Dora's Bruce Jones Board

This is a late-'70s Bruce Jones, 7'8.5" rounded diamondtail that was owned and ridden by Miki in Europe. It was donated by Miki's girlfriend, Cece, along with a similar period board that was shaped by Bill Shrosbree on the Fresh Pineapple label. Both are single fins and still had the leashes attached. Always wanted to ask Bruce about the board but procrastinated too long and now will never know. There's a moral in there somewhere. 

Miki surfing at the 1965 Malibu Invitational Surfing Contest. Photo: Ron Stoner/SURFER Magazine Collection

Mick Fanning, 2013 World Champ!

photo: Sharon Marshall

Mick Fanning, 2013 World Champ. This tribute is a little over due, but as they say, “better late than something or other.” Mick only won 1 event during the 2013 season (Quik Pro France) but managed to place high enough throughout the year (a 2^nd in Fiji, 4-3rds, 3-5ths, etc.) to secure his 3^rd World Championship, proving lightning sometimes strikes thrice. This board was secured for us by Sharon Marshall, and was ridden by Mick in 2009 at the Trestles contest, which he won. He then went on to win his second world title (his first was in 2007). We finally tracked Mick down a year later at that same contest and got him to sign the board. Thank you Mick and Sharon! 

The Oldest Surf Contest Still Running

The Brooks St. Surfing Classic was started in 1955 in Laguna Beach, Ca. It is the oldest continuing surf contest in the world. Last year in 2012they celebrated the 50th running of the contest. This is a heat sheet from the very first contest, with quite a few recognizable names posted (our own Dick Metz being among them). This came to us by way of Donnie Crevier (Crevier Classic Cars). There's a Facebook page that's been created for this annual event. https://www.facebook.com/brooksstreetclassic

1965 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational

This shot was taken at the first annual Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surf Contest which began in 1965 and was held at Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu (it was later replaced by the Billabong Pro in 1985). This contest was the first surfing event to be broadcast on a regular basis by ABC's Wide World of Sports. Among those in the shot are Jackie Eberle (legendary surfer), Robert August (Endless Summer), Dick Metz (SHACC founder), Nat Norfleet (founder of Kahala sportswear), and Duke Kahanamoku, at the opening reception, Moana Surfrider, December 13, 1965. Photo: Tim McCullough Collection

Wooden Paddleboard Donated

Amaro Lozano's uncle Claudio Acevedo had this paddleboard for over 40 years. Amaro's wife told him the board needed to go, so rather than chop it up for firewood, Amaro decided Surfing Heritage would be a good home for it. Most likely built sometime in the late-1930s to mid-1940s, this looks to be a well made do-it-yourself model, most likely based off of Tom Blake's blueprints that were produced in Popular Mechanics in 1937. There's a hole on the deck where Claudio had patched it with some bandaids.

But Where's Goofy?

Another Gem from the Takayama Family collection, now on display at the SHACC. Two legends that left too soon—Miklos Sandor Dora and Donald Moke Takayama. Mickey (Miki) and Donald. Photo by Michael Halsband taken at Noosa, Australia, in 2001. There's some heavy tip time taking place up in heaven!

A Simmons Slot made by Greg & Jed Noll

The original Bob Simmons Slot boards are among the most rare and sought-after collectible surfboards. There are only a few in existence, one belonging to the Meistrell family and that is the one this board, made by Greg and Jed Noll was modeled after. Founding Partners and Donor Circle Level Members, Nick and Terri Bacica recently donated this and a beautiful multi-stringered Harbour balsa board. The 3 Amigo collaboration boards (Doc Ball, LeRoy Grannis, and Whitey Harrison) were also made by Greg and Jed and were donated by Nick and Terri.

The original Meistrell board, once owned by Dale Velzy. You can read about it and more about Bob Simmons in our online feature, HERE. Photo: Mike Balzer

Surfer's Choice

So Donald Takayama could shape wicked boards, ride the tip like it's nobody's business, and was such a wicked BBQer, that he and Syd decided to produce and market their own marinades! Here are some excerpts from an LA Times article from back in May, 1990:

No longer does he make the recipe in large drums in his back yard. Gone too are the empty whiskey bottles and gallon jugs he would fill with the dark blend to give to friends. And he no longer markets it at the local surf shops. Now he deals with the largest food distributors on the West Coast. His product line includes the teriyaki sauce (called "Da Kine"), and a sweet and chunky pineapple marinade.
He gets letters almost every day from people describing how they use Surfer's Choice. "Some people dunk doughnuts in it, others put it on their hash browns and eggs. One of my friends can't eat cottage cheese without it, and one guy wrote me saying he even drinks the stuff," Takayama said. Most people use it with fish, poultry and meat dishes either as a sauce or marinade.

Unfortunately, like Donald, the marinades are now relegated to our fond memories. Come celebrate his memory on Nov. 16, his birthday, from 4-7pm at the SHACC. 

$5 admission, FREE for members of SHACC.

You can read the complete LA Times article HERE

A Young Older Ho

There are surfing families and then there are dynasties. The Ho clan definitely falls into the later category. This generation is familiar with Coco Ho and her older brother Mason but before they were even conceived, their father Michael Ho, along with his younger brother Derek (1993 World Champion and holder of 3 Triple Crowns), were fierce competitive forces to be reckoned with (and on any given day, still are). Michael won the Hawaiian Triple Crown, the Duke Classic, the World Cup and the 1982 Pipe Masters and although one associates the Ho name with Hawaii, Michael was in fact born in San Mateo, California. That humble birth did not deter Michael, as you'll note in this description of him from Surfline.com:

The most consistent performer of the past three decades on the heaviest stretch of surf in the world happens to be one of the smallest. At a mere 5'5" and 135 pounds, Michael Ho personally proved size to be of little importance when it comes to bravery on the North Shore. His expertise was not limited to big surf, as he became a highly successful and feared competitor in all conditions, finishing in the ASP Top 16 for 10 consecutive seasons. 

Coco and Mason continue to carry the mantle well. You can read the rest of Michael's write-up on Surfline HERE.

This photo is from the Clarence Maki Collection and was taken July 16, 1972, Michael had just won the Waikiki Junior Surfing Championships, a mere 3 days after his fourteenth birthday. A side note, Don Ho, the famous Hawaiian crooner is Michael and Derek's cousin. 

Early Rick Griffin artwork on display

Rick Griffin (1944-1991) first reveled in the art and politics of the counterculture as a surfer. A teenager in Southern California during the late 1950s and early 1960s, he developed the seminal cartoon-strip character, Murphy, published in Surfer magazine. Griffin's rebellious and prankish cartoon character initiated the surf cartoon genre and helped define the look and voice of the incipient surf culture. Griffin, a pioneer of surf cartoons and psychedelic album-cover art, lived in San Clemente during the 1970s. He died in a 1991 motorcycle accident. Griffin's Quigley murals are among the earliest examples of his surf cartoon art and are among the few murals from this period to have survived.

Nationally recognized architect Rob Quigley grew up in a bedroom in Pacific Palisades lined with these murals painted by artist Rick Griffin. Quigley's work has garnered more than 60 design awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). In 2005, the AIA California Council honored Rob with the Maybeck Award-California's equivalent of the Gold Medal-for three decades of architectural design excellence. Quigley points to Griffin as a strong early influence.

Thank You to Joe Knoernschild for rescuing the artwork which was on the walls of Quigley's former residence (which was being demolished), and to Hal Forsen and John Warren for all their help in transporting, cutting down, and hanging these pieces for display in our museum!

The artwork right before it was removed and the house was torn down, and some of Rick's later work, including "Curse of the Chumash," Murphy, SURFER magazine's "Maui No Ka Oe," and Pacific Vibrations.

Our Supporters are Unique!

One of our "Benefactor Circle Level" supporters recently sent us this photo taken in their yard in Wyoming. For the sake of the moose, the "toreador" shall remain unnamed. We blurred the photo for the rest of our sakes.