May 28, 2025

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In One Week!

June 4

Film Screening

Maya and the Wave

Directed by Stephanie Johnes

Produced by Rashida Jones

Doors open at 6pm

Film screening begins about 6:30pm

$10 general admission

$5 California Surf Museum members



Seating is limited.

To RSVP and purchase tickets, please call 760-721-6876.

Maya and the Wave, a feature length documentary, tells the extraordinary story of Maya Gabeira, the first woman to surf the giant wave in Nazaré, Portugal. She nearly drowns — and is ridiculed by the male big wave surfers who dominate the sport. Three spine surgeries and five years later, she surfs the biggest wave a woman has ever surfed. When her accomplishment is disregarded, Maya enlists the help of her fans to fight for recognition — and becomes the first female surfer honored with a Guinness World Record in big wave surfing.

Run time 1h35m. English subtitles. Click here to see trailer.

In Two Weeks!

June 11

Slide Show and Talk

Duke Kahanamoku

On the 100-year anniversary of his heroic rescue

Doors open at 6pm

Presentation begins about 6:30pm

$10 general admission

$5 California Surf Museum members



Seating is limited.

To RSVP and purchase tickets, please call 760-721-6876.

Historian Paul Burnett and his wife, author Claudine Burnett, will talk about Duke Kahanamoku’s lifesaving story recognizing the 100-year anniversary on June 14, 1925, of Duke’s heroic rescue at Corona Del Mar of eight drowning crew members whose vessel, the Thelma, had swamped in heavy seas at the mouth of the Newport harbor.

The California Surf Museum is lucky the actual board that he used to save the crew resides right here in the Museum (on loan from Dale Smith). The incident prompted lifeguards in California to adopt surfboards as a primary way of rescuing victims in dangerous conditions.

As Duke said, “It was in 1925 when I accidentally introduced another kind of surfing [lifesaving] to California. Good sometimes comes from the worst of tragedies. Boards became standard equipment on the emergency rescue trucks as well as at the towers.”

Paul Burnett

Paul is the Director of the Oral History Center at UC Berkeley. He spent a year in Philadelphia researching and producing museum exhibits for the American Philosophical Society where he got a strong sense of the public appeal of historical research, and learned about how different techniques and media can be used to ignite the curiosity of the public.

Claudine Burnett

Claudine has actively been pursuing Southern California history since 1971. She is the former head of the Literature and History Department of Long Beach Public Library and is a member of various historical societies.

Click here to read more about Paul and Claudine Burnett.

July 23

Film Screening

Big Wave Guardians:

First Responders of the Sea

Doors open at 6pm

Presentation begins about 6:30pm

$10 general admission

$5 California Surf Museum members

Seating is limited. 

To RSVP and purchase tickets, please call 760-721-6876.



Big Wave Guardians is the story of Hawaiian lifeguarding and how it is intricately intertwined with surfing and the contemporary culture of Hawaii.

These Big Wave Guardians risk their lives to save others in the world’s most dangerous waves while inventing innovative water safety techniques.

It features Brian Keaulana, Terry Ahue, Eddie and Clyde Aikau, Jose and Johnny Angel, Mel Pu’u, Tamayo Perry, Andrea Moller, Mark Cunningham, Moana Jones, Darrick Doerner, Keala Kennelly, Buffalo, Sion Milosky, Jamie O’Brien, Mark Healey, and more than a dozen lifeguards on active duty.

The film was written by California Surf Museum’s Executive Director Jim Kempton, produced by legendary son Marty Hoffman of legendary surfer Flippy Hoffman, and directed by Luke Stirtz.

Film Awards: 

Maui Film Festival Audience Favorite Award

Santa Barbara Surf Film Fest Best Documentary

Cinemare International Ocean Film Festival Best Screenplay

Nature Track Film Festival Best Documentary

Click here for more information and to see the trailer.

For those in the San Diego area —

Sunday, June 1

Never Die Young is back at the Music Box!

Music Box

1337 India Street • San Diego CA 92101

Doors open at 6pm • Concert begins at 7pm

Seated show. Ages 21+.

General Admission Seat Ticket Price: $25 adv / $27 day of

Gold Circle Seat Ticket Price (seat within 1st 5 rows): $30 adv / $32 day of

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Note: Tickets available at box office. Convenience service charges apply for online purchases. 

PARKING: Street parking and paid lot parking available.

The Music of James Taylor and Friends with Never Die Young 

Never Die Young features David Sheils on vocals and guitar and longtime friend and collaborator guitarist Tim Godwin. Together, they have recorded, toured, written, and sang with classic artists such as Air Supply, Chicago, Shelby Lynn, Laura Brannigan, Tower of Power, and Pat Benatar. Joined by the beautiful vocals of Kylea Sheils and stellar San Diego musicians Jim Reeves on bass, Josh Weinstein on keyboards, Bob Sales on drums and Larry Grano on percussion and vocals. Never Die Young celebrates the songs of James Taylor and some of his closest friends; they bring a genuinely heartfelt and authentic interpretation of some of the greatest songs ever written! Never Die Young will take you down that Country Road and make you feel like You’ve Got a Friend. Come out and enjoy and wonderful evening of intimate songs and stories.

Saturday, August 23 • 3-8pm

2nd Annual Rolling from the 60s into the 70s

Celebrating the culture and history of skateboarding and presentation of the 2025 Silver Skater awards.

Co-emcees: Denis Shufeldt

and Brian Logan

Guest Speaker: Steve Olson



2025 Silver Skater Honorees

Linda Benson

Joey Cabell

Ed Economy

Jim Ganzer

Randy Lewis

Carrasco Brothers: Richy, Rene, David

$85 admission includes dinner and one drink ticket

$225 Silver Skater Package. Includes dinner and one drink ticket, event t-shirt and hat, 13 tickets for Spin to Win ($130 value), and entry into drawing for a California Surf Museum one-year membership.

A limited number of reserved tables are available:

$680 reserved table of 8

$1,800 reserved table of 8 with Silver Skater Packages



Click here to get your tickets now! This event sold out last year!

It's all happening at the

Veterans Association of North County

1617 Mission Ave. Oceanside 92058

In conjunction with the Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum.

Click here to keep up-to-date on this event!

17th Annual Gala Fundraiser

Saturday, November 1

2-8pm

It’s going to be an Endless Summer in November as we celebrate the 2025 Silver Surfer honorees!



Bruce Brown in memory • Mike Hynson in memory • Robert August

John Van Hamersveld

Robert “Wingnut” Weaver • Pat O’Connell

with Honorary Gala Chairwoman 2017 Silver Surfer Jericho Poppler

Join us at The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa 

overlooking the ocean and Oceanside’s iconic pier!

101 Mission Avenue Oceanside

Tickets on sale soon! Click here to stay up-to-date!

If you have not yet seen it, come check out one of our most dynamic exhibits to date! So much to see!

This “blast from the past” exhibit demonstrates how, in less than a decade, from the years from 1958 to 1965, surfing related elements came to dominate popular culture forming a lasting effect on California, America and the world at large. From iconic record albums, period surfboards, fashion artifacts, seminal photographic images and memorabilia, visitors will get a clearer sense of why this era is considered the “golden age” of surfing and the surfing lifestyle. On display through September 1.

Be sure to check out surfmuseum.org!

There’s always lots to see!

As we gear up for the 17th Annual Gala Fundraiser, be sure to see all the fun and fundraising at the wrap up of the 16th Annual Gala Fundraiser here.

Click here to see past issues of the California Surf Museum’s newsletter OUTSIDE! going back to 2007! We still have more to upload.

Take a look around past events in the Event Archive.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

And don’t forgot to follow the California Surf Museum on YouTube! Lots to see there too! Including videos from past events and the very popular “Jan and Dean Sidewalk Surfin’” video.

The California Surf Museum Exhibit Hall is Open

10am-4pm Daily

NOW ON EXHIBIT

Click here to read about some of our exhibits online.

• Stars, Cars & Guitars: The Birth of the Modern Surf Era 1958-1965 through September 1, 2025
• GHOST WAVE: The Mystery of Cortes Bank
• Wave Science: Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP)
• A Brief History of Surfboards: from Wood to Foam and Fiberglass
• Courageous Inspiration: Bethany Hamilton
• Making Waves: Jack and Reid Van Wagoner
• Bodysurfing: Fins and Handplanes

Shop the California Surf Museum Store!

Surfing Monkeys are back!

In store only — no shipping

Our Museum Store is stocked up with lots of unique merchandise both in store and online! Click here to shop online (California Surf Museum members: be sure to call in your order to get your 10% discount on California Surf Museum-branded store merchandise).

Remember, memberships always make great gifts -- click here -- or click here to renew your membership today! Besides 10% off on California Surf Museum-branded store merchandise, members get free admission to our exhibit hall, and free or reduced admission to our Big Wednesdays and other in-house events.

Already a member? Be sure to share the stoke by sharing your guest passes with your friends and family!

Mission Statement

The California Surf Museum serves as an international repository and resource center on the lifestyle sport of surfing by capturing, preserving, and chronicling its art, culture and heritage for the education and enjoyment of current and future generations.