SURFING’S EXPERT DOCUMENTARIANS AND OTHER PROOF SOURCES
Dale Velzy opened the first store front “surf shop” in existence when he moved his surfboard shaping from under the pier to a nearby corner store front above the pier from which he sold and shaped his surfboards in the early 50’s if not 1950. This is pretty much accepted as fact by all who know about the story of surfing in California. Steve Pezman, The Surfers Journal
After Velzy turned out his first surfboard at the age of 11, he continued to make surfboards for his friends. As the years passed, he outgrew the backyard workshop and moved to a small wooden building near the pier at Manhattan Beach. Jack B. Kemmerer, Independent Press Telegram Southland Magazine, 11/15/1960
The Manhattan Beach Pier was the center of surfing at that time because Dale Velzy had his shop just up the street. Doug Roth, Gazette Citizen, Thursday, January 27, 1966
………..The fact that the first-ever surf shop was located in downtown Manhattan Beach is a wonderful feather in the cap of the city, and deserves to be noted and celebrated. Matt Warshaw, Executive Director of The Encyclopedia of Surfing
On behalf of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association Trust Fund, I would like to go on record in support of the proposed Velzy “surf shop” commemorative plaque at 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Dale Velzy opened the “world’s first surf shop” at this location in 1950. Gary Crum, Section Chief, Los Angeles County Lifeguards (17 years), and Chairman, International Surf Festival, Race Director for Dwight Crum Pier to Pier Swim.
There would be no surf business without Dale Velzy, and hence no surf life as we know it. He was the first to put a name on a surfboard, the first to sponsor a surfer, the first to open a surf shop, and the first to print a surf company t-shirt. Surfer Magazine
On behalf of the Catalina Classic Paddle Board Association and as the CEO and Founding Director, I am writing in full support of a commemorative plaque honoring Dale Velzy, his groundbreaking role in the world of Surf Culture, and the first (documented) custom surfboard shop he created. Manhattan Beach would be remiss in not acknowledging this piece of surf history. Karl “Buddy” Bohn, Lifetime Achievement Honoree, 2011, Section Chief, LA County Lifeguard, Director Junior Lifeguard Program, author “The History of Lifeguards”, Editor, US Life Saving Magazine and County Lifeguard Magazine
Dale’s shop was the first in the world. It was a shop where he took orders and shaped the boards…..He was around 22 years old and was a one man operation. Inside the shop were just some 2x4’s and a slab of glued together balsa wood. He had to take the boards outside on the sidewalk to glass them. Don & Barbara Guild, owner of Guild Drug Store and Antique Guild. Photographer of only known photo of Velzy’s Surf Shop, 1952
The term “surf shop” didn’t exist at the time. In fact, it was not coined until the late 1950’s when Jack O’Neill, an early maker of wetsuits, opened a shop by that name in Santa Cruz. Still, Dale Velzy’s Manhattan Beach workshop can be legitimately recognized as the world’s first – stand alone facility that was exclusively devoted to surfboard manufacturing and retailing. Paul Holmes, Author/Biographer: Dale Velzy is “Hawk”, Editor: Surfer Magazine, Co-Producer Surfer TV Series
I had the privilege of surfing with Dale Velzy many times during the 1950’s. He was one of the best surfers in the late 1940’s and most of the 1950’s. The City of Hermosa Beach has two Surfer Statues and many Surfer Walk of Fame Plaques on the pier. Most all of the Honorees were Dale Velzy’s DISCIPLES! I would highly endorse a plaque be placed at 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd to honor Dale Velzy who opened the WORLD’S 1st Surf Shop at that location. Leroy “Sonny” Vardeman, LA County Lifeguard 38 years, Medal of Valor recipient 1981 and 2000, Hermosa Beach Seals member, 1950
I’m Chip Post writing to encourage the installation of a plaque commemorating the establishment of the world’s first surf shop by Dale Velzy at 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd in 1950, also the year I started surfing at the age of twelve……. I used to sit with friends on the floor of his shop on MB Blvd suffering the din of his planer and the dust of its shavings. Chip Post, Hermosa Beach City Council 1972, Hermosa Beach City Attorney 1977-1981, California Dept of Attorney General 1980s, Chair Surfrider’s Foundation, 1990s.
I want to write and say congratulations on making the decision to create a Plaque for Dale Velzy opening the World’s First Surf Shop. Dale was a life long friend of our family and was an inspiration to every surfer who came along after him……Thanks for making the right decision to honor Dale Velzy for his early vision. Don Craig, Founder of Old Guys Rule, 1950 Member of the Manhattan Beach Surf Club 1949 Dale Velzy opens the first dedicated commercial surfboard-building shop in Manhattan Beach, California. Dale Velzy opens a surf shop close to the Manhattan Beach Pier in California and gets a business license Velzy’s rent is $45 a month and he is selling as many as 10 boards a week for $55.
California Surf Museum ((https://surfmuseum.org/surfing-timeline/the-business-of-surfing/).
Dale Velzy opened the first store front “surf shop” in existence when he moved his surfboard shaping from under the pier to a nearby corner store front above the pier from which he sold and shaped his surfboards in the early 50’s if not 1950. This is pretty much accepted as fact by all who know about the story of surfing in California. Steve Pezman, The Surfers Journal
After Velzy turned out his first surfboard at the age of 11, he continued to make surfboards for his friends. As the years passed, he outgrew the backyard workshop and moved to a small wooden building near the pier at Manhattan Beach. Jack B. Kemmerer, Independent Press Telegram Southland Magazine, 11/15/1960
The Manhattan Beach Pier was the center of surfing at that time because Dale Velzy had his shop just up the street. Doug Roth, Gazette Citizen, Thursday, January 27, 1966
………..The fact that the first-ever surf shop was located in downtown Manhattan Beach is a wonderful feather in the cap of the city, and deserves to be noted and celebrated. Matt Warshaw, Executive Director of The Encyclopedia of Surfing
On behalf of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association Trust Fund, I would like to go on record in support of the proposed Velzy “surf shop” commemorative plaque at 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Dale Velzy opened the “world’s first surf shop” at this location in 1950. Gary Crum, Section Chief, Los Angeles County Lifeguards (17 years), and Chairman, International Surf Festival, Race Director for Dwight Crum Pier to Pier Swim.
There would be no surf business without Dale Velzy, and hence no surf life as we know it. He was the first to put a name on a surfboard, the first to sponsor a surfer, the first to open a surf shop, and the first to print a surf company t-shirt. Surfer Magazine
On behalf of the Catalina Classic Paddle Board Association and as the CEO and Founding Director, I am writing in full support of a commemorative plaque honoring Dale Velzy, his groundbreaking role in the world of Surf Culture, and the first (documented) custom surfboard shop he created. Manhattan Beach would be remiss in not acknowledging this piece of surf history. Karl “Buddy” Bohn, Lifetime Achievement Honoree, 2011, Section Chief, LA County Lifeguard, Director Junior Lifeguard Program, author “The History of Lifeguards”, Editor, US Life Saving Magazine and County Lifeguard Magazine
Dale’s shop was the first in the world. It was a shop where he took orders and shaped the boards…..He was around 22 years old and was a one man operation. Inside the shop were just some 2x4’s and a slab of glued together balsa wood. He had to take the boards outside on the sidewalk to glass them. Don & Barbara Guild, owner of Guild Drug Store and Antique Guild. Photographer of only known photo of Velzy’s Surf Shop, 1952
The term “surf shop” didn’t exist at the time. In fact, it was not coined until the late 1950’s when Jack O’Neill, an early maker of wetsuits, opened a shop by that name in Santa Cruz. Still, Dale Velzy’s Manhattan Beach workshop can be legitimately recognized as the world’s first – stand alone facility that was exclusively devoted to surfboard manufacturing and retailing. Paul Holmes, Author/Biographer: Dale Velzy is “Hawk”, Editor: Surfer Magazine, Co-Producer Surfer TV Series
I had the privilege of surfing with Dale Velzy many times during the 1950’s. He was one of the best surfers in the late 1940’s and most of the 1950’s. The City of Hermosa Beach has two Surfer Statues and many Surfer Walk of Fame Plaques on the pier. Most all of the Honorees were Dale Velzy’s DISCIPLES! I would highly endorse a plaque be placed at 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd to honor Dale Velzy who opened the WORLD’S 1st Surf Shop at that location. Leroy “Sonny” Vardeman, LA County Lifeguard 38 years, Medal of Valor recipient 1981 and 2000, Hermosa Beach Seals member, 1950
I’m Chip Post writing to encourage the installation of a plaque commemorating the establishment of the world’s first surf shop by Dale Velzy at 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd in 1950, also the year I started surfing at the age of twelve……. I used to sit with friends on the floor of his shop on MB Blvd suffering the din of his planer and the dust of its shavings. Chip Post, Hermosa Beach City Council 1972, Hermosa Beach City Attorney 1977-1981, California Dept of Attorney General 1980s, Chair Surfrider’s Foundation, 1990s.
I want to write and say congratulations on making the decision to create a Plaque for Dale Velzy opening the World’s First Surf Shop. Dale was a life long friend of our family and was an inspiration to every surfer who came along after him……Thanks for making the right decision to honor Dale Velzy for his early vision. Don Craig, Founder of Old Guys Rule, 1950 Member of the Manhattan Beach Surf Club