New HBISM Location
This past Friday, The International Surfing Museum (ISM) celebrated the grand opening of its new facility in Huntington Beach, California. The move will not only give the museum more space, but since its location is right across Main Street from the Huntington Beach Art Center, the ISM is now positioned to be an integral part of the Huntington Beach Cultural Hub.
I decided to make the trip down to Huntington Beach for the celebration, and I’m glad I did. The museum’s inaugural exhibition featured displays like “World Surfing League: 50 years of Professional Surfing,” a room full of awesome surf art, a chronology of surfboards from old redwood planks to modern guns, historic photos, and much more. It was fun re-connecting with old acquaintances and meeting new people. Led by the museum’s Executive Director and curator Peter “PT” Townend, the ISM staff did a great job of planning the event and welcoming the estimated 500 surf enthusiasts who attended.
In keeping with what I usually like to do, I thought I would provide a short history of the ISM, as well as a little background of the World Surf League (WSL).
Somewhat ironically, the ISM was founded by two insightful women who never actually surfed. Ann Beasley had moved to Huntington Beach from West Virginia in the mid-’80s and Natalie Kotsch came to California from a farm in Canada in 1976. Neither surfed, but both had a clear vision when they witnessed the impact of surfing on Huntington Beach; help preserve the rich history of the surf culture. In 1987, the ISM officially opened in a small building on Walnut Street, then moved to its Olive Street location in 1990. Now, almost 40 years later, the HBISM better than ever!
The WSL started out as the International Professional Surfing (IPS). Founded in 1976 by Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick, it became the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) in around 1983. Now known as the WSL, it is the governing body for today’s pro surfers. One of the WSL’s tour stops, the U.S. Open of Surfing, is currently underway in Huntington Beach, wrapping up this Sunday, August 2nd. As I mentioned, the ISM currently has a very informative exhibit about the WSL, celebrating 50 years of professional surfing. Fittingly, the very first surfer declared the world champion of professional surfing in 1976 was none other than the ISM’s director, Peter Townend. Congrats, PT, on your success both as a pro surfer and as the leader of the Huntington Beach International Surf Museum!
Until next time,
Ted
