Stories

Vicky spent her teenage years surfing with her mother: they sat next to each other in the line-up, awaiting the next promising wave; they traveled to promote women’s surfing; they won competitions.…

Mike Richardson’s credentials would land him securely in the Encyclopedia of Shapers — if there was such a reference book. From the late 60s on, Mike left his mark on thousands of boards. He’s probably…

The Makai board has been on display at CSM for several years. It is solid redwood, a classic Alaia shape, and its obvious age earned it a spot in the Timeline exhibit,…

In 2018, California Surf Museum volunteer Bill Schildge and staff member Jared Henderson road-tripped up the California Coast to San Francisco on a journey to bring back a legendary board. The 1952…

Bob Spickard of The Chantays, a 1960’s surf rock band, tells how they came up with the name for their number one hit “Pipeline.” The Chantays Story It all started in 1961…

Thoughts on our recent run of epic winter surf Well mid-December through late January 2021 was a magical time to be a surfer.....with historic runs of NW swells and tasty conditions for…

John “Little John” Richards was born in 1939 and raised in Oceanside, and has been one of San Diego County’s most enduring and respected surf figures. In a career spanning six decades…

Surfing culture is vibrant and alive in O’side! The history surrounding the sport’s lifestyle and uniqueness is spotlighted at none other than Oceanside’s California Surf Museum (CSM)! Since 1986, CSM has worked to preserve…

In our first of what we hope to be many podcasts, premiere shapers Gary Linden and Carl Ekstrom talk about surfboard design with Surf Museum President Jim Kempton - and discuss the…