Rest In Peace MP. The Surfing world has lost a Legend today.

Michael Peterson 1952-2012

The greatest competative surfer of the 1970s has died at age 59.  MP's surfing was so far ahead of it's time...awe inspiring to say the least.  What he did on single fins blows my mind and leaves me wondering "what could have been" if his surfing career hadn't been cut short by illness & addiction.  His legacy is cast in stone and he surely will be missed.  

"He was our Miki Dora, James Dean and Marlon Brando all rolled into one,
only he surfed like a man on a mission and rode our waves in the 'Gatta like it mattered."

Peter Townend 1976 World Champion,

10th Annual Spring Old School Surf Swap...coming soon. May 6th 9am - 4pm

It's Spring time again...and time for our Old School Board Swap. It's been a long winter and it's time for surfboards and a good time! This tradition was started 7 years ago and it draws more and more people each year. We'll get 100 plus boards out in front, around the side and in back of the shop. Our Fall 2011 swap attracted people from 10 different states...it's a really cool event that I look forward to every Spring and Fall.


The focus is on "Vintage" riders from the 60s, 70s and 80s...lately we've extended things to include modern day longboards, alternative and solution boards as well. We'll get some classic skateboards and some surfing memorabilia from time to time. It attracts all types from collectors, surfers, long-time members of the surfing community and people that just love the SURF CULTURE. We'll have some food and drink...Harry usually brings the coffee and we roll out the BBQ later in the day.

It's different than other "Board Swaps" because we just supply the place and the atmosphere for the event to happen. We don't take any money or force you to take store credit for what you've sold. It's another event that we, at the Beach House put together to continue to build a Surfing Community in our neck of the woods...that's what it's all about; surf culture.

Contact the crew at the Beach House if you have any questions -
732-714-8566 or eric@beachhouseclassic.com

EVENT RULES:
There is no charge for selling boards- the Beach House is not responsible for boards bought or sold at the swap. You need to stay with your boards and be available to negotiate price.

You are welcome to bring surfboards and surfing memorabilia...NO WETSUITS or CLOTHING USED or NEW outside the shop. This creates an sidewalk sale, fleamarket atmosphere that is NOT ALLOWED BY THE TOWN OF BAY HEAD OR THE BEACH HOUSE.

Some new fins hit the Fin Rack...

Got a Tru Ames fin delivery and filled the rack...great selection in the shop.  Greenough 4a fins, California Classics, a Heritage fin, a Velzy fin, a Wilderness, a squirrell and a couple of others.

the fin delivery

the Greenough 4a fins

some others

Spoke to Hap today...cool story about the Pig.

a couple of my prized Jacobs...hangin in the shop.

the iconic diamond.

I had the honor to meet Hap Jacobs when we opened 16 years ago and have been blessed to have forged a friendship with him. I hadn't heard from him in a while, so about a week ago I gave him a call...he picked up right away and pulled his car over so we could talk. He was on his way to shape a few boards. The first thing he said was "Eric, great to hear from you...how are things back there in New Jersey? I always think about you guys when I see the bad weather...Hope you guys are all doing well." Pretty cool to talk to such a surf legend and such a humble guy. Hap's 81 and one of the nicest people I've had the privaledge to meet...a true legend and gentleman.

an original Velzy JacobsPig

We got to talking about boards and got on the topic of the Pig. He was telling me about the 1st time he and Dale Velzy made the original Pig model. He said Dale was shaping it and he was watching from behind, giving input. They wanted to shape a board that would turn real well and handle bigger surf and trim well with the narrow nose, even if it would sacrifice noseriding. "From the top it looked kind of like a Pig…big wide tail and narrow in the front." He said "Dale started shaping the nose and got through the middle of the board…when he got to the tail, he said you think I can leave it like this? You think it will work? Almost as if we just got lazy and didn’t want to finish it."

the boys themselves...way back.

original lam.

They took it up to the Hermosa Pier and Mickey Munoz rode it while Hap and Dale watched from the beach. He caught his 1st wave, did a nice turn and walked up and stood right on the nose. He and Dale looked at each other and they both said "Wow, it works...looks like it'll be a pretty good board for Malibu!" They gave it to another local that they knew was a really good surfer and he road it in overhead surf at the Redondo Breakwater. "He would take off and go every which way…left right left right with no control. It was to big and to steep and we knew it wasn’t going to work here." Pretty cool story about the origination of the Pig...it ended up revolutionizing board design and led us to where we are now.

Yea, I said Hap pulled over...he was on his way to shape some boards!  I'm thinking some might be coming our way...through the Beach House.  Couldn't be more stoked!

The Hot Generation Trailer (1967)

Sea of Joy Trailer (1971)

Evolution Trailer (1969)

Paul Witzig's Surf Trilogy...here from australia and on the shelf.

Paul Witzig's documentation of the Shortboard Revolution, from 1967 - 1971 is on the racks at the Beach House.  Evolution, Sea of Joy and Hot Generation feature the best surfers of the Transition Era...Wayne Lynch, Nat Young, Ted Spencer, Bob Mc Tavish, Midget Farrelly and many others.

Completely restored...an awesome documentation of this era in Surf Culture.