Terry Strumpf was born in Detroit, Michigan, but moved at the age of two to Jacksonville, Florida for his health. There he began surfing Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, and eventually Vilano and Blowhole.
Lauren Hill, professional surfer and writer, visited her hometown of St. Augustine. She reminisced about surf competitions, life as a female surfer, and going international.
Jody Davis discusses growing up on Vilano Beach and how his father got him interested in surfing at a young age. Davis also discusses his favorite surf spots, his experiences with No Fear, a surf clothing company, and he tells a few fishing…
David Banfield moved to St. Augustine when he was a child, and started surfing when he was 12. He attended Florida Southern University, studied abroad in Spain, and acquired a position with Florida East Coast Railway, in Miami. Banfield discussed…
Bert Tavary started surfing at age twelve in Galveston, Texas on the Gulf of Mexico. After graduating from high school, he spent four years in the Navy. He moved back and forth between California and Florida, surfing anywhere he could. He described…
Mark Bernstein was a longtime owner of the legendary Sun n Surf Shop (1965-2000). He discussed the beginnings of the shop, regulars at local surf spots, the long-running Fourth of July Surf Contest, and the ESA in St. Augustine.
Greg McDonald moved to St. Augustine and started surfing in 1964. He attended St. Joseph Academy and developed close friendships with other young surfers in the 1960s and 1970s. McDonald discussed how swells have changed over time, surfers he…
Dennis "Biddy" Hunter, was born and raised in St. Augustine. He became one of the first people to bring surfing to the community in the 1960s. He entered surfing contests, and continued surfing professionally from 1967 to 1996. He also won the…
Ronnie Brown spoke about getting started surfing in his childhood, the community of surfers that existed in St. Augustine, and the lifestyle of surfers in the 1960s.
Joe Beach is a St. Augustine native and began surfing in 1965. He recalled Mark Bernstein’s first “surf check,” which preceded the surf report in the mid-1960s. Beach became an ESA judge and became an ESA district directors. He also reminisced on…
J. Lee Driskell discussed her work as a hurricane damage specialist, the evolution of women’s swimsuits and how it affected surfing, some of the surf contests she’s attended, and her favorite spots to surf in St. Augustine.
Walter Coker discussed his early years surfing in Satellite Beach, Florida. He also worked as a photographer at Folio Magazine, and spoke about the affects that beach re-nourishment has had on popular surf spots in St. Augustine.
Friends, Tom Alexander, Clint Porter, and Larry Schaeffer have surfed together since childhood. They discussed their early days surfing around Sixth Street on St. Augustine Beach, some of the surf trips they’ve taken, and how their families became…
