The vintage surf auction “California Gold” went off at the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa yesterday with total sales of $680,000.
The event was organized to raise funds for San Clemente’s Surfing Heritage & Cultural Center, whose mission is preserving surfing’s history. Hundreds of surfers and collectors attended the event to enjoy the art, music, book signings, vintage cars and of course the silent and live auctions.
Surf legends and industry icons in attendance included Tom Curren, Peter Mel, Keith Malloy, Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, Mark Cunningham, John Van Hamersveld, Greg Noll, Larry Bertlemann, L.J. Richards, Mickey Munoz, Peter Townend, Rich Harbour, Rusty Miller, C.R. Stecyk III, Paul Naude and Fernando Aguerre.
With more than 50 surfboards from the early 1900s through today, a highlight of the auction included the Pete Peterson 1949 California Point Break Board, which sold for the highest price of $32,400. In addition, the most anticipated portion of the evening, the sale of “The Surf Riders of Hawaii” book by A.R. Gurrey, Jr. sold for $27,000.
Reef beach sandal company co-founder Fernando Aguerre walked off with the California Point Break board.
“I’m stoked that all of the surfers and collectors supported the event’s debut in California,” said Scott Bass, director of the Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction. “The strong demand for the rare surfboards and memorabilia, was demonstrated by more than 90% of the lots selling,” said Bass, who looks forward to reprising the event again in two years.
Photos by Jim Collins
