by admin | Apr 29, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Community, Industry, News, Retail History, Surf
Hobie Alter’s Dana Point compound. Dale Velzy’s Manhattan Beach showroom. Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith’s San Diego storefront. Jack O’Neill’s San Francisco shack. In the 1950s, California’s first surf shops had personalities as...
by admin | Apr 19, 2023 | Community, Corona Virus, Industry, Merchandising, News, Retail Economy, Retail History, Retail Strategy, Surf
A quarter of the way into the year and key industry account BC Surf & Sport’s business is chugging along. If the multi-store operator is any barometer of how the overall industry is trending, 2023 could perhaps mean a normalization – and a new chapter –...
by admin | Apr 15, 2023 | Community, Industry, Legends, News, Surf
Meet Seiichi Sano, the “oldest person to surf (male).” Photo: Guinness World Records Japan’s Seiichi Sano wins Guinness World Record…and makes it on Saturday Night Live. What’s more impressive: A Guinness World Record or a shoutout on Saturday Night...
by admin | Apr 3, 2023 | Brick & Mortar, Holiday, Industry, News, Retail Economy, Retail Strategy, Skateboard, Surf
Quiet Storm in downtown Fort Lauderdale (top left), inside Island Water Sports (bottom left), and the board room at Nomad Surf Shop (right). Photo by SES. Florida specialty surf and skate shops will see one more big push of traffic flowing through their doors in the...
by admin | Mar 24, 2023 | Competitions, Olympics, Surf
Just imagine putting an inexperienced young WSL or ISA Olympic hopeful into the kind of position that almost killed heavy water veteran Rodrigo Reinoso. Photo credit = Ted Grambeau Recent headlines concerning Kelly Slater’s Olympic aspirations has me...
by admin | Mar 21, 2023 | Community, Industry, Legends, News, Rest In Peace, Retail History, Surf
Clockwise from top left: Jim Jenks in the Op days; Jim with his last truck; the famous Op corduroy shorts. Photos courtesy of Junior Jenks and the Surfing Walk of Fame. Jim Jenks, the former surf shop worker who turned Ocean Pacific into an industry-defining...