SLV Museum Surfboard Exhibit 10/24

From the SLV Museum Web Site:

Exhibit Reception and Book Signing:
October 24, 2009 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Big Trees to Surfboards - The Redwood Connection

The San Lorenzo Valley Museum in partnership with the Santa Cruz Surfing Club Preservation Society are proud to debut an exciting new exhibit: "Big Trees to Surfboards - The Redwood Connection".

This fascinating and historical exhibit documents that in 1885 three Hawaiian princes selected prime redwood slabs from the Grover Mill in Brookdale, had them shipped to the Grover Planing Mill in downtown Santa Cruz for shaping into surfboards and then rode those boards at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River - the earliest recorded surfing in the Continental United States. This exhibit includes photos of the princes and early surfing, where they stayed in Santa Cruz, vintage shaping tools, and the progression of surfboards from a redwood slab to hollow paddle board to full-size replica redwood board to modern olo form board with redwood stringers.

Well-known local surfer and author Tom Hickenbottom will be signing his book, "Surfing in Santa Cruz", which can be purchased at the museum bookstore. Join us to listen to Hawaiian acoustical music and talk with local surfing historians about the early surfing days. We want to thank our exhibit sponsors: Big Creek Lumber, Scarborough Lumber, Boulder Creek HW, and Surfrider Cafe. We also want to thank our exhibit designer and contractor - Mark Shunney.