| From sharks to skegs, rudders to turbos, surfboard fins have evolved
into a variety of shapes designed to master the waves in
more effective ways, ultimately pushing the limits of
surfing. On exhibit at the International Surfing Museum in
Huntington Beach is a collection of fins instrumental in
advancing the sport to its current heights.
Billed as the "first-ever" museum exhibit of surfing fins,
the display is best enjoyed and understood in the context of
towns such as Huntington Beach where the surfing industry is
important to mom & pop businesses who've carved a living by
inventing and manufacturing surf products, and through
individuals who've made a career out of surfing, itself.
Fins would have little
meaning, if not for the likes of local surf
legend, Bob "The Greek" Bolen. Known for winning
numerous surfing competitions, his participation in the
development of fins is significant―he
invented and
commercialized the super-charged turbofin that's risen in
popularity recently. As a world class surfer whose shop,
Huntington Beach Real Estate, displays the unique,
see-through fin in environs that look more like a surfing
museum than Real Estate office, Bolen exemplifies the home
spun talent so abundant in the surfing industry. The surfer
/ Realtor's fin designs are part of the "first-ever"
collection.
See Bolen's Fin Display
Surfin' -
Direction of a Sport, documents the development of
fins in a rare collection that not only shows the original
1935 invention, but its numerous size and shape modifications
over a 71 year period. Along with original wood-carved or
molded fins, replicas from the 1950’s through the 1990’s of Hatchett, Brewer and Bat fins made from exotic woods by
local artist, Jim Angeley, are shown.
It all began in 1935
when Thomas Blake, surf pioneer and a seminal force in the
history of the sport, walked past a decaying speedboat on
the beach. He removed its aluminum skeg, covering its hard edges with a piece of wood. He then
attached it to the bottom of his surfboard and took it out
for a trial run to see if it would act in the same manner as
it did on a boat. Would it keep him from skidding out on
sharp turns and help him steer his board on a critical
slide? It worked! Blake's invention was an instant success
that's evolved ever since.
The exhibit and
surfing museum offer insight into a culture and lifestyle,
according to Gary Sahagan, who works full time as museum
director. "It definitely appeals to a niche market," he
says. "But the good news is that our diversified
offerings...videos, souvenir merchandise, music CDs and surf
band concerts appeal to a much broader audience, and we're becoming
quite popular." Sahagan has noticed a resurgence of interest
from youth, teens and young adults who are visiting the
museum exhibits and sharing their thoughts on what surfing means to
them. You don't have to surf to love the surf culture and
it's global, uniting force, he says.
To learn about surfing
through exhibits such as this past exhibit or others
featuring the
surfing themed music of the Beach Boys, music and featured movies, "Riding
Giants", "Five Summer Stories", "Endless Summer" or "Step
into Liquid", Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum
is open from 12pm (Noon) to 5pm Monday through Friday and
11am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday (hours change so please call
before going!) Suggested donation is
$2/adult and $1/student. Location: 411 Olive St., Huntington
Beach, CA 92648. Call: 714.960.3483. surfingmuseum.org
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