San Clemente’s Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, affectionately referred to as the Smithsonian of Surfing, is currently hosting a powerful exhibit called “Surf Clubs” in celebration of SoCal’s surf clubs.
The exhibit was curated by S.H.A.C.C Creative Director and Curator Barry Haun as a celebration of the deep historical and contemporary relevance of over a dozen regional surf clubs. It highlights beautiful displays from the Doheny Longboard Surfing Association, Haggertys Surf Club, Hawaiian Surf Club of San Onofre, Huntington Beach Longboard Crew, La Jolla Shores Surf Club, Long Beach Surf Club, Malibu Board Riders Club, Malibu Surfing Association, Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club, Poche Surf Club, San Diego Surf Ladies, San Onofre Surf Club, Santa Cruz Longboard Union, and the WindanSea Surf Club.
With a more prominent recognition and awareness of the friendly yet fervent competitive nature of the Surf Club culture, this exhibit is a celebration of their positive and lasting presence. They feature a diverse variety of relics and notary from the different clubs, serving as a contribution to community and environmental wellness that each of the clubs offers.
“Looking out one day, I came to realize our purpose,” saidLorraine Schmalenberger, acting President of the La Jolla Shores Surf Club. “We can be so good to one another outside of the water. Can we not be good to one another in the water? We can bring people together.”
“Surf Clubs” is a portal to the past that should be honored. But most importantly, it still holds a connection to modern surf culture too. “(The exhibit) has been well received,” Barry Haun of the S.H.A.C.C. said. “All the clubs did a fantastic job on each of their displays. The opening was a great turn out and it all turned out better than I could have ever imagined.”
Editor’s Note: The “Surf Club” exhibit will be on display at the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center in San Clemente, Ca until June 11th. They are open to the public from 11-4pm Monday-Friday and can be contacted by phone (949) 388-0313 or viewed on their website SurfingHeritage.org
