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.
