Surfing Timeline is a Treasure

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Tom Gibbons Shares the Stoke!

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

When SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti went to the mailbox we found an unexpected treasure – a hard copy from Tom Gibbons, founding President of the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA), of his website: The World of Surfing and Its Influence.

The website itself (surfingtimeline.org) is a labor of love that Gibbons began over a dozen years ago – a timeline chronicling surfing’s development from the ancient Hawaiians to the 21st century and its impact on culture, lifestyle, the economy, environment, and more.

Gibbons, an avid surfer and surf coach who co-founded the NSSA in 1978, is also a supporter of the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, the California Surf Museum, the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, and the Surfrider Foundation. You could say that surfing is in Gibbons’ DNA.

He created the surfing timeline to keep the history of the sport alive and to ensure that the people who have turned surfing into a megaforce are recognized. Surfers. Board makers. Artists. Entrepreneurs. Surf industry leaders. Organizations.

Like they say, “It takes a village” to make things happen. Surfing has its tribe – a worldwide network of surfing enthusiasts that are working to build and improve the sport and protect the ocean and beach environment.

SurfWriter Girls talked to Gibbons about his love of surfing and how it’s grown from just being a sport to an integral part of cultures around the world.

“When I started teaching in the late 60s surfing didn’t have the best reputation and many didn’t even consider it a legitimate sport, “ Gibbons told us. “My goal was to bring education and surfing together to give the sport credibility. The school systems were very supportive of this.” Gibbons even created a Surfer’s Journal students could use to track their surf sessions and set goals for themselves.

Starting out in Thousand Oaks and later moving to the Huntington Beach Union High School District, Gibbons became a champion for student surf athletes. He said the students were eager to form surf clubs and to make surfing a letter sport. To encourage and support the students, Gibbons created the first surfing academic scholarship. It was $300 – with the money provided out of his own pocket!

Gibbons sent SurfWriter Girls the surfing timeline because he wants to get the next generation on board to keep it going.

He’s covered over a century of surfing – starting from pre-1910 – and is ready to hand the baton to a new group of surfing historians. Researchers. Teachers. Students. Anyone who loves surfing. Check out the website and get in touch with Gibbons to see how you can get involved. This is a chance to not only chronicle history, but to be a part of it.

Like legendary surfing ambassador Duke Kahanamoku, The Endless Summer filmmaker Bruce Brown, and Kathy Kohner Zuckerman (“Gidget”), you can share surfing’s story, share the stoke, and build the sport.

SurfWriter Girls are all for that! Octy and Stitch are, too.

The time(line) is now!

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Barrier Island Turtle Sanctuary

Posted on by under Environment

 

A Safe Place for Sea Turtles

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

The Barrier Island Turtle Sanctuary in Florida’s Brevard County, on the Atlantic Coast, provides a safe place for sea turtles to lay their eggs. On this fragile swath of coastline, Loggerhead, Green, Leatherback, and other turtles find shelter and the nesting ground they need.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti are fascinated by sea turtles.

We learned about this special place that plays an important role in the marine ecosystem from Sunny’s sister Rose Singer, who moved from California to Florida with her husband Bob, and is a volunteer at the sanctuary.

Charmed by the windswept beach, Rose looks forward to seeing the turtle eggs and new hatchlings. Depending on the species, sea turtles typically lay 80 or more eggs in nests on the shore each season (March – November).

“Every year the sanctuary celebrates the hatching season and people gather to watch the release of turtle hatchlings into the ocean,” says Rose. “The eggs usually hatch during the night when the moon is out. You can also watch the turtles coming in to dig nests on the banks to lay their eggs. It’s quite a sight to see.”

With sea turtle populations decreasing because of the destruction of their natural habitats and wild spaces becoming fewer, this sanctuary provides a home for the turtles and gives scientists a chance to observe and learn from them.

SurfWriter Girl Patti and her husband Greg saw turtle nesting sites on a trip to Costa Rica’s rainforest and Manuel Antonio National Park.

SurfWriter Girls friend champion long distance ocean swimmer Lynne Cox has written about sea turtles, capturing the essence of their ocean journeys in her beautiful book Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius.

The book chronicles the true story of Yoshi, a Loggerhead turtle, and her record-breaking 23,000-mile swim from South Africa to Australia, returning to the place of her birth to lay her eggs.

Driven by a primal need to reproduce, sea turtles everywhere need places for their nests. Florida’s Atlantic Coast sea turtles are fortunate to have a special piece of coastline waiting for them at the Barrier Island Turtle Sanctuary.

Sea turtle sculpture at beginning of story by artist Dave Reynolds.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Summertime is Scouting Time!

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Girl Scout Designs New Patch

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Summertime is Scouting time! Since the Girl Scouts were founded on March 12, 1912, by Juliette Low in Savannah, Georgia, Scouting has been introducing girls to the outdoors and camping.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti (shown here in the paper weights they made as Girl Scout Brownies – junior Scouts) have strong memories of camping, making friends, earning merit badges, and of course, selling Girl Scout Cookies.

We were excited to learn that Maya Takeuchi of Orange County’s Niguel Coast Service Unit Junior Troop 1487 designed the patch for her troop’s participation in the 2026 International Food Fair, an annual event that teaches girls across America about food, crafts and traditions from other countries.

As the Patch Design Winner, Maya’s embroidered patch will be worn on each girl’s vest or sash, providing a colorful memory of the event. Maya said, “I came up with the idea for the patch design because it’s a food fair so the earth should be eating. And I wanted to show all the different countries’ flags.”

Her troop participated in the fair by learning about Japanese food and traditions, preparing and eating Japanese food, and dressing up in bright, cherry blossom-pink kimonos.

Maya’s Grandfather (shown here with Maya and her Dad) is Japanese so it was special for her to be able to learn more about his culture and to share it with the other girls.

Sara Salehpour, the troop’s leader and Maya’s proud mom (here with Maya), told SurfWriter Girls, “I’ve been working with this troop since they were in kindergarten and now they are fourth graders. It’s been great watching them grow and feel more independent and creative each year.”

Along with outdoor activities, the Girl Scouts helps girls to be confident and independent and to develop skills to accomplish their goals. Girls can earn merit badges in everything from nature and science to cooking, fine arts, computers, robotics and entrepreneurship.

The sky’s the limit. Just ask Maya!

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

The Ranch at Laguna Beach

Posted on by under Lifestyle

 

Idyllic Nature Resort is City-Close

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

From the beaches to the mountains, deserts, and more, people are planning their vacations with sustainability in mind. Not just looking at the amenities, things to do, and sights to see, travelers are choosing hotels and resorts that are environmentally friendly.

Perched on 87 acres at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, The Ranch at Laguna Beach is as proud of its environmentally friendly practices as it is of its idyllic setting.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti were eager to visit this Surfrider Foundation sponsor that’s made sustainability a key part of its core mission.

From the Ranch’s casual dining outdoor restaurant, The Porch, we had a view of the surrounding hills and golf course. Quiet and serene, it’s a spot to linger and let the day unfold.

The resort’s staff told us that an onsite farm provides food for its tables and a grove of trees on the property absorbs carbon dioxide. Whether it’s composting or reclaiming water, The Ranch does everything possible to reduce its environmental footprint.

The Ranch’s fine dining restaurant, Harvest, is certified by Surfrider as an “Ocean Friendly Restaurant” serving sustainably sourced food and utilizing reusable and recyclable methods that eliminate waste and damage to the environment.

Focusing on dishes made with their own seasonal produce and craft beers and wine made in-house, Harvest’s menu mixes “old favorites with a few twists.” Lunch includes a tri-tip sandwich and wild shrimp tacos. For dinner, red wine braised short ribs, crispy duck, and white wine steamed mussels. Desserts range from apple pie to sticky toffee pudding.

The resort’s amenities reflect its natural environment with a scenic 9-hole golf course, rustic swimming pool, fire pits, hiking trails, wellness spa, and paddle board and surfing lessons.

Rated a Four Diamond Hotel by the Automobile Club of Southern California, The Ranch at Laguna Beach is part of the Beyond Green sustainable properties hospitality group.

With just a small sign to mark its entrance on a canyon road off PCH (31106 Coast Highway), this SoCal getaway gem is easy to miss, but it’s worth looking for.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

CA Surf Museum At 40 Years!

Posted on by under Creative Energy

 

A Wave of Treasures on Display

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Visiting the California Surf Museum in Oceanside, CA, is like hanging out with friends at the beach. It’s a place to kick back and share the stoke of surfing. The paintings, displays, and memorabilia all pay tribute to the surf culture.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti recently caught up with the museum’s historian Jane Schmauss, who not only oversees the museum, but was one of its founders back in da day – when it took root in a corner of her Encinitas restaurant, George’s, in 1986.

Starting with just a few surf pieces, the museum, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, has grown and moved to its current spot at 312 Pier View Way, just steps from the ocean. On our visit the exhibit “Surf Art: Exploring California’s Coastal Culture” was just finishing its run.

Each artwork showcased the essence of surfing and its relationship to the ocean environment. “The ocean is the original connecting force,” Schmauss said. “That’s what we try to portray here.” She noted respect for the ocean dates to the early days of surfing. “The ancient Hawaiians used to go to the ocean and ask it if it was okay to surf today.”

You never know what you’ll see when you’re there. This 1931 painting Surfer, painted by Phil Dike and set in Corona del Mar, is one of the earliest depictions of surfing in California. Dike founded the California Watercolor Society in 1921 and was one of Walt Disney’s original animators.

John Severson, the founder of Surfer magazine and a renowned painter, had paintings on display, too, including Hawaiian Power.

Surfer in Residence Gabe Burris calls the museum “my happy place.” He’s been a docent for the past 14 years and enjoys all the positive vibes.

With the works of so many leading artists, including Andy Davis, Rick Griffin, Herbie Fletcher, Veronika Strachova, Nathan Paul Gibbs, and Damian Fulton, every time we turned a corner there was something that made us stop. Like this repurposed surfboard desk created by Makoto Fujimura that’s both futuristic and retro at the same time.

Central CA coast painter Colleen Gnos’ fantasy    surfboard, The Kiss, is here. And another board with a reality-based message is nearby – shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton’s…with a big bite taken out of it.

Museum visitor Chris Cremer told SurfWriter Girls he’s a regular. He and his wife Jane (children’s book author of The Gratitude Meadow) stop by weekly as part of their beach routine.

The current exhibit, “Surfing: Hawaiian Royalty’s Gift to the World,” offers even more treasures to enjoy. It’s the perfect way for the museum to mark its 40th year of celebrating the stoke of surfing.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Bird of Paradise Haikus

Posted on by under Creative Energy

 

Colorful Symbol of Love and Joy

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Flower poised for flight

Bird of Paradise flies free

a swirl of colors

Vivid, bright and bold

Brilliant colors dazzle us

Bird of Paradise

Orange, blue and green

Bird of Paradise set free

in colorful flight

Bird of Paradise

Soaring possibilities

lasting love and joy

I love your brightness

Come and stay with me today

Birds of Paradise

SurfWriter Girls recently came across this striking array of Bird of Paradise flowers and photographed them for you. Patti had beautiful flowers like this in her garden when she grew up and has always loved them.

We learned that the vibrant, tropical Bird of Paradise represents freedom, joy, excitement and everlasting love. It evokes beauty, spirituality and the fulfillment of dreams. Like a bird in flight, it’s a glorious symbol of hope. A symbol we want to share with you.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Pedal to the Metal Detector

Posted on by under Lifestyle

 

Searching for Buried Treasure

Written by SurfWriter Girls Suny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

On a perfect winter day when the holiday beach crowds were gone, SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti decided to put our metal detector to the test and see if we could find any buried treasure at Seal Beach.

Patti’s husband Greg gave her the detector a while ago, but this was the first time we had a chance to use it. We were excited with visions of finding lost jewelry and valuables or maybe a pirate’s stash of gold coins like in this Treasure Island book that Patti’s dad had when he was a child.

Scanning the sand, we listened carefully for the metal detector’s clicking sounds.

If smugglers from the early days of California had buried treasure on the beach they would have needed to be able to find it again, but where did X mark the spot?

Each time we heard a beep we started digging, only to come up empty. Nothing. Not even an empty can or bottle cap. Being a Beachcomber isn’t as easy as it looks.

One of the most famous beachcombers of all, Don the Beachcomber, didn’t make his fortune on the beach, but by opening a Polynesian nightclub with exotic, tropical drinks.

At the end of the day, the only treasure we had to show for our efforts came from a store – this Pirate’s Booty snack mix. And Greg quickly claimed that for himself.

What can we say, matey? “Arrgh.”

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Season’s Greetings to You!

Posted on by under Environment

 

Holiday Hugs and New Year’s Hopes

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel 

Part of the fun of the holiday season is sending greeting cards to friends and family. A nice change from the ads and bills that jam people’s mailboxes, greeting cards let us send a smile, love, and wishes for a Happy New Year. Religious, heartfelt or humorous, whatever we send, it shows people we’re thinking about them and keeps us connected.

This year SurfWriter Girls found a box of cards created by greeting card giant Hallmark with UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund). It’s a partnership that dates back to 2006 with part of the proceeds going to UNICEF to “spread kindness and help support kids around the world.”

UNICEF has been making greeting cards since 1949 when a young Czech girl sent it a handmade drawing of children dancing around a maypole to thank the organization for its help to the war torn Czech nation. UNICEF utilized the art for a fundraiser and the positive response was so enormous that it launched its greeting card program.

Over the years the cards’ designs have showcased artworks submitted by children around the world and even famous artists, including Picasso, Chagall, and Matisse.

SurfWriter Girl Patti began sending UNICEF cards as a college student. “I loved the cards’ whimsical, uplifting messages and they were an affordable extravagance that fit into my limited student budget.”

Sunny is a longtime fan of the cards and was excited by this latest assortment. In looking through the box, we learned about the traditions behind the greeting card themes because each card has a note inside explaining the history of the images.

As noted, the cardinal symbolizes the “beauty and warmth of the holiday season.” Evergreen wreaths and trees, which remain green even in winter, represent “eternal life.” Stars symbolize “strength and unity.” The deer represent “kindness and gentleness.” The dove is a “universal symbol of peace.” And Christmas trees represent the decorating of trees that began in 18th Century Germany.

So many choices and ways to spread cheer! Now, this story is SurfWriter Girls Season’s Greetings card to you!

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Wabi-Sabi is Just the Gift!

Posted on by under Environment

The Beauty of Imperfection

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

 

During the holidays when everyone is looking for gifts that are shiny and new, SurfWriter Girls invite you to stop and think a moment about the gifts we already have.

The Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi celebrates the beauty of imperfection and aging and of things that are impermanent and incomplete.

It is the beauty of things both humble and modest. It is the beauty of things that have been used, are raw, unrefined and unconventional.

Old Levi’s jeans, a comfortable chair, a weathered fence, a tree that’s been in your yard forever, your favorite surfboard, classic cars, watches that wind by hand, the neighborhood diner.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel have been learning about Wabi-Sabi, which dates back 5,000 years, and its emphasis on self-acceptance and finding joy in everyday things as they are.

We learned that in Japan cracked vases or bowls are often repaired with gold, highlighting the flaw and turning it into a mark of beauty that represents part of the object’s history.

Originally derived from Buddhist teachings, the word Wabi refers to rustic simplicity, freshness, and understated elegance – both in nature and in man-made works.

It can describe a uniqueness or elegance, too. Sabi represents the beauty and serenity that come from age…with visible flaws and worn patina adding to its charm.

Drawing from nature, Wabi-Sabi reminds us of the simple reality that things don’t stay the same, changing from day-to-day and season-to-season with different shapes and colors unfolding through the passing of time.

Putting aside the quest for air-brushed perfection in our lives, selves and surroundings, Wabi-Sabi is a way to de-stress. To relax and slow down, to embrace each moment, the people we love and the things we have.

Rather than searching for the next new thing to buy or do, we can find something much more valuable – an inner calm and the happiness that comes from being ourselves.

Wabi-Sabi is the perfect holiday gift to give yourself – the gift to be imperfect.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Coral Reefs Dazzle in November

Posted on by under Environment

Thankful for Colors of the Reefs!

 Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

November is Coral Bleaching Awareness Month, drawing attention to the need to protect the world’s coral reefs from losing their vivid colors and sustainability.

During this time of Thanksgiving when autumn’s red and gold leaves are taking center stage, it’s easy to overlook the dazzling colors hidden from sight below the sea in the ocean’s coral reefs.

Exotic and mysterious, coral reefs around the world, from Hawaii and the Caribbean to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef exist in an endless variety of color – color that is at risk of fading to white as reefs lose their nutrients due to environmental factors and can potentially die.

More than just objects of beauty, coral reefs are underwater living ecosystems that provide food and shelter to more than 25% of the ocean’s sea life. Coral reefs have been called the “rainforests of the sea.”

And like trees protecting the land from the elements, coral reefs protect the world’s shorelines from storms and erosion and help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.

The different colors of the reefs – red, orange, yellow, blue, pink, and more – come from the mix of algae in their tissues and varying light conditions and water temperatures. The brighter and bolder the colors, the healthier the reefs.

Marine scientists are working to keep the vivid colors in the reefs – no easy task given the threats from climate change, pollution, habitat destruction and overfishing.

In her children’s book The Great Barrier Thief author Dr. Sue Pillans (AKA “Suzie Starfish”), a marine scientist and visual artist, tackles the problem of coral bleaching and the reasons that many coral reefs are losing their colors.

With the help of her protagonist, a pink fish named Anthia, Pillans hopes to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef doesn’t lose its dazzling colors.

SurfWriter Girls are excited about the world of beautiful colors under the sea and are thankful for the coral reefs.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.