Surf City's Surfing Centennial Celebration Begins

By Chris MacDonald, Writer/Photographer, HB Ambassador/The Local News Columnist

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF.-- Surfing Legends & Dignitaries from the Walk Of Fame, Hall of Fame and Community came together recently to celebrate the beginning of a year-long commemoration of the Surfing Centennial in Huntington Beach. On June 20, 1914, famous Hawaiian Surfing Pioneer George Freeth put on the first surfing demonstration in what became "Surf City." SoCal Tycoon Henry E. Huntington hired Freeth to ride his Big Red Car down from LA to the new concrete HB Pier. He emerged from the electric railway car with his wooden surfboard, creating a buzz and wonder from the beach crowd. Freeth entered the ocean and showed off the exciting sport to amazed locals and tourists. George officially became the first person to ever surf here. On June 20, 2014, this monumental event will be celebrated with surfers from around the world paddling out on wooden boards. Former World Surfing Champion Peter (PT) Townend of HB said, "This will take us back in time when men were men and boards were made of wood."

With Freeth's Surfing Photo, attached to a wooden surfboard in the background, Townend officiated at a lively ceremony where The Surfing Walk of Fame and Hall of Fame gave George a granite, stone and metal plaque near the Duke Kahanamoku's statue outside HSS at PCH and Main Street. HB Mayor Connie Boardman praised Freeth for what he did and the event attendees for showing their support of the man who helped create the energy that made surfing such a popular sport here. The Duke later continued George's effort in popularizing the thrilling sport in what's now known as "Surf City, USA," home of the incredible, annual, record-setting, crowd-pleasing U.S. Open of Surfing.

"The Surfing Friar," Fr. Christian Mondor of Sts.Simon and Jude Church, wowed the crowd by expressing, in Hawaiian, a wonderful blessing of the waves, the popular sport, Freeth and all surfers. Other spectators included Ron Abdelfattah of Jack's Surfboards, Aaron Pai of HSS, Gary Sahagen, President of the HB Longboard Crew, Paul Taylor from the HB International Surfing Museum, Mike Adams, Gary Pitts and Chuck Linnen of The Surfers Walk of Fame Committe, HB City Councilman Jim Katapodis, former Mayor Dave Garofalo, Jodi and Rick McKay of the successful Pier Plaza Vendor Expo Surfin' Sunday Music Concerts, HBTV Channel 3 Surf City Highlights Host Matt Liffering and Award-Winning Producer/Cameraman Greg Furlong. A CBS/KCAL News Photographer and others. A fantastic commemorative shirt honoring Freeth and celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the HB Pier was presented to dignitaries. For information on this incredible memento, contact designer Tony Jones of Coral Reef Wetsuits at georgefreethtees.com or 714-894-3483. Be sure to mark your calendars for next June 20th, 2014 for the: "When Men Were Men and Boards Were Made of Wood Surfing Centennial Celebration."

Photos:
1. PT Townend speaks in front of (left to right) Tony Jones (holding the wooden surfboard), HSS Owner Aaron Pai, Jack's Surfboards Owner Ron Abdelfattah, HB Mayor Connie Boardman and Sts. Simon & Jude Fr. Christian Mondor.
2. Fr. Christian Mondor of Sts. Simon and Jude, HB City Councilman Jim Katapodis, HB Mayor Connie Boardman, Coral Reef Wetsuits Owner Tony Jones, Jack's Surfboards Owner Ron Abdelfattah and HSS Owner Aaaron Pai.
3. HSS Owner Aaron Pai kneels in front of George Freeth's new plaque on The Surfers Hall of Fame at Main & PCH in Downtown Huntington Beach
4. HB Surfing Walk Of Fame Board Member Mike Adams, HSS Owner Aaron Pai and HB Ambassador Chris MacDonald.
5. HB City Councilman Jim Katapodis, HB Ambassador Chris MacDonald and HB Mayor Connie Boardman.
6. Left to Right: Surfing Walk of Fame member Chuck Linnen, Fr. Christian Mondor, HB Longboard Crew President Gary Sahagen, HB Surfing Historian PT Townend, HSS Owner Aaron Pai, HB City Councilman Jim Katapodis and Matt Liffering from HBTV.Resorts in Huntington Beach:

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