Surfer celebrates 50th with party and memories

To help celebrate their 50th anniversary, the California Surf Museum hosted a night with Surfer Magazine editors from the past to the present at the Grace Theater in Oceanside, Calif.

The night kicked off with a VIP reception at the California Surf Museum followed by an evening with historical images, videos and stories from the editors and surfers who helped shape the magazine’s history.

Surfers from Skip Frye to Shaun Tomson and Rob Machado talked about what the magazine meant for their era.

“For a little kid growing up in Durban, South Africa at the other end of the world, landing the cover of Surfer was an absolute dream,” Shaun Tomson said.

Editors Drew Kampion, Sean McNulty on behalf of his father Patrick McNulty, Steve Pezman, Jim Kempton, Steve Hawk, Evan Slater, Sam George, Chris Mauro and current Surfer Magazine Editor Joel Patterson all shared stories about their reign.

The 50th Anniversary black-and-gold colored issue of the magazine features first-hand accounts from the editors including the best advice they learned at Surfer, their favorite piece during their term, and the story they wish they told but missed.