A Ride Through O'side Surf History
Surfing culture is vibrant and alive in O’side! The history surrounding the sport’s lifestyle and uniqueness is spotlighted at none other than Oceanside’s California Surf Museum (CSM)! Since 1986, CSM has worked to preserve iconic surf memorabilia for visitors and locals alike to experience the joy, skill, culture, technique and entertainment of surfing, water sports and the ocean firsthand. The museum hosts rotating exhibits in addition to its signature historical timeline of surfboards, Bethany Hamilton’s shark-bitten surfboard, the new Donald Takayama exhibition and MORE! While the exhibits explore the global influences that contributed to the sport of surfing, the museum also highlights local Oceanside surf stories and athletes. Get a taste of the historic O’side surf scene with the epic throwback photos below archived by CSM Staff Historian Jane Schmauss.



California Surf Museum’s newest exhibit “Donald Takayama: Shaping Boards and Lives” honors a surf legend. Donald Moke Takayama, who passed away in 2012, will forever be recognized as one of the top San Diego-based performance surfers of his generation. More importantly, his unparalleled genius and skill in the shaping room, which spans six decades of board-building and includes induction into the International Surfboard Builder Hall of Fame, will forever be etched in San Diego North County history. Takayama would ‘cast his spell upon the waves with lightening quickness, carving moves and nose rides that seemed to last forever. On the beach, his personality radiated the spirit of aloha’. He stated “Aloha is really important to me. I was brought up with it. To me, it means giving, sharing, helping one another, and showing that you care. It means just try to be on equal level with people that you meet. That’s Aloha.” And that was Donald.
Surf Highlights




Robert Lee “Black Mac” McClendon was a San Diego local who shaped his first boards with balsa wood and eventually progressed to foam and fiberglass. His family is pictured along the Oceanside shoreline with Pacific Street in the background! Today, when you visit Oceanside beaches, Pacific Street is still an iconic coastal stretch you’ll often find surfers snagging a parking spot on before they head down to catch a wave! Even with decades gone by, the convenience, breaks and weather continue to attract phenomenal surfers and their families to Oceanside.


Surf Contest History


Oceanside Longboard Contest
With waves shaped in part by its classic Pier on the Strand and by twin jetties at the Harbor, Oceanside has long been one of the top surf contest venues in Southern California. In the early 1980s the community-oriented Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club was formed and began a tradition that celebrated its 36th annual competition this summer. On August 7-8, 2021 many of the world’s top longboarding men and women competed for trophies and enjoyed the family-friendly, two-day festivity at the Pier.
World Bodysurfing Contest
Bodysurfers are a different breed. Give them a pair of swim fins and room to catch a wave, and they’re happy as, well…seals and dolphins. Bodysurfing is one of the oldest, simplest, most playful water sports on the planet, no doubt inspired by watching our distant-cousin mammals frolic in the surf. On August 21-22, 2022 Oceanside will host the 44th annual World Bodysurfing Contest, bringing in over 300 top athletes to compete for titles and prizes in their respective categories.
SuperGirl Pro
A crowd-packed, action-filled event held for several years at the iconic Pier, the SuperGirl Pro Series was launched in 2007 to showcase the top talent in women’s action sports. It’s a true celebration of female strength and camaraderie, bringing together many of the sport’s established and rising stars in a team-based format. In 2020, Team California, featuring Lakey Peterson and Caity Simmers, secured the title in near-perfect surf conditions, and Caity, at age 14, became the youngest SuperGirl in the event’s colorful history.
Adaptive Surf Contest
Surfing is not an easy sport – right? It lifts you up, knocks you down, but you get back up and do it all over again. Now add a physical impairment or disability and there are multiple challenges to overcome. Adaptive surfers meet these challenges head-on and are an inspiration to all. They won’t be held back.