SHF Visitors

March 16, 2012, 3:30 pm

We get a wide range of visitors on any given day. Local groms, legends, pros, and a fair number from foreign lands.

Gene Cooper makes some of the most beautiful wave-riding toys around-this one is headed to Japan.

Tim Bessell donated a cherry Bodyglove wetsuit from the early 1970s. He also had one of his "Warhol" surfboards with him.

Jack and Mary Jo Lincke stopped by for a visit and liked this redwood and balsa mini gun Greg Noll made for DIck Metz.

This photo is from last year when Derek Jardine was visiting from South Africa and Doc Paskowitz and he came in for an interview.

SHF Founding Partners, Teresa and Sam Gornto were visiting from Florida. photo: Linda Michael

SHF Founding & Sustaining Partners, Joe and Ellie Dunn brought the extended family by for a visit. Dick Metz was here to give them the grand tour. photo: Linda Michael

Gracelyn Rezmer was visiting from Wisconsin and looking for material on Tom Blake (also from Wisconsin), for a school project. We highly approve of her choice of subject matter!. photo: Linda Michael

Photographer, Tim Hogan is producing a book on the history of surfboard fins and has been shooting many boards and fins from our collection. It's an amazingly elaborate set-up that he utilizes, each fin takes about an hour to photograph. photo: Linda Michael

Troy McElveen is assisting Tim on the surfboard fin project. Here he is operating another piece of the equipment they use. photo: Linda Michael

Floyd Smith, Dick Metz, and George Bensen. photo: Linda Michael

Floyd Smith and George Bensen standing in front of one of George's restored Woodies. photo: Linda Michael

South Coast Distributor, Rick Arons, and Mike Perch. photo: Linda Michael

San Clemente Mayor, Jim Evert, and San Onofre Foundation and California Surf Museum President, Jim Kempton, posing here in front of Greg Long's Eddie board. photo: Linda Michael

Dick Metz and Steve Wilking's friend, surfer Malcolm McCassy. photo: Linda Michael

Craig Le Seuer, the winner of our Found It In the Archives contest dropped by. photo: Linda Michael

Rick Thompson, our next-door neighbor at ReShape Medical came by to do some shopping. photo: Linda Michael

SHF Photo Archivist, Steve Wilkings and Roger Yates (Forgotten Island of Santosha) pose in front of the Velzy Shaping Shack. photo: Barry Haun

SHF Curator, Barry Haun is pictured here with surfing historian, Bruce Gabrielson, and HB legend, Chuck Linnen. Bruce donated a couple of Dale Velzy's shaping lights and one of Dale's gun templates. photo: Steve Wilkings

Harlan Patterson and Kevin Julien were visiting from Nova Scotia. Harlan glassed the Todd Chesser, Rusty surfboard back when he owned Pacific Surf Glass. photo: Linda Michael

Colin Foulker and Chris Bugge were visiting from the UK. photo: Linda Michael

Dan, Nora, and Tom McCarthy were here from Long Beach, New York. photo: Linda Michael

George Stremple in red is holding one of the boards he donated a few years back and Frank Van Wickle is holding one of 4 boards donated by the Quinard family. photo: Linda Michael

Glen Thompson is over from South Africa and using our library to do research for his thesis. photo: Linda Michael

Legendary Shaper, Rich Harbour and Steve Wilkings check out one of Phil Edwards' shapes. photo: Linda Michael

Brothers Britt and Chris Janusz with a couple boards from their collection. photo: Linda Michael

Mike Schwarner, and Vincent and Emilie. Vincent and Emilie were visiting from France.
photo: Linda Michael

Paul and Karen Samuelson with a balsa board that was glassed by Danny Brawner. photo: Linda Michael

Fuzzy foto. That's Christian Driggs, Rob Givens, Lindsay Perry, and Pierce Michael Kavanagh stopping by for a visit yesterday. photo: BKH

About a dozen Adventure Guides-Big Sky Circle, Laguna Niguel Nation, came by for a visit and tour. Being second-graders, I was able to hold their attention for about 30 seconds, but their dads seemed to appreciate the info. Barry, SHF Curator, etc. photo: Linda Michael

Our archivist Becki Church's sister Amy, and her family. Husband Bryan, and kids, Katie, Isaac, Mckenzie, and Benny Thulin.

SHF Curator Barry Haun, legendary shaper Terry Martin, David Krause, SHF co-founder Spencer Croul, and SHF Executive Director Bolton Colburn

The Coalition of Surf Clubs' Team Captains and various members, met at SHF on the eve of the annual Church contest, 1/6/12. photo: Linda Michael

SHF Director & docent, Denny Michael, accepts a $1,000 donation from DLSA President Mark Calkins, and DSLA VP Bobby Knox. Thank you Doheny Longboard Surfing Association! photo: Linda Michael

Surfing legend and former Hawaii State Senator, Fred Hemmings dropped by and met our new Executive Director, Bolton Colburn. Fred's daughter, Kaui Hart Hemmings, wrote the novel, "The Descendants”, whose film version with George Clooney, is nominated for 5 Oscars. photo: Linda Michael

Kemp Aaberg and Richard Yelland working on 12 Miles North: the Nick Gabeldon Story.

Stoked Groms, Noah Cordoza, Dean Michael, and Ben Cordoza. photo: Linda Michael

Mark Weiner, San Diego charger Richard Kenvin, and designer/shaper Carl Ekstrom. photo: BKH

Scott Bass, Wade Koniakowsky and Barry Haun hold up a piece of fiberglass and resin taken from a Matt Kivlin Malibu Chip that is being restored. Wade will be painting the artwork for the Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction directly on the fiberglass. photo: Linda Michael

Michael "Salt" Labita with the Jed Noll, Steven Thomas model that he created the artwork for. photo: Linda Michael

Charlie Fernandez (Jimmy Buffett's manager), and Russ Kunkle (long time drummer for Jackson Browne) came by for a visit. Charlie is now the proud owner of the JP St Pierre (Surfy Surfy) customized Enjoy handplane. photo: BKH

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

March 17, 2012, 12:58 pm

≫ Next: Collector's Corner

≪ Previous: SHF Visitors

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we thought we'd break out an all-time classic image from the early 1970s, George Greenough's tube shot of Russell Hughes. This is considered to be the first photo of a surfer in the "Green Room" shot from inside the wave. This poster became one of Surfer Magazine's best sellers, and for those who remember, it brings back a flood of memories from the era before leashes and big money contests. You could get any color of wetsuit—as long as you wanted black, and Rainbow fins, Pendletons, cords, JC Penny pocket tees, Wallabees, purple Waxmate, and films like Five Summer Stories were tops! Celebrate the Green! (Andrew Crockett has made this poster available once again, and it's even signed by Mr. Greenough: http://switch-foot.com/view_item.php?item_id=134)

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Collector's Corner

March 24, 2012, 3:05 pm

≫ Next: The Innovations of Hobie

≪ Previous: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Longtime surf industry stalwart, John Leinenger, donated this collection of memorabilia that he's collected over time. John currently manages the Becker Shop in Hermosa but has been involved with many South Bay Surf Shops over the years. Check out the headlining band for the "Thanksgiving Eve Dance and Stomp". Photo: Steve Wilkings

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The Innovations of Hobie

April 2, 2012, 4:54 pm

≫ Next: Remember 45s?

≪ Previous: Collector's Corner

We're in the process of gathering material for an upcoming exhibit titled "The Innovations of Hobie" which will open to the public on Sunday, April 29, 2012. There will be a private reception the night before for Members of Surfing Heritage, and we're expecting quite a turnout. If you're not a current member or are overdue for your renewal, now's the time! Naturally, one of the aspects we'll be covering is the Hobie Cat. Dick Metz's good friend, Jim McElveen donated this copy of "The Worrell 1000", a grueling 1,000 mile race that takes place on the East Coast, running between Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Virginia Beach, Va. All the competitors use 16-foot Hobie Cats. Jim's sailing partner, Mike Snow, is shown here on page 64 of this book (Mike's wearing the black and white striped shirt). That's Jim McElveen (in the grey sweat shirt with red shirt collar, with SHF Founder, Dick Metz).

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Remember 45s?

April 2, 2012, 6:19 pm

≫ Next: Steve Wilkings gets inducted into the Surfer's Walk of Fame

≪ Previous: The Innovations of Hobie

Jens Jensen has donated a stack of 45s to add to our growing record collection. WIth over 50 records and sleeves, there are singles by well-known groups like The Beach Boys, and The Ventures, as well as Japanese imports and other rarities.

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Steve Wilkings gets inducted into the Surfer's Walk of Fame

April 2, 2012, 11:56 pm

≫ Next: QUIKSILVER WATERMAN COLLECTION SIGNS ON WITH SURFING HERITAGE VINTAGE SURF AUCTION

≪ Previous: Remember 45s?

photo: Sharon Marshall

On Saturday, April 7, our Photo Archivist, Legendary Surf Photographer Steve Wilkings was inducted into the Hermosa Beach Surfer's Walk of Fame. Here's a write up on that event. (PS, we consider Steve to be one of our most valuable "Gems" around here).

Two enshrined on Hermosa Beach Surfers Walk of Fame

By Robb Fulcher

Steve Wilkings and Mark Levy check out the plaques that will bear their names on the Surfers Walk of Fame. Photo by Mike Balzer

Dazzling golden sunshine bathed former U.S. Surfing Champion Mark Levy and widely published surf photographer Steve Wilkings as they were formally inducted onto the Hermosa Beach Surfers Walk of Fame in a Saturday ceremony at the foot of the city pier.

Wilkings grew misty-eyed when he offered “a special thank you” to another Walk of Fame inductee, surf photographer Leroy Grannis, who passed away last year.

“He was my mentor,” Wilkings said. “It’s hard to think of him passing. He was a wonderful man.”

Wilkings, a third generation Hermosan, surveyed his picture-postcard surroundings.

“What more could you ask for…This was a wonderful place to grow up,” he said.

He recounted working at an aquarium that once stood south of the pier, near where Scotty’s on the Strand restaurant is located, and seeing his first published photo in “Surfer” magazine in 1964.

“I thought, this is great, this is fun,” he said.

Wilkings’ parents let him turn the family bathroom into a darkroom to develop his photos. Local surfers would wait outside for proof sheets and choose shots to buy from Wilkings for $1.

“When I think back on it, it was kind of funny, because we only had one bathroom,” Wilkings said, recalling the occasional urgent knocking from a family member who would have to wait for photos to develop before the door could be opened and light allowed in.

Wilkings developed a system to mount cameras on the tails of surfboards, and shoot photos from behind the surfer, from inside the tube to the outside, using a remote control device from the beach.

A July 1965 photo by Steve Wilkings captures Mike Stevenson, Steve Clark, Alfred Laws and Richard Crawford in Hermosa Beach.

He helped chronicle a golden age of Hermosa surfing in the 1960s before moving to Oahu, Hawaii to photograph high-paying surf competitions there.

Wilkings served as a senior staff photographer for Surfer magazine for a decade, and his images have appeared in Time, Life, People, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone and Surfers Journal magazines, as well as in numerous books.

Levy took to the podium following a glowing introduction by his brother Derek, also a noted waterman.

“I was wondering who he was talking about,” Levy joked.

The Hermosa native praised Wilkings’ distinctive and eye-grabbing magazine photos, and took his turn waxing expansive upon the town.

“We live in such a cool place…such a beautiful playground, and the people are so nice,” he said.

“I am deeply moved to be a part of this. This is really cool,” Levy said.

He expressed gratitude for his family and for surfing mentors, including his brother, who shows “no fear” in big waves. Levy noted his brother’s strong finish in the Legends division of the recent Dive N’ Surf South Bay Boardriders Club contest, which was won by Walk of Fame inductee Mike Purpus, once a top-ranked pro.

“Nobody else from here has done what Mike Purpus has done,” Levy said.

He cited Purpus as a key influence.

“Purpus could turn like nobody’s business,” Levy said.

Levy reeled off a long list of wins and high finishes in the 1970s, and won the U.S. Junior Men’s Surfing Championship in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in 1974. He was named “Best Californian Surfer” in the October 1974 issue of Surfer magazine. The Jacobs “Tiger Tail” surfboard is his signature model.

He finished second in the 32-mile Catalina Classic paddleboard race in 1976, paddled the length of the 1,100-mileCaliforniacoastline, and paddled the English Channel along with six other members of the South Bay Paddleboard Club.

He participated in adventure paddles at Loch Ness, Manhattan Island, New York, and an ill-fated Florida-to-Cuba relay. Out of the water, Levy finished the Boston Marathon in 2 hours and 48 minutes.

The inductees were draped in flower leis and presented with bronze plaques that will be affixed to the pier.

Posted in the April 12, 2012 edition of The Easy Reader News

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QUIKSILVER WATERMAN COLLECTION SIGNS ON WITH SURFING HERITAGE VINTAGE SURF AUCTION

April 3, 2012, 5:02 pm

≫ Next: Terry Martin RIP

≪ Previous: Steve Wilkings gets inducted into the Surfer's Walk of Fame

QUIKSILVER WATERMAN COLLECTION SIGNS ON WITH SURFING HERITAGE VINTAGE SURF AUCTION.
Theme is "California Gold"; Auction set for May 11, 2013; Randy Rarick to Emcee

APRIL 3, 2012, (SAN CLEMENTE, CA.) -- -- The Surfing Heritage Foundation is proud to announce that Quiksilver Waterman Collection has signed on as presenting sponsor for the Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction. The auction will benefit the Surfing Heritage, and will take place on May 11, 2013 at the Orange County Fairgrounds in the new state-of-the-art events building "The Hangar".

"Quiksilver and the Quiksilver Waterman Collection has a solid history with Randy Rarick's Hawaiian Surf Auction, and we're excited to be involved with the latest incarnation, the Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction," said Peter Mel, Quiksilver Waterman Collection Marketing Director. "Our crew of waterman, from Mark Healey to Mel Pu'u to Jamie Mitchell, and the entire Quiksilver family, believe very strongly in the preservation of surfing's heritage, and we look forward to an exciting auction."

Randy Rarick, a member of the Surfing Heritage Auction Advisory Committee, is offering his auction expertise to the Surfing Heritage and will also serve as the emcee of the Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection.

"I've been a big fan and supporter of the Surfing Heritage for many years," said Rarick. "As I pass the auction torch to them, I'm excited to know that Quiksilver Waterman Collection is again the presenting sponsor. I look forward to an exciting auction for a great cause, the preservation of our surfing heritage."

"California Gold" is the theme of the Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection. Surfboards and memorabilia with a California flair from the '20s through the '70s. The Surfing Heritage Auction Advisory Committee has already coalesced a solid selection of "Gold" from various sellers and are actively searching for more. The committee is anticipating between 50 - 60 pristine vintage surfboards for the live auction and at least 40 items for the silent auction.

In addition to the auction, there will also be a VIP cocktail reception on Friday May 10, 2013 (location tbd).

The Surfing Heritage Auction Advisory Committee consists of Fernando Aguerre, Bolton Colburn, Spencer Croul, Keith Maynard Eshelman, Barry Haun, Robert C. Mardian, Dick Metz, Steve Pezman, Dan Pincetich, Randy Rarick, Boyd Scofield, Erwin Spitz and Carey Weiss. The auction's executive producer is Scott Bass of SWB Inc.

Please put the Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection on May 11, 2013 on your calendar now.

About QUIKSILVER

Quiksilver is committed to providing tools for uncovering, expressing and expanding your personal style. Our aim is to foster the sense of individual expression and excitement - the stoke that is the essence of boardriding*. We're also here to spread the word because the only thing better than finding stoke is sharing it.

*Boardriding is about timing and style. It's youthful, active, casual, and free flowing. There is no wrong way to ride a board. The goal is simply to learn, progress, improve, and give it your own interpretation.

Quiksilver Waterman Collection - Spring 2012

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Terry Martin RIP

April 4, 2012, 1:42 pm

≫ Next: Hollow Hawaiian Surfboard, circa 1935

≪ Previous: QUIKSILVER WATERMAN COLLECTION SIGNS ON WITH SURFING HERITAGE VINTAGE SURF AUCTION

photo: Glenn Sakamoto/Liquid Salt Magazine

The surfing world lost one of it's great treasures on May 12, 2012, with the passing of legendary shaper, Terry Martin. Terry was a gem of a human being and unquestionably had shaped more surfboards than anyone else by the tens of thousands. Terry was irreplaceable and will be missed by anyone who had the fortune of crossing his path or riding one of his surfboards. A service was held on Friday, May 18, with over 1,000 in attendance and then 400 plus attended the fundraiser auction at the Dana Point Ocean Institute, 2 days later. Some amazing boards and artwork now reside in private hands. A replica of the first board Terry shaped (which was also the last one he shaped as part of the auction) was a huge fundraising item and it will remain part of Terry's family and will be displayed at the Dana Point Hobie Store.

The Surfer's Journal has a couple articles you can read HERE: and HERE.

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Hollow Hawaiian Surfboard, circa 1935

April 5, 2012, 2:49 pm

≫ Next: Shark!

≪ Previous: Terry Martin RIP

Robert Wengert donated this amazing circa 1935, 10’ Hawaiian surfboard. It’s pretty unique in shape and in the fact that it’s a redwood board that’s been hollowed out, reinforced with ribs and then skinned over with plywood, weighing 47 lbs. The fin was probably added when the hollowing-out took place. Painted on the deck is “Yokwe-Yok” with “Erik Auri” below that (possibly the previous board owner’s name). This board will become part of our timeline on the evolution of board design display. Photo: Linda Michael

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Shark!

April 21, 2012, 5:01 pm

≫ Next: THE DESCENDANTS: AN EVENING WITH KAUI HART HEMMINGS

≪ Previous: Hollow Hawaiian Surfboard, circa 1935

Guess what makes those kinds of marks in a surfboard–"biters"–not our favorites. Still, if surfers or people in general were on Whitey's menu, we'd be disappearing right and left. That doesn't bring us too much comfort when we're the first to paddle out in the morning on a foggy day. We've got this board on loan and display, here at SHF. Photo: Linda Michael

Who: John Forse

What: 18' Great White shark attack (determined by bite in John's leg and tooth marks left in the board by Ralph Collier - shark expert)

Where: Gleneden Beach, OR

When: April 22, 1998

Why: Mistaken identity??

Details: John was surfing and his first reaction was that it was a seal. The shark pulled John under by his leg and John started hitting it with his fist and the shark released him and John shot to the surface. The shark surfaced too and was looking at him, John said he was as big as a Volkswagon across and he was about an arm's length from its dorsal fin then the shark dove under and John's leash was caught in the shark's jaws so he was dragged under again and he thought this is the end but just as he thought that the shark bit through the leash and John made it to the surface and was able to paddle in despite his injury! He said " I think the shark was as freaked out as I was!" (We have some doubts about that).

Teeth marks in the wetsuit (they correspond to the board and stitches in John's leg. Photo: Linda Michael

One of several newspaper articles on the event.

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THE DESCENDANTS: AN EVENING WITH KAUI HART HEMMINGS

April 30, 2012, 11:08 am

≫ Next: Additional Happy Beach Bums From San Onofre

≪ Previous: Shark!

Photos from our The Descendants event
CLICK HERE

The Descendants' author, Kaui Hart Hemmings and her father, first Hawaiian World Surfing Champion and retired Hawaii State Senator, Fred Hemmings. Photo: Sharon Marshall

SHF co-founder Spencer Croul, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, SHF founder Dick Metz, retired Hawaii State Senator Fred Hemmings, and Howard Hills (Rohrabacher's assistant). Photo: Sharon Marshall

Thank you to Kaui, Senator Hemmings, our sponsors and volunteers, and all the guests for helping to make this a very special evening to remember!

With support from

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Additional Happy Beach Bums From San Onofre

May 13, 2012, 2:09 pm

≫ Next: Any color as long as it's black

≪ Previous: THE DESCENDANTS: AN EVENING WITH KAUI HART HEMMINGS

A Sano Story

You never know what you might stumble upon when visiting the Surfing Heritage Foundation. Earlier this year I stopped by to ask Steve Wilkings (SHF Photo Archivist) about some of the photographs he was scanning and cataloging. Steve pulled out a very unique collection of photos that had just been donated and began telling me how amazing this collection really was. It was a scrapbook of sorts with Polaroid snapshots of families and individuals that frequented San Onofre during the early to mid-sixties. Below each photo he would write names, address, phone number and occupation. He had just finished scanning each of the photos and documenting and cataloging information about each and every photo. I asked him if he could show me an example and he randomly pulled one up on his Mac to show me. Steve could not have helped notice the surprise in my eyes. The photo was of the Atkinson family of San Clemente. They were one of the first families we got to know when our family moved here in 1962. My brother and I were very fortunate to join the Atkinson family and other San Onofre Surf Club members on trips to San Onofre during the 60’s.

It’s funny how one story invariably links together with multitudes of other equally unique and poignant. The Atkinson family also invited my brother Malcolm and me on an annual pilgrimage to the Colorado River. Over the years we managed to navigate our canoes down the Colorado from Black Water Canyon to Yuma Arizona.

The station wagon (the “Beach Wagon”) seen in the photo at left, was not only used to tote surfboards to San O’, but ferry us to the Colorado River on annual week-long expeditions. If you look carefully you can see numerous San O’ stickers on the front windshield. I believe one of the canoes strapped on top of the Beach Wagon belonged to Ron Drummond. Drummond was legendary for surfing canoes on some very large days at Killer Dana and other spots up and down the California coastline. DJ Atkinson became friends with Ron and would frequently borrow a couple of Ron’s canoes for his annual trek to the river…but that’s another story all together. –Duncan Wilson

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Any color as long as it's black

May 13, 2012, 5:00 pm

≫ Next: Don Thomas

≪ Previous: Additional Happy Beach Bums From San Onofre

Tim Bessell dropped by a few weeks back to donate this early 70s Bodyglove wetsuit, still in cherry condition. He also gave us a preview of the Warhol boards he's been working on. Thanks Tim (when ya gonna donate one of those?) http://www.bessellsurf.com/artist_series.php

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Don Thomas

May 13, 2012, 5:49 pm

≫ Next: Da Cat

≪ Previous: Any color as long as it's black

Dear Friends of Don:

I know many of you are not cruisers, but others of you are, including some other old friends we have known, and we just wanted to share with all of you a letter Jim just wrote to Latitude 38, a magazine all us cruisers read, write to and stay connected through no matter where we are or whether we are still cruising. We know Don will still be checking in to the section entitled Changes in Latitudes and we just want to make sure he knows how much we all miss him. Be safe all of you.

Don Thomas, single-handed skipper of s/v Tamure (Peterson 44), and our weatherman supreme on the Pacific side of Central and South America for years, died last week in Newport Beach, CA. He had been suffering from throat cancer since last year. Don was a great weatherman and a truly wonderful friend.

My wife Leslee and I (aboard Trilogy, our Cal 2-46) first picked up Don's weather in El Salvador or Costa Rica in 2002, and stayed glued to the SSB every morning for years after to tune in and get the real thing from Don. Don didn't just read weather reports he picked up from NOAA or someone else's service; he ran weatherfaxes and raw chart data numerous times throughout the day, every day, then gave us an analysis based upon his experience as a military meteorologist and a cruiser for many years, including lots of local weather, tide and current information you only get from someone who's been there. And he was efficient. Some days we would hear "if you like what you've got today, you'll like tomorrow even better." Enough said. Other days, he would warn of bad things to come, tell us why in detail, give us his thoughts about leaving or hunkering down, and stay with us if we were getting beat up out there on a passage, just needing to talk. If Don said it was going to blow like stink, it did, if he said it was going to blow "woo woo", we put out more rode, shortened sail or hove to, and settled in to ride it out. I remember well a time when he gave a very strong warning to a boat NOT to set out across the Tehuanepec on a northbound passage the following week. When the boat went anyway, Don stayed with them on the radio every day, every night, helping the crew get through a really bad blow, and never once any hint of "I warned you" or "I told you so," just hours of calm and patient cruiser-talk.

We actually met Don for the first time in person at Bahia Honda, in Panama, between Christmas and New Year in 2002. We pulled in, dropped the hook, looked around and I told Leslee, "look, it's Tamure, let's go introduce ourselves." We did, and it led to ten years of friendship. At the little village on Isla Cana, in the Pearl Islands of Panama, Don was known among the local fishermen as "Standup Man", the single-hander gringo who always drove his dinghy standing up as he moved from dive spot to dive spot and to fish around the islands. I don't know anyone who spent more time in the water. And, the name was apt, in both languages and with both meanings; Don was, in all ways, a "Standup" man.

We miss Don terribly, as will all his cruiser friends from his years on Tamure. So, Standup Man, our very good amigo, we wish for you fair winds (no woo woo), following seas and a very safe passage out there.

Jim Massey and Leslee Bangs

s/v Trilogy

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Da Cat

May 13, 2012, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: Innovations of Hobie • Parts 1 & 2

≪ Previous: Don Thomas

Unquestionably one the most infamous of the famous (or is it the other way around) surfers ever, Miklos Sandor Dora, a.k.a. Miki "Da Cat" Dora, a.k.a. "The Black Knight," was one of surfing's most colorful characters. Miki was a study in contrasts, a zen-like smoothness that was anything but Buddhist like when it came to sharing his waves. Railing against the destruction of his beloved lifestyle, he wasn't above receiving a paycheck for being an extra in Hollywood's Beach Blanket Bingo false portrayals of that said lifestyle. Miki was our surfing enigma—loner, world traveler, fugitive, and follower of his own drum—perhaps "Exiled Prince" would be a more fitting title. In 2002, Miki succumbed to his battle with the big "C" at his father's home in Motecito, California. If you ever get the chance, ask Greg Noll about his relationship with Miki and see if the big wave legend doesn't get a little quiet as he shares a tale or two about his good friend. These two boards come to us by way of Miki's ex-girlfriend, Cecilia Clouse, who agreed with Miki's family that the boards should come to the Surfing Heritage Foundation. They look to be circa late '70s-early '80s. One is a 7'7" silver Bruce Jones, and the other is an 8'8" Bill Shrosbree Fresh Pineapple (complete with a black paw logo). Both are single fins and still have the leashes attached. Pretty darn cool.

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Innovations of Hobie • Parts 1 & 2

May 14, 2012, 1:08 pm

≫ Next: Post Event News

≪ Previous: Da Cat

You can see an expanded online version of our Innovations of Hobie exhibit by clicking HERE. Part 2 is also up now and can be seen HERE. Part 3 is coming soon!

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Post Event News

July 16, 2012, 5:20 pm

≫ Next: Velzy's Shop

≪ Previous: Innovations of Hobie • Parts 1 & 2

Thank You Christian, Patagonia, Daphne's, Primo, Longboard Vineyards, Hawaiian Spring Waters, volunteers, and everyone that came out for this great event!

CLICK HERE to view photos from the event.

photo: Dillon Joyce

Christian Beamish

Christian Beamish came to the Surfing Heritage Foundation with his boat Cormorant in tow, and read from his new book The Voyage of the Cormorant (Patagonia Books), talking about how small boat voyaging came about as a natural extension of his surfing life.

The story of building Cormorant, his 18-foot Shetland Isle beach boat, learning to sail her, and then departing from San Diego for a solo surf trip down the Pacific coast of Baja, The Voyage of the Cormorant is also a surfing adventure, with special attention to surfboard design. Heavily influenced by the Simmons keel fin and Pat Curren Waimea gun in the SHF collection, Christian will discuss his combining design elements of both boards, and the link between deepwater sailing and big wave riding.

We have books available for purchase ($27 includes tax).

with support from

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Velzy's Shop

July 24, 2012, 12:35 pm

≫ Next: Surf Art

≪ Previous: Post Event News

This came to us by way of SHF Cub Reporter, Baby Dave Rochlen and comes from the Croul Publications facebook page.

Here’s a little piece of history: a photo of Dale Velzy’s first shop in Manhattan Beach, and the only such picture known to exist.

When our book “Dale Velzy is Hawk” was being produced it was an endless source of frustration to us that we were unable to find a photo of this location. Velzy opened the shop, a former shoe repair just a stone’s throw from the Pier, after he’d been booted off the beach for littering the sand with his balsa wood shavings.

It was the world’s first commercial custom-built surfboard shop, and according to Velzy himself, it was there that he was issued California’s first State Board of Equalization resale (sales tax) number in the category of surfboards.

Our special thanks go out to Don Guild, who took the photo in 1952, and to Don Craig, who helped make it available to us. —Paul Holmes

For the record, we get lots of correspondence regarding Velzy having a shop before Hobie, but Hobie was the first to construct a building specifically for the manufacturing and sale of surfboards. Pacific System Homes, LA Ladder, Rogers, etc. all manufactured boards as supplemental income and Simmons, Quigg and Kivlin worked out an existing building in the Santa Monica/Venice area. Velzy author Paul Holmes informed us that this building pictured here was originally a shoe repair shop that Dale converted into his surf shop.

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Surf Art

July 24, 2012, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Unique Early Hollow Surfboard

≪ Previous: Velzy's Shop

French artist Jean-Marc Lanusse, makes these amazing small sculptures out of mixed media that includes tea bags. Yep, I said tea bags. You can see more of his work here: http://jmlanusse.com/sculpture/

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Unique Early Hollow Surfboard

July 24, 2012, 3:51 pm

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Scott Howlind stopped by with this unique, hollow surfboard, that was recently left in his dumpster! It's 9', 20" wide, 3" thick sloping to the rails, and weighs 28 lbs. It's solid in the nose, ribbed and hollow from about 2 feet back, with no drain plug or fin. The deck and bottom are domed and the rails are straight parallels but have some curve to them, kind of 50/50 and only a inch and a half thick. Looks to be from the '30s or '40s but we're not sure. Anyone out there seen one like it? We had a recent donation of one that was a lot more contoured, this is very plank-like but the domed deck is unusual.

tail detail

nose detail

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