Huntington Beach Int'l Surfing Museum
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
For a look at a major surfing event from the 1980s that shaped the sport of competitive surfing today, drop in at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum to see the OP Pro exhibit.
Filled with photos,
posters, original art, surfboards and memorabilia, the exhibit is an homage to
the OP Pro Surfing Championships (1982 - 1994) started by the Ocean Pacific
apparel company to celebrate surfing and build interest in the sport.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel thought it would be a great time to check out the exhibit on International Surfing Day (June 17th) and we weren't disappointed.
Jam-packed with bold, bright colors and images, the exhibit captures the energy of the 80s surfing scene and documents some of the surfing legends that emerged then, including Kelly Slater and Andy Irons.
Museum docent Jeff Whiting was eager to talk about the exhibit and point out some of the key pieces on display...
along with a bust of
the museum's late founder, Natalie Kotsch, who was recently honored by
Huntington Beach. SurfWriter Girls were lucky to have known Kotsch and were
excited to see the recognition she is receiving.
On the day we visited the museum, surf company Rip Curl was at the HB Pier holding its 2023 GromSearch competition to find today's top young surfers. And, like the famed OP Pro did in its day, to help launch the next generation of surfing greats.
The OP Pro exhibit is leaving soon, but the OP Pro Surfing Championships and the memories it made, will always be part of the fabric of Huntington Beach.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti
Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications
wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com
Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites
as long as credit is given.
