100 Years of Surfing Celebrated in Huntington Beach

By C. MacDonald

Huntington Beach celebrated 100 years of surfing yesterday with a "When Men Were Men and Boards Were Wood" surfing demonstration, south of the pier. It was a sight to behold as seasoned surfers rode wooden boards in tribute to George Freeth, who put on the first surfing exhibition there a century ago.

The legendary Freeth, known as "The Hawaiian Wonder," was sent here by HB's namesake, Henry E. Huntington, to help stimulate interest in the area as well as celebrate the opening of a new pier. Also known as "the Original Beach Lifeguard," Freeth, who later invented the still-popular torpedo rescue can, stunned onlookers who saw him riding waves atop a huge board in what would become "Surf City."

The current beach crowd "oohed and awed" as Ryan Hurley, son of the famous Bob Hurley, rode a replica wooden board like the one Freeth rode. Dave Reynolds, Exhibit Director of the HB International Surfing Museum (411 Olive Ave.), also showed his skills, along with Robert "Wingnut" Weaver and others. Also observing were City Council Members Connie Boardman and Joe Shaw; Former Mayor Don MacAllister, Aaron Pai, owner of Huntington Surf & Sport, and Brett Barnes, managing partner of Dukes, and "Hole in the Wall Gang" legend, Chris Cattel.

One of the most interesting boards was the pride and joy of Bart Genovese, who said his 13-foot-9 marine plywood "ride" was created by a Santa Monica shipbuilder in 1934. "It weighs 52 pounds dry and 60 when full of water," he explained, while showing how to loosen a bolt to drain it.

Awards were given for "The Best Ride on a Wooden Board" (1964 and over; younger than 1964, and for the best ride). The exciting event raised funds for the HB International Surfing Museum and inspired a new generation of surfers. Learn more at surfingmuseum.org.

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