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Corky: Shopping with some of the folks who know surfing the best

December 13, 2024

It’s mid-December here in the beautiful O.C. and there is a lot of shopping going on.

We like to think we will get prepared for the holidays early and not have to rely on last-minute, rush-job shopping for those all-important gifts for special friends and family who will be the lucky replicants this year. But, do we really ever do that?

You might be one of the extremely organized few who do that, and good on ya if that’s you. But I am one of those who seem to wait to get to it when the clock is ticking down to the last “fa la la la laaaa” and “ho ho ho,” as Santa Claus jumps into the chimney.

I delivered my suggested gifts for surfers list a few weeks ago, all good and on time. But today I thought I might follow that up with a bit of what I consider a good suggestion on where you shop to buy those gifts.

I am a firm believer in supporting your local surf shops when shopping for gifts for surfers. Most all surf shops are owned and run by fellow surfers who are trying to make a living. In doing so they provide the exact stuff that you will be looking for.

I was looking for Hawaiian shirts, one of my favorite items to give close pals. The coolest are the vintage ones that we used to search the thrift stores for. There is a guy right here in Costa Mesa off 17th Street that has a cool little store that specializes in those: Dirt Cheap Plants and Hawaiian Shirts. I get all mine there. The owner’s name is Nik, cool dude, long time surfer and knows his stuff.

Surf shops are the same thing. You go in, talk to a local surfer who works there, and get help finding exactly what you need. There are small “mom-and-pop” type stores where you very possibly could be talking to the owner himself.

Frog House in Newport Beach is one of those. T.K. is the owner, and much of the time the salesman. He knows his stuff. Infinity in Dana Point, same kinda deal. Steve and Berri are the owners and are on the floor talking to ya. All these people could be sitting in the lineup catching waves that very morning.

Even with some of the larger surf shops you get this same kind of thing. Huntington Surf & Sport, for example, is one of the larger surf shops. It is run by Aaron Pai and his entire family – who all surf.

Surf shops have come a long, very long, way since I was a kid. In those days, the shop was probably the exact place where the boards were made. They smelled like resin. Sometimes you stepped in it. And they sold surfboards and maybe T-shirts. That was it. Later they would stock wetsuits, repair stuff and maybe wax (when surf wax came about).

Today, modern surf shops carry tons of stuff, all surf-related and perfect gift items for surfers. From boards, wetsuits and wax to all sorts of accessories that would include water watches, clothing, videos, books, suncare, sunglasses, travel bags and on and on.

Yes, you can find some of this stuff at the mall. But it’s doubtful that you will find a local surfer there as a salesperson to help you fine-tune that gift. Shop for anybody else at the mall, shop for surfers in your local surf shops.

On last plug, if you want a “wave painting,” I am your guy. [email protected]. Hey, just sayin’.

Support your local surf shops and local surfers. Have a super cool yule.

Orange County Register

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Corky: Shopping with some of the folks who know surfing the best

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