In 1986 CBS 8’s Chris Saunders met up with three seasoned surfers who wanted to start a surf museum.
While they searched for a permanent location, the small exhibit was located in George’s Restaurant in Encinitas. Fast forward to 1993 – CBS 8’s Liz Pursell paid a visit to the California Surf Museum in its Oceanside location. It opened in 1991. Since then it has moved two more times in Oceanside and has been in its third Oceanside and current location since 2009. In March 2011, the California Surf Museum was awarded a coveted Museum Assessment Program grant by the American Association of Museums.
Original script from Aug. 24, 1993:
SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SURFING FOR DECADES–YET THEY DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE SPORT.
IN OCEANSIDE THERE’S A MUSEUM THAT HAS ALL THE DETAILS. NEWS 8’S LIZ PURSELL FOUND PLENTY OF BACKGROUND AND A FEW SURPRISES WHEN SHE DROPPED IN.
LEROY GRANNIS GRABS HIS LONGBOARD AND WADES INTO THE OCEAN. THIS IS A DAILY RITUAL FOR HIM AND AT AGE 76, HE’S STILL HAVING FUN. GRANNIS HAS BEEN RIDING THE WAVES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS AND HE’S BEEN SHOOTING THEM–WITH HIS CAMERA SINCE 1959.
SOME OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHS ARE UP ON THE WALLS OF THE CALIFORNIA SURF MUSEUM ACROSS FROM THE OCEANSIDE PIER.
GRANNIS SAYS, “I saw a lot of the guys surfing and I took pictures.”
” THEY’RE PART OF AN EXHIBIT CALLED THE GOLDEN AGE OF BIG WAVE GUNS–AND IT FEATURES SURFING LEGENDS LIKE MAN SAYS,
“Meet Woody Brown. Good to meet you.”
AT 81—WOODY BROWN IS LIVING IN HAWAII AND SURFING EVERY WEEK.
WOODY BROWN SAYS, “I love the beauty of the water and the mountains. You feel so close to nature or God or whatever you call it.”
THERE’S A LOT OF SURFING HISTORY HERE. YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT OR MAYBE YOU CAN HEAR ABOUT IT–FROM SURFERS LIKE WOODY EKSTROM WHO’S FIRST BOARD IN 1941 WAS HIS MOTHER’S IRONING BOARD.
WOODY EKSTROM SAYS, “I talked to a lot of guys who did the same thing. Surfed on their mother’s ironing board? Yes. I started in La Jolla Cove.”
LIZ PURSELL REPORTS, “The museum has been in a couple of locations, but it’s been here across from the Oceanside pier for almost two years. Now, the site is in jeopardy because of redevelopment.”
THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE MUSEUM ARE HOPING FOR A SPOT IN THE NEW REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT. THEY WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO THE OCEAN– IN A SPOT WHERE THEY’RE VISIBLE TO BEACH-GOERS AND WHERE THEY CAN KEEP THEIR EYE ON THE SURF. LIZ PURSELL NEWS 8 OCEANSIDE
CBS 8 is the local source for San Diego breaking news and top story headlines. Get the latest local San Diego TV news, sports, weather and more.
