Local Legends
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San Clemente Surfing Heritage
In addition to our outstanding waves, San Clemente has become the surf home town for many of the sport’s past and present celebrities. Following is sampling of our local legends. If you have an entry for this page note the E-Mail address below.
EMail about San Clemente Surfing Heritage

Tom Morey
Creator of the original Boogie Board, Tom Morey, 67 has been surfing since he was just a kid. When Tom Morey made the first Boogie Board in the garage of his home, he started the body board wave that came crashing down on Southern California's beaches. He opened up the sport of riding waves to a wider population than just surfers – kids and senior citizens alike. It was a venture that made Morey a full-time businessman. Now, 30 years later, Morey has returned to his roots — the garage and the ocean — with a new board and a new name. This Surf Legend can’t be stopped from his passion of making and riding surfboards. Morey's new boards, which sell for $650 can only be purchased online at http://www.starwaves.com. He makes the boards in his Capistrano Beach home that he shares with his wife, Marchia, and three of his six children.
More information on Tom Morey

Joe Severson
Joe Severson arrived on the San Clemente scene in 1946. Joe took to the water early, bodysurfing and belly boarding at the pier and T Street. Joe started surfing in 1955, surfing every winter & summer from San Onofre to Killer Dana. Also, he was a San Clemente lifeguard during the late 50's, and a genuine "shop gremme" at Velzy's San Clemente shop, and later glassed for Hobie at his shop. Joe currently is an artist focusing on the beach life style. Joe and Nancy Severson are the parents of four adult children, their daughter, Ladeshia, and sons; Simon, Ben and Daniel; another generation of surfing Seversons.

Tubesteak Tracy
Terry-Michael Tracy first began surfing 52 years ago at a spot 200 feet north of the shack at Old Man’s. Tracy, 67 grew up in Los Angeles and lived in San Clemente since 1988. Tracy was the inspiration for the great Kahoona. The character played by Cliff Robertson in the 1959 “Gidget” movie made his home in a shack on a Malibu beach – but the real story came from Tracy. Tracy stopped surfing in 1980 after a large bunion formed on his left foot which caused severe pain. Tracy and his wife Phyllis have seven grown children and their grandson, Joshua, also an avid surfer, is a senior at San Clemente High School.

Dale Velzy
Dale Velzy, "The Hawk," was surfing's first commercial surfboard shaper. Before that, he built boards alongside the likes of legendaries Bob Simmons and Abel Gomes as well as peers like Joe Quigg and Matt Kivlin. Before that, starting out in the 1930s, the Hawk surfed with the best riders of the Manhattan, Hermosa and Palos Verdes Surf Clubs. Born in 1927 in Hermosa Beach, Velzy started surfing when just a child. He got into building boards by shaping down old planks into smaller, lighter boards he could use. He shaped surfboards and paddleboards.

Mickey Munoz
Once described as the "surfer's surfer" Mickey Muñoz has been riding waves since the 50’s. Winning the first professional surf contest and pioneering Waimea Bay are some of the many things Mickey Munoz the surfer has accomplished. Just as impressive is Mickey Muñoz’s success as a surfboard designer. He is often called the "designer's designer." For years he was one of the main men at Hobie. Mickey has shaped thousands of boards, designed numerous boats, help create snowboards and shape all types of boards.

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