San Diego real estate blog - Peter Toner

Before there were “surfer” clothes and trendy logos, there were innovative San Diegans surfing the San Diego coast without wetsuits or designer board shorts. These surfers rode boards that cost no more than a few dollars and quite possibly weighed almost as much as they did.

Authors John Elwell and Jane Schmauss have captured this once lost memory and have compiled the book “Surfing in San Diego” a tribute to the surfing culture that arose in San Diego from its first sightings in 1907 up to 1960. Surfing dates back to 1,000 A.D. in Hawaii, but it wasn’t until 1907 that George Freeth an Irish-Hawaiian brought surfing to Redondo Beach. San Diegans quickly caught on to this new phenomenon and it became a beloved past time for all ages.

The book captures this in both print and vintage photographs of San Diego’s surfer’s of yester year. Many of the photographs in the book are courtesy of the California Surf Museum (CSM), in which Jane Schmauss co-founded in 1986. The book launch is at Trophy’s Restaurant and Sports Bar on Sunday, August 5th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. All proceeds from the book sales will go to the California Surf Museum, further ensuring that the wonderful images of San Diego’s surfing past, present and future will continue to be available for all to enjoy.

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