They just held the official opening of the new Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center in downtown Laguna Beach; it’s an amazing place.
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Over the opening weekend, there was a big gala fundraiser party to kick the doors open and get things going, and I got to go to it. What a great night that was, wow.
Instead of talking about the place, I have already done that, I thought I would tell you about my night at the party. Specifically, about some of the people I saw there and their significance in my own personal surfing history and culture. These are all names you’ll recognize from surfing history and people that I have known for like 50-plus years, some 60-plus.
Mickey Munoz: One of the biggest influences on my surfing career and part of my growing up. We became pals in the early 1960s when he managed the Ole Surfboard Shop in Seal Beach and he and I were the surf team. From then on through most of my pro surfing years, he was a voice of wisdom for me and always looked out for me. He is now 89 and still surfing very well; it’s amazing.
Herbie Fletcher: We went to high school together in Huntington Beach and surfed in the contests together up and down the coast when we were juniors. Our parents used to sit together and watch us. I have always been a fan of his surfing and the all-out “go for it” way he goes about everything. All his kids are fantastic surfers. His wife is a fantastic artist and daughter of the late Walter Hoffman, “the Godfather.” So, they have the really good surf blood in that family.
Joey Cabell: This guy is somebody I have always respected for his incredible skills as a surfer, skier and everything else he does. He is like a precision instrument, tuned to go fast and leave clean lines.
And in the same vein, L.J. Richards: The first U.S. championship I won was in the Juniors in 1963. LJ won the men’s that year. One of the true style masters, along with Skip Frye and Billy Hamilton. It’s always good to see LJ, a really nice guy to be around.
Jericho Poppler: She was sitting with me at our table and really made the night even more fun. She is one of the greatest surfers ever, and as much so or more, she is just one fantastic, fun person. She is from Long Beach, and we have known each other since the ’60s. She is one of those kinds of people that when you first see her, you immediately smile.
Steve Pezman: He was one of the “big guys” when I was a kid. He surfed near my house in Surfside and sometimes would take Mark Martinson and me on surf trips down to “Trestles,” stuffed into the trunk of his car holding on to the boards. He later was my boss when I was advertising director at SURFER magazine for 10 years in the ’70s and ’80s. Speaking of which, Mark “Cubby” Samuels was there too, and is part of the SHACC crew. Mark worked with me in the ad department back then. Great guy and friend.
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Lisa Peterson, daughter of Pete Peterson: Pete was one of the greatest surfers ever and was a good friend when I was growing up. Lisa was just a little kid then and I sort of saw her growing up and learning to surf at San Onofre. She is a great surfer and also a fantastic artist; I follow her work. Always great to see her in person.
Greg MacGillivray: Mr. IMAX. Great is an amazing surf filmmaker from my era and a good pal since we were both young and his parents let me park my car in front of their house in Monarch Bay so I could walk down and surf Salt Creek. Greg was just getting started making surf movies then. Always a wonderful person.
Allan Seymour: One of my true best friends in life and one of surfing’s all-time entrepreneurs. We share a lot of history, and I have always appreciated Allan’s sense of humor and the way he looks at life.
I am running out of space, but have a few more people I want to mention, ones who have left a mark on my life and I got to see that night.
Dick Metz, 97-year-old teenager and surf legend. Don Craig, owner of Old Guys Rule and one of the best and smoothest surfers ever. Jeff Alter, son of Hobie Alter and a cool guy who I have known since he was like 5 years old — Banzi Betty, my high school girlfriend, used to babysit him and Hobie Jr. Dave “Baby Dave” Rochlen, Malibu legend from the ’60s and member of the legendary Rochlen surfing family.
Also, Gerry Lopez. What can I say about Gerry? The guy is beyond the average surf legend. I love Gerry. He was one of many speakers that night, and his was the shortest and the best; it left me laughing the rest of the night. Peter “PT” Townend, former World Champ and good pal since we met in Australia in 1970. PT is the person who recommended me for this job writing for the OC Register more than 30 years ago.
Leo Hetzel, one of the Long Beach crew, along with Steve Pezman from the early ’60s, who used to surf by my house. Leo is an amazing photographer and was there taking photos that night. And Shaun Tomson, another world champ and fantastic person who I first got to know when he was a kid and surfing on the South African team at the ’72 World Contest in San Diego. This guy is a spreader of good and a real positive energy in Surfing.
If you get a chance, you really should check out the new Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center, it is more than worth your time.