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Statue of tandem duo unveiled at Waterman’s Plaza in Dana Point

October 27, 2023

Steve and Barrie Boehne have traveled the world and shared thousands of rides together – but one thrilling moment showing the tandem duo’s stylish moves has now immortalize their place in Dana Point’s rich surf and skate culture.

A life-size, bronze statue showcasing the Boehnes riding a skateboard tandem – Barrie hoisted high above Steve’s head – was unveiled on Wednesday, Oct. 25, during a ceremony that brought together friends, family and fans. The statue, created by artist Bill Limebrook, joins statues of icons Hobie Alter, Joyce Hoffman, Bruce Brown, John Severson, and Phil Edwards are already on display at Watermen’s Plaza.

When the city envisioned Watermen’s Plaza, it was to recognize the watermen and women who made their mark where they lived, worked, innovated and, of course, surfed, in Dana Point, said Mike Frost, the town’s mayor.

“Now, Steve and Barrie are honored with the first, life-sized tandem statue in the nation,” he said.

Family, friends and fellow surfers gather around the life-sized statue of Barrie and Steve Boehne during a statue unveiling ceremony at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A photo of Barrie and Steve Boehne circa 1970. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tandem surfing and skating champion, Barrie Boehne laughs during a statue unveiling ceremony for the champion tandem and skating team at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tandem surfing and skating champion, Steve Boehne speaks during a statue unveiling ceremony for the champion tandem and skating team at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tandem surfing and skating champion, Barrie Boehne cheers during a statue unveiling ceremony for the champion tandem and skating team at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tandem surfing and skating champion, Barrie Boehne listens to speakers during a statue unveiling ceremony for the champion tandem and skating team at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tandem surfing and skating champions, Barrie and Steve Boehne react as their son Dave tells a funny story about his father during a statue unveiling ceremony at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dana Point Mayor Mike Frost speaks during the Barrie and Steve Boehne statue unveiling ceremony at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tandem surfing and skating champions, Barrie and Steve Boehne clap during a statue unveiling ceremony for the champion tandem and skating pair at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Surrounded by family and friends, Steve Boehne, with his wife Barrie next to him, raises giant scissors in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the unveiling of a life-sized statue of tandem surfers, Barrie and Steve Boehne at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dave Boehne holds up a old photo of his parents Barrie and Steve Boehne that was used as the inspiration for the statue of his parents during an unveiling ceremony at in Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. The life-sized statue of tandem skaters and surfers. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A photograph of Barrie and Steve Boehne by photographer Alain Rossiaud appeared in Surfer’s Journal in 1997. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Despite Barrie Boehne’s four recently broken ribs from a Segway accident, she and her husband Steve can still strike a pose similar to their competitive tandem surfing days that started in the 60s and lasted nearly 40 years. The duo will soon be honored with a bronze statue erected at Watermen’s Plaza. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Barrie and Steve Boehne in Dana Point on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, started tandem surfing in the 60s and competed for almost 40 years. The duo, considered top in the world, will soon be honored with a bronze statue placed at Watermen’s Plaza. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A photo of Barrie and Steve Boehne circa 1970. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Steve and Barrie Boehne, a tandem surfing duo who have won more championships than any other team, will be honored with a bronze statue in Dana Point at the Watermen’s Plaza. (File photo KEN STEINHARDT/SCNG)

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Frost ticked off a list of the couple’s accolades – more than any tandem team in history – to the large crowd that gathered across from Doheny State Beach on Pacific Coast Highway for the ceremony, including winning the world tandem championship title twice, the US Surfing Championships four times and the prestigious Makaha and France contests each five times.

“That’s a lot of trophies,” Frost said, noting they were also featured on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” and in Life Magazine.

What also made the Boehnes’ story special was their surf shop, Infinity Surfboards, in business for more than 53 years. The couple moved their operation south from Huntington Beach, landing in Dana Point about 35 years ago.

“I think Barrie and Steve’s career epitomizes the surf culture, the authenticity of Dana Point,” Frost said.

Surfer Derek Erickson has been a part of the Infinity team for 30 years, first sponsored by the brand when he moved from Hawaii to California in pursuit of a pro surfing career.

Three decades later, Steve Boehne is now teaching Erickson how to shape surfboards.

“They are truly a great family,” Erickson said. “They are so nice and gracious, humble people.”

Son Dave Boehne talked about how he and his brother, Dan, heard their entire lives how cool their parents are – no surprise for the siblings who grew up with a “mad scientist” dad and a “ripping” mom who would do anything adventurous.

He first talked about his dad, a legendary surfboard shaper and also one of the “nicest guys on the planet.”

“He has a heart of gold,” he said. “He’s the guy, if you have a challenging or crazy idea for a project, you go to Steve. He’s the guy who can do it and more importantly is willing to take on the projects most shapers don’t want to touch. Watching my dad shape surfboards is like watching a smooth jazz performance. He was born to shape and each performance ends with a magic board.”

Steve Boehne has spent a lifetime making sure other people were having a good time, starting when he was a teen taking out his younger siblings to ride tandem.

“He would take other people out surfing and paddling to experience the thrill of riding waves and share the same stoke he had for the ocean,” Dave Boehne said. “He had more fun doing that than surfing solo.”

If it’s “tandemizable” – a word Steve Boehne coined – he’s done it: tandem surfing, tandem mountain biking, tandem stand-up paddle, tandem snowboarding, tandem windsurfing and, as depicted in the statue, tandem skateboarding.

“He truly is Mr. Tandem. His giving personality is what defines him the most,” Dave Boehne said. “My dad, the living legend.”

His mom is a woman with an unlimited amount of energy and an unreal spirit for adventure, he said.

The photo used as an inspiration for the statue was from a film shot in the mid-1970s of the couple skateboarding, he said, holding up the image of Barrie in the air casually resting in Steve’s hands while he rides a skateboard.

“My mom is three months pregnant with myself in this photo. Pretty crazy. I don’t want to steal anybody’s thunder, but … I’m in the statue!” he said, a big smile on his face and fists clinched to the sky as the crowd cheered.

Barrie Boehne, 75, is still an inspiration, encouraging everyone she comes in contact with to be the best they can be, he said. “My mom, the ripper.”

Steve Boehne held back tears during his speech, talking about how fun it was to watch the process as Limebrook formed the bronze statue.

“If he wanted to make a change to a head or a body part, he would just saw off a limb, and put it back in place,” he said. “We were each decapitated and amputated several times.”

Boehne asked the artist why he picked a skateboard, rather than a surfboard, since riding waves is what the couple is most known for.

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“He pointed out a 12-foot tandem surfboard would just invite every kid and tourist to climb up on the board with us to pose for a picture,” Boehne said. “When they fell off, it would cause far more injuries than what we were doing.”

Boehne said tandem surfing has been the “ultimate in a male-female relationship.”

“The strength and surfing knowledge for the guy, combined with the grace, beauty and trust from the girl,” Boehne said. “We have wonderful memories of tandem waves we have shared together.

“I am so lucky she was with me all these years, thousands of waves we have ridden together all over the world,” he added. “We finally retired after 40 years of tandem competition in 2005. But we will be tandeming together in this statue forever.”

Orange County Register

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Statue of tandem duo unveiled at Waterman’s Plaza in Dana Point

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