surfer to use his blueprint. If you’re looking at how old is Laird Hamilton and wondering how you can get some of that energy, here is the basic "Laird Protocol" for humans:
- Prioritize Sleep: He shoots for 8-9 hours. Recovery is the only way you survive the training.
- Nasal Breathing: Try to do your next walk or light jog without opening your mouth. It’s harder than it looks but changes your CO2 tolerance.
- Mineralize: Stop drinking "dead" water. Add a pinch of sea salt and lemon to your morning water to kickstart your electrolytes.
- Learn Something New: Laird started foil boarding in middle age. Learning a new physical skill keeps your brain (and your balance) young.
- Get in the Heat: Even a hot shower followed by 30 seconds of cold water can trigger some of the recovery benefits he swears by.
Laird Hamilton is proof that 61 doesn't have to look like a rocking chair. It can look like a carbon-fiber surfboard and a 20-foot swell. He’s essentially rewritten the manual on what a "senior citizen" is capable of doing, provided they’re willing to do the work and maybe drink a lot of fat-infused coffee.
To stay updated on his specific training blocks for the 2026 season, you can follow his XPT platform or check out the latest Hamilton House community launches. Both offer deeper dives into the specific weight-stack and pool routines he’s using right now to maintain his frame.