Pristine Dana Point

Here's a shot of "Killer Dana" on more of a perfect rather than killer day, back before the harbor, piers, or any other man-made obstructions. They say the diving was "killer" too!

This is a slightly more recent shot, illustrating the crystal clarity of the water. That's Gordon Clark's (of Clark Foam) A-Frame on the hill side. Photos from the collection of Jim Gilloon. You can click on the photos to see them in greater detail, please be aware these images are ©2013 Surfing Heritage and watermarked and may not be reproduced without permission.

Dewey Weber Exhibit

Exhibit Now Closed

The much-anticipated biography of flamboyant surfing legend Dewey Weber (1938-1993) is the inspiration for an exhibition at Surfing Heritage Foundation. 
The exhibition, Little Man On Wheels, is curated by Barry Haun and consists of key surfboards (such as the Dewey Weber Performer, the single most produced longboard model in the history of surfing), photographs, illustrations, and other objects that punctuate the development of Dewey Weber as an iconic surfer, millionaire businessman, and tireless industry promoter.

The 215-page, fully illustrated book by author Gerald B. Derloshon includes a foreword by 1966 World Champion Nat Young and an introduction by pioneering big wave rider Greg Noll, and photographs by surfing's acclaimed master lensman LeRoy Grannis. 

You can still order a copy of the book, just CLICK HERE

This exhibit was made possible through the generous support of
John Mazza, Founder of Malibu Surfing Museum at Pepperdine

San Onofre, Easter 1944

Left to right - John Biehl, Ken Haygood, Jack "Woody" Ekstrom, and Brian Smith, sitting in the shallows at San Onofre on Easter in 1944. Surfing slowed way down during this period—the war years—with some beaches closed off with barbed wire, in anticipation of an enemy attack. Photo courtesy of the Ken Haygood collection. Approximately 353 items are in this collection and are being scanned for archiving here at Surfing Heritage.

Vicki William's Balsa Kivlin Semi Gun

Vicki Flaxman (Williams–she is married to Van Williams, TV’s Green Hornet) was one of a handful of female Malibu surfers back in the late 1940s-early 1950s, along with Claire Cassidy, Aggie Bane (Quigg), Darilyn Zanuck (movie mogul Darryl Zanuck’s daughter) and Robin Grigg (Ricky Grigg’s sister). Vicki started surfing in 1949, her first session was tandem surfing with legendary waterman Pete Peterson and her first board was shaped by legendary craftsman, Joe Quigg.

The wood for this board was purchased at General Veneer in 1954, where it was glued up and then brought home and shaped in the backyard by Malibu legend Matt Kivlin. Bunny Kahanamoku painted the tiki on the deck (are you starting to see a “celebrity surfer” pattern here?). Taking the board on one of her annual summer sojourns to Hawaii; Rabbit Kekai saw the board and was anxious to ride it. He gave it his “thumbs up” approval. With the addition of this board donated by Vicki, we now have a well-rounded quiver of Kivlin balsas; this semi gun, a Malibu Chip, and a Makaha model. Our 4th Kivlin, another balsa “Chip” will be put up for auction on May 11, 2013.

Pictured clockwise from above: Vicki Williams and Claire Cassidy. Vicki and Buzzy Trent, Malibu. Aggie Quigg and Vicki. Vicki and Robin Grigg.