Surfing in San Diego 1965 Special Report

July 1965 Mel Knoepp report
A pastime that has been a common way of life for thousands of young men for years, particularly in Southern California, suddenly has gained status. Despite the unfortunate reputation that some shaggy, irresponsible participants have given it-surfing has become a sport. Almost like tennis, golf, or waterskiing. You don’t have to be an expert to stay on a board in moderate waves such as this one. (Of course, the sport becomes even more sporting in the big waves-at Hawaii or Australia. They say those are the mammoth ones that resemble moving Matterhorns. The beach boys and beach bunnies will tell you that there--only the pros need try; only the experts try more than once. Here in Southern California, however, the surf usually is smaller. But when the surf is up everyone from the gremmies (beginners) to the hot doggers (trick artists) is out there on his slab shooting the curl, riding the shoulder. And San Diego has established itself as one of the top surfing spots in the world. The surf isn’t the greatest but many of the surfers are. The Windansea Surf Club for instance has more world champions in its ranks than any other such organization. But then surfing is better organized here than anywhere else in the world. And San Diego stands a chance to get the 1966 Surfing Championships next year. Mayor Frank Curran has sent an invitation to the Us Surfing Association asking that the big event be staged here next summer. It was held in Peru this year. Probably the most unfortunate aspect of the whole sport is the surfer’s image. Surfing clubs such as Windansea under the driving leadership of surfer Thor Svenson have been organized to try to improve that image as well as to stage competition. Traditionally many so-called surfers were nothing more that beach bums: young men and women who had nothing else to do but hang around the shore and when they got restless, cause trouble. Beach area residents know them well: backyard fences broken up and carted off for beach fires, trampled geraniums, beer can littered driveways. But the San Diego police department reports that complaints are becoming fewer in number every year. Says one police captain: “We get much less trouble now from the surfers than in the past. Our new policy might help-when a surfer is cited-we also seize his board for 3 weeks and that really cramps his style.” No wonder this sport is one of the fastest growing athletic endeavors in the world. Anyone can see the thrill, the pure exhilaration of participating in an activity that gives you exercise, fun and excitement. But for every beginner, the lesson has to be learned: stay out of the soup. Some of the more spectacular dives are called pearling as in pearl diving. Generally, this is known as wiping out. A magnificent wipe out is given the euphemistic title of taking gas. Everyone takes gas sometime; the trick is to look dignified doing it. The experts’ credo reads: “Even a wipe out can be achieved gracefully.” When the surfing area is crowded on a rough day-it’s known as a matchstick factory. Some of these shots were taken at Windansea; some at Pacific Beach. Maybe the surf here isn’t as gigantic as Pipeline or Makaha in the islands. And perhaps that’s just as well. Refinements in surfing competition have produced specialties. A recent surfing event featured only nose riding events. The object is to walk forward on the board and see how long you can stay there. In competition the boy staying longest on the nose-the board’s nose-not his-wins. The real expert is the one who can hang 10 and put all 10 toes over the front of the board. As the story goes, surf boarding was invented by the Polynesians back in the 17th century. More certain is the fact that it has been popular in Southern California for dozens of years. And the serious surfers are attempting to straighten out the hodads who have given them all a bad name. The image is improving as the surfers themselves mature.

[@bobfeigel8263]

I'd been surfing 7 years when this was shot and although the waves were more crowded by 1965 I could still get rides on my own.

[@Kendogi]

The optic and sound quality of this film is superior to even the best of what I've seen of the surf films of the '60s. Thanks for sharing this! This takes me back to when I was a grom in 1966...even the school classroom scenes are great and nostalgic. And the interviews with the kids were very well done. Great surf tunes too...really sets the mood.

[@marvinacklin792]

Yes I was there, 10th grade at Helix High, surfed crystal pier, law street, tourmaline and La Jolla shores. Before wetsuits! No leashes. 9’6 Hobie. Remember the first we saw David Nuuhiwa at PB pier.

[@MarcS4R]

that must have been an amazing time

[@lennybobbio35]

Stone Steps Swamis and Beacons for me.

[@chazmorex]

@@lennybobbio35 OB

[@lennybobbio35]

The names I remember, Don Hanson. Donald Takiama lived several houses down the street. He was always showing us 8mm movies of him in Hawaii. Surfed Crystal Pier after college and before starting work as a dishwasher at Casa AlJones restaurant on Garnet.

[@tinfoilhatplumber485]

Don't forget Skip Frye

[@icysurfer1]

Makes me happy to see this. Thx.

[@Moondoggy1941]

Great time, fun time, look like a great bunch of kids.

[@Wherethewindblows524]

No doubt ❤❤

[@icysurfer1]

Dudes really had a handle on how to manoever those big boards, and Hold on to them..! Lovely.

[@channel6sandiego]

Wow these guys wete really good surfers on the long boards...no wet suits. And no leash...just your friends ....thanks cool video...

[@PDZ1122]

Some of the luckiest people ever right there, to be born in the right place, at the right time.

[@sunroy1]

10-12 people was a crowd. Those were the days

[@icysurfer1]

And, they were all friends. Nothing better than being out with friends.

[@Wherethewindblows524]

Love it.

[@gregoryagogo]

11:08 boy-crazy cheerleaders!

[@josephcabrera2789]

Affordable back then to live there

[@chandler2927]

Incredible

[@gregoryagogo]

Guess the students had surfing on their minds.

[@icysurfer1]

Of COURSE...!!

[@GodNGangsters]

I’ve seen that. Thought it was Tourmaline

[@KevinHernandez-qz8sb]

Back when America was skinny!

[@marknewton6984]

Fun ! No tattoos..

[@cosmo1eleven855]

And mostly white

[@joeblow1942]

Simpler times.

[@marknewton6984]

Better times! Girls were prettier..

[@harryknackers7892]

Does the music get any better?

[@tinfoilhatplumber485]

In the mid 70's 6 or 7 of my bros railed pump house and no one around ; now the parking lot is full of kooks... left for Oregon in 1999 and never looked back at 64 now

[@SoulDaddy33]

Looks like Mike Hyson waxing his board at the very end.

[@regisbr1450]

It is Mike Hynson.

[@SammySnead]

1965 surfing was great, but turmoil and war soon followed.

[@markdinkel-uh2je]

I was in 1st grade

[@hodady1]

What's the first song and by who?

[@rdeezer9845]

[@cbs8sandiego]

Part 1 Todos Santos Mexico 1965 kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKfZqqyBnNZmrpI

[@bjbhehir]

You can tell fast food wasn't invented yet, everyone is skinny!!

[@michaeldavis9774]

With all the surfing music you could pick, did it ever occour to you that the top surfing music came right from here. In Dell Mar, before they got big and moved north. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4DUg3p7p9Weiac

[@robertreber8296]

I was a hodad. Surfers were a nuisance.

[@dudeleboski2692]

Where are all the Afro-Americans in the group study?

[@bonsummers2657]

… and others...

[@bjbhehir]

probably doing whatever they liked to do in 1965?

[@cosmo1eleven855]

Surfing was a white and Hawaiian thing