Rory Russell listened to the Hawaiian music piping through the tents set up at Doheny State Beach.
“Hearing the Hawaiian music is making me extremely homesick,” said Russell, a two-time Pipeline Master. “It’s neat to see everyone come together. Just another fun day at the beach.”
Russell – considered Hawaii’s best surfer in the mid-70s – set up a few special edition boards and was just one of the head turners at this year’s Surf-a-Rama event.
The event drew more than 40 venders, and this year the turn out exceeded the organizer’s expectations. Surf-a-Rama, in its second year, is a fundraiser for the state so Doheny can get its Interpretive Center up and running again. It was shut down after mold was found.
Longboarder Joe Aaron was out there showcasing some of his amazing artwork. By the way, keep an eye on this kid – the 17 year old has an amazing entrepreneurial spirit, with his own surfboard and fin models. He just got back from Japan promoting them, and also recently launched his Web site, joemotion.com.
Tom Joliet brought his longboard, which he made from cactus he found between Laguna and San Clemente (keep an eye out for a story on that one).
Old photos of Killer Dana were set out for people to appreciate, classic surf music blared all day, and the $6 barbeque tri tip was off the hook!
The read Gidget – Kathy Kohner Zuckerman – was there signing books, a reissued version of the novel her father wrote based on her life in Malibu.
Jennifer Gow, on vacation from Australia, came to the event to meet Gidget. She is, after all, the OZ version of the surfing icon. When Gow was 16, back in 1963, she won a Gidget contest in Australia after being persuaded by her surfer brother to enter the promotional event for the film “Gidget goes to Rome.” She won a trip to Rome out of it.
“I couldn’t believe it, to travel all this way and meet the real Gidget,” Gow said. “It was something that brought back all the memories that go to sleep for a while. The 60s were such a great time with the surf music and all.”
Her husband, Peter, was enjoying all the old surfing memorabilia.
“It’s like a real time trip into another era,” he said.
Spectators strolled in the parking lot area, where a few dozen classic Woodie cars were parked.
Denis Tintle of Dana Point stopped to look at the interior of a 1948 Chevy, a similar car to what his dad had when he was growing up. They’d load up their 5 boys and 3 girls, with Tintle in the middle.
“We had to count heads to make sure we didn’t leave anyone behind,” he said. “It takes me back to my teenage years.”
“Rough Water” Pier Swim:
I get the same question every year: Why aren’t you doing it?
My excuse is because I have to take notes and can’t get my notebook wet. The real reason is because I’m not crazy like the 350 or so people who showed up to swim around the Huntington Beach pier last Saturday.
First of all, it was still super cold at 66 degrees and no wetsuits allowed.
Second, Matt Sagehorn and Keith Ryan both saw a SHARK dangling above their heads as they swam under a guy who nabbed a 3-footer. Then the line broke, sending the shark right next to them. No doubt they swam a bit faster after seeing that.
Then, Huntington lifeguard Mike Sullivan had blood seeping from his arm after the current pulled him into one of the pier pilings.
Keith Ryan, who came in first and is the record holder from last year, nearly had the same fate as he swam in neck-to-neck with Sagehorn, who for the second year had to settle for second place.
Ok, do you see why I stay on the sand?
Well, big congrats for those who were brave enough to do the swim, like 12-year-old Collin Vernon, who barely made the cut off age for the event.
John Ziebarth, 65, was also a first timer. He recently bought a swimming pool, and had been practicing.
“I don’t expect to live at the end of the day,” he said, chuckling. “That’s what the red cap is for, so they can pull me out. Besides, I float… not like these skinny people.”
International Surfing Day
If you need a good excuse to ditch work or school Friday, International Surfing Day is here! Head out to Huntington Beach on Friday, where local Surfrider chapters, Surfing Magazine, PacSun and the Christian Surfers of Huntington and Newport will be gathering to grub, hang out, surf, and help clean up the coast.
The party is being held at Tower 2 at the end of Brookhurst Street and starts at 7 a.m., lasting until about 7 p.m. Paddle outs held at 7:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Beach clean ups start at 9 a.m., and held every three hours after. See you out there!
For more info, check out surfingthemag.com.