Oldie: Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum

[billie_morini]

Oldie did more than surf at San O during his recent SoCAl surfing safari. Oldie and lil' sidekick, billie morini, enjoyed an excursion to the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum (https://www.huntingtonbeachsurfingmuseum.org/). Most, if not all, of our forum members know Huntington Beach, California is "Surf City USA." Some of our forum members know the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum is an oyster's pearl.

[billie_morini]

Here's a teaser showing some of the swag billie purchased from the museum. The oil painting print was created by artist Blake as part of his Seaside 70's art series. The surfing figure is OZ's Peter Townsend, known as "PT.". PT was a hot surfing World Champion (e.g., 1st IPS/ASP champion) in the crew that emerged from Coolangatta in the 1970s that also included Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew and Michael Peterson. billie is sure Jaffa is very familiar with these surfing champs.

[billie_morini]

We'll pause here for a brief spell. This will provide Oldie an opportunity to post some museum photos and talk story. Following this, billie may talk a little more story. But, before saying goodnight (¡buenas noches!), there's one thing more to share. Museum docent, Judy Tutu, made the exhibits come alive! "Tutu" is Hawaiian for grandmother. With all the energy and vigor that flowed from Judy when sharing exhibit details and local Surf City history, you'd never imagine she is a tutu!

[billie_morini]

Who knew? A surfboard on display in the museum is memorialized in a 1932 US patent! These early wooden designs are basically small, boats constructed with an internal wood frame and wood exterior. Fun Fact: these board / boats were called "Water Sleds"!

[billie_morini]

First view into museum. By the way, there is no admission fee. The museum management realized they received greater revenue from donations when there is no admission fee. They concluded people are more generous when there is not admission fee.

See the dark wood board to the left? It weighs 57 kg (125 lbs)! This is only 11 kg (25 lbs) less than billie's weight!

See the gray block on the corner pedestal? It was obtained from the original Huntington Beach pier. It's actually the original corner stone and there are two remarkable things about it:
1) The Huntington Beach pier was the first public pier in the USA constructed from concrete
2) The date on this corner stone is 1914

To billie's trained engineering eyes, it is a quality concrete pour.

[billie_morini]

There were additional Water Sleds, too. Here you can see the regular slotted anchor screw heads used in assembly.

[billie_morini]

Here is a tribute specifically to the vintage Gordie's surf shop and surfing clubs like the type that Jaffa experienced in OZ during his youth. In this case, it's the Hole in the Wall Surf Club.

[billie_morini]

This is the world's greatest surf board! It is so large that it is located in the museum parking lot. It is lowered up and down from its pedestal by crane. Length is 13 m (42 ft). Sixty-six (66!) surfers rode it simultaneously into a world record. In Huntington Beach on International Surfing Day, 66 people climbed aboard the world’s largest surfboard and rode it to a new world record.

Video at this link documents the literal and memorable surfing event:
https://www.visitcalifornia.com/dream36 ... ton-beach/

[billie_morini]

This map of early California surfing breaks warms my heart. It's included among museum displays and I've actually surfed some of these breaks.

Who remembers when gasoline was $0.35 per gallon? $0.65 per gallon? billie paid $5.09 per gallon when he returned to Santa Barbara following his SoCAL surfing safari! [1 gallon = 3.8 liters]

[Oldie]

With much already covered by Billie, what to add? It was such a nice visit with charming and enthusiastic people. Some pics I could not add, so here some that did work.

Waves were not so great that day, but very close to the pier a few surfers found some gems:

Us and the Duke:

I loved this small model of SanO in the Museum:

And some posing...

[jaffa1949]

No pier pressure here, A Dutch treat, Oldie and I checked out the north sea version of Sunset beach Scheveningen in Holland.

But they forgot to turn on the offshore windmills! neither old nor new!
I will get to join the international team!

[billie_morini]

More about the small model of San O that Oldie made photo of: The model commemorates Dr. Dorain "Doc" Paskowitz and his family surfing odyssey. The Recreation Vehicle (RV, camper van) located between the yellow and green cars is the Paskowitz family RV! Thatched huts like the one in the model also continue to exist at San O.

Here's a tip for 1st timers at San O: freshwater hoses and showers are located in the bamboo stands located here and there along the beach side of the dirt parking lot.