SoCal's 1st Surfer Back at HB Pier After 100 Years
Photo by Chris MacDonald
Huntington Beach Beaches: 
By C. MacDonald
100 years ago, the legendary George Freeth demonstrated surfing for the first time to amazed people in Huntington Beach, CA. An artistic surfboard, created in his honor as part of "Surfboards on Parade," is now being exhibited at The Surf City Store on the Pier until August 17th.
The darker sequoia wood on the 6-foot-2 alai'a board is more than 1,000 years old! The board, which features Freeth's portrait and more, was shaped by Jon Wegener. Nathan Paul Gibb's acrylic art is impressive, showing Freeth rising from the ocean in front of the Pacific Electric Railway's Big Red Car logo.
The legendary surfer, known as "The Hawaiian Wonder," was hired by Huntington Beach's namesake, Henry Huntington, to promote surfing in HB, Redondo Beach and Venice. He would ride on Huntington's Pacific Electric Railway's Big Red Car to his destinations, then stun onlookers by surfing big waves while standing on a board. This unique phenomenon became a sensation, drawing interest to areas where Huntington was selling houses.
Famous Author Jack London, who had seen Freeth surf, called him "1/2 Hawaiian, 1/2 Irish and 1/2 Greek god" (a phrase written on the board). Indeed he was. He went on to become SoCal's first official lifeguard and invented the "Torpedo Rescue Can," still being used to save lives today!
"The surfboard also has four hidden 78s--the number of people he saved from drowning along the California Coast," said Jodi McKay of Event Fusion, the non-profit promoters of Surfboards on Parade. "On the board, the kelp around him forms the HB Pier and 1914 reminds us of when he first surfed here."
"We're honored to have the beautiful George Freeth board at our pier location, especially since it's his centennial of surfing on the waves below us," said Bud Wescott, co-owner of Surf City Store, where surfers and tourists shop from around the world. "The whole Surfboards on Parade concept is incredible, not only raising money for charity but preserving the history of Surf City!"
Surfboards on Parade has 28, one-of-a-kind surfboards, created by some of the world's greatest shapers and artists. From now through August 17th, the boards are located around town in a variety of places, including City Hall, the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, Waterfront Hilton, Huntington Surf and Sport, Jack's Surfboards, Dukes, Hyatt Regency, Woodys Diner (Sunset Beach), Fred's Mexican Restaurant, El Ranchito, Hoag Medical Group, Main St. Wine Company, Aloha Grill, SeaLegs Wine Bar, Beach City Brewery, Havaians, Sandy's, Fuzion, HB Art Center and Shorebreak Hotel.
At 1pm, June 8th, during the Surfin' Sunday Concert at the Pier, the last surfboard will be unveiled, shaped by Steve Boehne, with art by Dean Torrance, including his famous Jan and Dean hit, "Surf City" record, which is actually incorporated into the board. This will be placed in Starbucks.
From August 30th to September 20th, all of the Surfing on Parade boards will be at the HB Art Center. On October 4th, there will be a spectacular "Night of a Million Waves" Gala Art Auction and Awards Ceremony at the Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort.
Proceeds benefit Hoag Family Cancer Institute to support skin cancer education and research, as well as the founder of the event, the Rotary Club of Huntington Beach and the HB Art Center.
Congratulations to the many sponsors and volunteers, who made this worthwhile promotion possible, including, The Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort, Shorebreak Hotel, Hyatt Regency, Dukes, The Heck Foundations, Rainbow Environmental Services, The Local News and others.
By C. MacDonald
100 years ago, the legendary George Freeth demonstrated surfing for the first time to amazed people in Huntington Beach, CA. An artistic surfboard, created in his honor as part of "Surfboards on Parade," is now being exhibited at The Surf City Store on the Pier until August 17th.
The darker sequoia wood on the 6-foot-2 alai'a board is more than 1,000 years old! The board, which features Freeth's portrait and more, was shaped by Jon Wegener. Nathan Paul Gibb's acrylic art is impressive, showing Freeth rising from the ocean in front of the Pacific Electric Railway's Big Red Car logo.
The legendary surfer, known as "The Hawaiian Wonder," was hired by Huntington Beach's namesake, Henry Huntington, to promote surfing in HB, Redondo Beach and Venice. He would ride on Huntington's Pacific Electric Railway's Big Red Car to his destinations, then stun onlookers by surfing big waves while standing on a board. This unique phenomenon became a sensation, drawing interest to areas where Huntington was selling houses.
Famous Author Jack London, who had seen Freeth surf, called him "1/2 Hawaiian, 1/2 Irish and 1/2 Greek god" (a phrase written on the board). Indeed he was. He went on to become SoCal's first official lifeguard and invented the "Torpedo Rescue Can," still being used to save lives today!
"The surfboard also has four hidden 78s--the number of people he saved from drowning along the California Coast," said Jodi McKay of Event Fusion, the non-profit promoters of Surfboards on Parade. "On the board, the kelp around him forms the HB Pier and 1914 reminds us of when he first surfed here."
"We're honored to have the beautiful George Freeth board at our pier location, especially since it's his centennial of surfing on the waves below us," said Bud Wescott, co-owner of Surf City Store, where surfers and tourists shop from around the world. "The whole Surfboards on Parade concept is incredible, not only raising money for charity but preserving the history of Surf City!"
Surfboards on Parade has 28, one-of-a-kind surfboards, created by some of the world's greatest shapers and artists. From now through August 17th, the boards are located around town in a variety of places, including City Hall, the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, Waterfront Hilton, Huntington Surf and Sport, Jack's Surfboards, Dukes, Hyatt Regency, Woodys Diner (Sunset Beach), Fred's Mexican Restaurant, El Ranchito, Hoag Medical Group, Main St. Wine Company, Aloha Grill, SeaLegs Wine Bar, Beach City Brewery, Havaians, Sandy's, Fuzion, HB Art Center and Shorebreak Hotel.
At 1pm, June 8th, during the Surfin' Sunday Concert at the Pier, the last surfboard will be unveiled, shaped by Steve Boehne, with art by Dean Torrance, including his famous Jan and Dean hit, "Surf City" record, which is actually incorporated into the board. This will be placed in Starbucks.
From August 30th to September 20th, all of the Surfing on Parade boards will be at the HB Art Center. On October 4th, there will be a spectacular "Night of a Million Waves" Gala Art Auction and Awards Ceremony at the Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort.
Proceeds benefit Hoag Family Cancer Institute to support skin cancer education and research, as well as the founder of the event, the Rotary Club of Huntington Beach and the HB Art Center.
Congratulations to the many sponsors and volunteers, who made this worthwhile promotion possible, including, The Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort, Shorebreak Hotel, Hyatt Regency, Dukes, The Heck Foundations, Rainbow Environmental Services, The Local News and others.