A Life Examined

I continue to learn new things about Dewey and really appreciate the help I've received. Guy Motil is a deep, well informed, and thoughtful reservoir of information and insight. His book on surfboards is a work of art and probably the best one ever produced. We spoke with Caroline about the period Guy ran Weber shops in Venice and Hermosa. Hearing about his many adverturous sojourns to the Ranch with Dewey held me spellbound.

And Sparky Hudson, a much featured 60s Jacobs team rider has greatly enhanced my understanding of the South Bay and has been super generous with stories and introductions. Our recent visit with Sparky in Hawaii was enjoyable and productive. Here's a pic of some of the boards in Sparky's quiver.

Brilliant Idea, Well Executed

Fast approaching its 50th anniversary year in 2010, Dewey Weber Surfboards has introduced yet another industry first. It is releasing a special edition of 50 numbered collectible Storyboards portraying the life of the company's legendary founder and namesake in a beautiful collage of images spread out from the tail to the tip. (click on the photo for a better view).

The images chronicle Dewey's life and include a photo of Dewey as a child decked out in a Buster Brown costume (he was an official Buster Brown model) and other images of Dewey surfing, being handed contest trophies, and deep sea fishing. Other images show actress McKenzie Phillips wearing a Dewey Weber T-shirt throughout her role in American Graffiti along with photos of his family. All Storyboards will be Weber Performer models, the top-selling longboard of all time and come in lengths of 9'6" or 10'.

Shea Weber, eldest son and CEO of the company, calls the board an "heirloom" piece and that advance orders are being taken for the 50 Storyboards. Write Shea for information: shea@deweyweber.com

Hermosa Legend Sonny Vardeman Talks About Dewey

One early morning recently Sonny Vardeman rode his bike down to Scotty's on the Strand and talked about his friend, Dewey Weber over coffee. Sonny, born in 1937, is a legend -- Hermosa Beach native, surfer, glasser, shaper, board builder, and career LA County guard. The window he sat next to afforded him a view of the pier and surrounding environs. The city confered the title of legend on him officially a while back. A deserving accolade for sure.

Sonny attended Mira Costa High with other pionerring surfing greats of the era: Greg Noll, Dewey Weber, and Sonny's great friend Bing Copeland. Sonny recalled hearing in the mid-1950s when he used to surf 22nd St. in Hermosa about a small, blond headed kid from 2nd Street in Manhattan Beach who was supposed to be very good. Sonny and his buddies rode their bikes down to 2nd to check the kid -- David "Dewey" Weber -- out. Sonny recalls seeing huge turns and powerful cutbacks, and a lot of movement on the wave -- the likes of which he hadn't seen before. Years later when Dewey manufactured Dewey Weber Surfboards, the glassing took place at Sonny's glass shop which he started with his friend Mike Bright.

Sonny and Dewey lived in Hermosa at the same time over 40 years. When Dewey died in 1993 Sonny Vardeman was one of the people who eulogized him. It was an honor speaking with him.

Marge Calhoun Recalls Simpler Times

It was wonderful speaking with one of surfing's early female big wave pioneers -- Marge Calhoun. Elegant, enchanting, intelligent, fearless, and soulful. She and friend Eve Fletcher may have taken the trip of their lives in the winter of 1958 when the two Californians paddled out at Makaha and Sunset and other North Shore spots sharing waves with the era's biggest names. Marge won the Makaha women's event that trip and Peter Cole won the men's. A 21 year old Dewey Weber was dialing in 18 footers at Makaha and Marge remembers vividly his "saucer-size" eyes as he watched her ride a huge wave. Dewey, Marge, Peter and Fred Hemmings were treated to a Chinese dinner attended by a fast-rising American novelist named James Michener and his wife. Hawaii was published the following year but Tales of the South Pacific had already won critical (a Pulitzer) and popular success. Marge and Eve recalled Dewey's handling of chop sticks that night. Bottom line: he was way better on a sufboard. It'll all be in the book . . .

And the Stories Just Keep on Comin'

Mike Stang, 1950s big wave pioneer and lifelong friend of Greg Noll told me a couple of wonderful Dewey Weber stories when I reached him by phone outside Redding. Mike was a permanent LA County Lifeguard for 30 years. And, Steve 'Rat' Sutherland, a surfer and sander who worked for Dewey, Bing, Greg Noll and other board builders during the heyday of the 1960s took some time away from fly fishing in Montana to share some stories too. There is, not surprisingly, general agreement among the many I've spoken to about Dewey. They all speak about his incredible talent as a surfer, his outgoing, open, fun-loving personality, and with regret, his struggle with alcoholism. I am moved by each conversation and am aware that the era the interviewees speak of are, as Stang said "Times that will never be again." They were privileged to live those times, and we are privileged to recall.

Aloha Caroline

Caroline returned to Hawaii after visiting daughter Stacey and her family in Italy and Shea and Ann and their kids in San Clemente. We spent time at the shop going through old photos and recalling the past. I value our friendship greatly. I've made contact with Sonny Vardeman and Jackie Baxter and a recent visit with Guy Motil was excellent. We are at the half-way point of the research and I appreciate the support I am getting from so many people. (Original art by Joel Morrison)

The Legacy Lives

It was good to see Caroline, and Shea and Ann Weber and current team members have a chance to visit with some people who were on the team in the early 1960s at El Patio Cafe. Mike Tabeling, the Florida stand-out who helped establish Dewey Weber Surfboards on the east coast dropped in, as did Guy Motil, the acclaimed publisher/photographer, and Lonnie Argabright, Tim Tuthill, Frank Addleman, and John Bernards. A special treat was seeing Eve Fletcher who brought a photo album with her containing lots of pictures taken in 1956 on Oahu during Dewey's first trip to the Hawaiian Islands where he raised the bar on big wave performance surfing. Eve and Marge Calhoun were on the own surf safari to the islands confirming their place in history as early female pioneers. Eve, from Laguna Beach, still surfs San Onofre which is probably while she wears a permanent smile on her beautiful face. There was a buzz in the place about the new Dewey Weber Planer shape, which has just been released and team riders, and a few of us who've taken it out, are hugely impressed with it. Stay tuned. Mahalo. (Photo by Melody Derloshon)

Drop in on Dewey Event April 25

Several 22nd St. friends of Dewey are gathering in Capo Beach April 25 to remember and share stories. Caroline Weber and Shea Weber will be on hand with Tubesteak and his wife, Phyllis, and Guy Motil and other former team members. Many thanks to Don Craig, Tom Craig, Butch Linden, Hap Jacobs, Henry Ford and Peff Eick for their recent interviews.

History Lives

Many thanks to Mickey Munoz, Tubesteak, Tim Kit Tuthill, Bob Purvey, Ricky Grigg and other legendary figures previously noted in this blog who have been generous with their time. My files on Dewey Weber are growing and becoming richer. I learned recently about a 16' Velzy board that Dewey helped christen at Malibu along with Tubesteak, Mike Doyle, Mickey Munoz, and others who climbed aboard the beast in the mid to late 1950s and rode in twos, threes and fours. Wonder whatever happened to it. If you find this blog by some cyber space surfing miracle, and have a Dewey Weber recollection to share, please e-mail me: deweyweberbiography@yahoo.com Mahalo

Bruce Brown, Hobie Alter, and Mickey Munoz Share Stories

A growing number of surf legends including Greg Noll, Bruce Brown, Linda Benson, Hobie Alter, Mickey Munoz, Mike Tabeling, and Corky Carroll have taken the time to share stories and recollections of Dewey. We thank them for that. These and other eye-witnesses to Dewey's surfing abilities and his life story have been a tremendous help while research continues. Here's an image of the Hermosa Beach Surfing Legends Memorial project that's been approved by the city (visit: www.hbsurflegends.org/) Want to share a Dewey Weber story: e-mail deweyweberbiography@yahoo.com. Mahalo

Greg Noll Shares Dewey Stories at ASR

Greg Noll shared many stories of his life-long friend Dewey Weber at ASR Friday. Surrounded by several beautiful, one-of-a-kind hardwood boards shaped by his own hand, Greg's stories went back an astonishing 60 years to when Dewey and Greg were cub scouts together. Our book in progress has been aided by input from a growing list of legendary surfers, photographers and filmmakers which now includes: Denny Aaberg, Kemp Aaberg, John Baker, Linda Benson, Bruce Brown, Lance Carson, Mike Doyle, Jared Eaton, Skip Frye, Leroy Grannis, Drew Kampion, Tom Morey, Jim Noll, Rosemari Reimers-Rice, John Severson, Harold Walker, and Nat Young. Mahalo to them all! PS: Please be sure to check out news pertaining to the Hermosa Beach Surf Fountain project honoring Dewey Weber. Visit: http://www.hbsurflegends.org/

Research and reporting well underway

Thank you:

Denny Aaberg, Kemp Aaberg, Linda Benson, Lance Carson, Skip Frye, John Baker, Mike Doyle, Leroy Grannis, Drew Kampion, Jim Noll, and Harold Walker for sharing stories about Dewey. Many more interviews with many more folks to go . . .and your support is much appreciated. I'm still trying to get contact info on some surfing greats and icons. Welcome any and all input.

Mahalo.

January 2009.