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.