Windansea Beach
Encyclopedia
Windansea Beach is stretch of coastline located in La Jolla, a community of San Diego, California
. The neighborhood adjacent to the beach is named Windansea after the beach. It is named after an oceanfront hotel that burned down in the late 1940s. Geographically, it is defined by the beachfront extending north of Palomar Avenue and south of Westbourne Street.
(who died at that break in 1954), and Big Rock.
A palm-covered shack was originally constructed in 1946 by Woody Ekstrom, Fred Kenyon and Don Okey. "The Surf Shack at Windansea Beach" was designated as an historical landmark by the San Diego Historical Resources Board on May 27, 1998.
The parking lot offers just a few spaces and there are no drinking fountains, showers or public restrooms.
Windansea has served as home break to Pat Curren, Mike Diffenderfer, Chris O'Rourke, Joey Cabell, Mickey Munoz
and Butch Van Artsdalen
. Steve Pezman, former publisher of Surfer magazine and current publisher of The Surfer's Journal, called Windansea locals in the early 1960s "the heaviest surf crew ever."
The Windansea Surf Club featured was founded by Chuck Hasley in 1962, and included members such as The Endless Summer
star and first Vice President Mike Hynson, Skip Frye
, Joey Cabell, Del Cannon, Mike Purpus and Rusty Miller, Andy Tyler, Tom Ortner, Brew Briggs, Chris O'Rourke, Richard Kenvin, Miko Fleming, Debbie Beacham, Peter King, Saxon Boucher, Karl Engstrom, Randy Lind, "Big Steve" Jones, Ian Rotgans, "Big George" Felactu & Longboard Larry.
In 1963, Michael Dormer
and Lee Teacher built a six foot, 400 pound version of their Hot Curl
cartoon character out of cement, iron, a mop, a light bulb, and a beer can. The statue appeared on the rocks over Windansea beach in La Jolla, holding a beer in one hand while gazing out over the ocean in search of the perfect wave. In 1964 Hot Curl
was the inspiration for a string of "Beach Party" movies, including "Muscle Beach Party
" starring Frankie Avalon
, Annette Funicello
, Buddy Hackett
, and Don Rickles
.
's book of essays, The Pump House Gang
, is about a group of surfers from Windansea Beach who "attended the Watts riots
as if it were the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena
."
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The neighborhood adjacent to the beach is named Windansea after the beach. It is named after an oceanfront hotel that burned down in the late 1940s. Geographically, it is defined by the beachfront extending north of Palomar Avenue and south of Westbourne Street.
Surfing history
The main peak at Windansea is a reef break. During the winter months, Windansea can have six-to-eight foot surf. Other breaks in the vicinity of Windansea include Middles, Turtles, and Simmons, named after Bob SimmonsRobert Wilson Simmons
Robert Wilson Simmons , better known as Bob Simmons, was an early surfing pioneer, and considered to be the father of the modern surfboard....
(who died at that break in 1954), and Big Rock.
A palm-covered shack was originally constructed in 1946 by Woody Ekstrom, Fred Kenyon and Don Okey. "The Surf Shack at Windansea Beach" was designated as an historical landmark by the San Diego Historical Resources Board on May 27, 1998.
The parking lot offers just a few spaces and there are no drinking fountains, showers or public restrooms.
Windansea has served as home break to Pat Curren, Mike Diffenderfer, Chris O'Rourke, Joey Cabell, Mickey Munoz
Mickey Munoz
Mickey Munoz, born in New York City in 1937, is one of the early pioneers of surfing but is perhaps more famous for his work as a surfboard shaper. Munoz, a historical figure in the surfing world, has been featured in many popular surfing documentaries such as the 2004 film Riding Giants...
and Butch Van Artsdalen
Butch Van Artsdalen
Charles M. Van Artsdalen was a legendary surfer. He moved to La Jolla, California, from his birthplace of Norfolk, Virginia, at age 14. Artsdalen is best known as a pioneer of surfing 25-foot waves at such North Shore locations as Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach; and tube riding in Hawaii during the...
. Steve Pezman, former publisher of Surfer magazine and current publisher of The Surfer's Journal, called Windansea locals in the early 1960s "the heaviest surf crew ever."
The Windansea Surf Club featured was founded by Chuck Hasley in 1962, and included members such as The Endless Summer
The Endless Summer
The Endless Summer is a 1966 film in the surf movie genre.Director Bruce Brown follows two surfers, Mike Hynson and Robert August, on a surf trip around the world. Despite the balmy climate of their native California, cold ocean currents make local beaches inhospitable during the winter...
star and first Vice President Mike Hynson, Skip Frye
Skip Frye
Skip Frye is a surfer, surfboard designer and shaper, and environmental activist.-Background:...
, Joey Cabell, Del Cannon, Mike Purpus and Rusty Miller, Andy Tyler, Tom Ortner, Brew Briggs, Chris O'Rourke, Richard Kenvin, Miko Fleming, Debbie Beacham, Peter King, Saxon Boucher, Karl Engstrom, Randy Lind, "Big Steve" Jones, Ian Rotgans, "Big George" Felactu & Longboard Larry.
In 1963, Michael Dormer
Michael Dormer
Michael Dormer is an American artist, cartoonist, writer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and creator of famed cartoon personalities Hot Curl and 1960s' TV star Shrimpenstein....
and Lee Teacher built a six foot, 400 pound version of their Hot Curl
Hot Curl
Hot Curl is a cartoon character created in 1963 by Michael Dormer and Lee Teacher.In 1963, Dormer and his friend, Lee Teacher, sculpted Hot Curl a 400-pound concrete statue, and installed it on the rocks near the surf shack at La Jolla's famed Windansea Beach in San Diego, California. The sculpture...
cartoon character out of cement, iron, a mop, a light bulb, and a beer can. The statue appeared on the rocks over Windansea beach in La Jolla, holding a beer in one hand while gazing out over the ocean in search of the perfect wave. In 1964 Hot Curl
Hot Curl
Hot Curl is a cartoon character created in 1963 by Michael Dormer and Lee Teacher.In 1963, Dormer and his friend, Lee Teacher, sculpted Hot Curl a 400-pound concrete statue, and installed it on the rocks near the surf shack at La Jolla's famed Windansea Beach in San Diego, California. The sculpture...
was the inspiration for a string of "Beach Party" movies, including "Muscle Beach Party
Muscle Beach Party
Muscle Beach Party is the second of seven beach party films produced by American International Pictures. It was made in 1964 and was directed by William Asher, who also directed four other films in this series...
" starring Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon is an American actor, singer, playwright, and former teen idol.-Career:By the time he was 12, Avalon was on U.S. television playing his trumpet. As a teenager he played with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints...
, Annette Funicello
Annette Funicello
Annette Joanne Funicello is an American singer and actress. She was Walt Disney's most popular cast member of the original Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in a series of beach party films.-Early life and early stardom:...
, Buddy Hackett
Buddy Hackett
Buddy Hackett was an American comedian and actor.-Early life:Hackett was born in Brooklyn, New York, New York, the son of a Jewish upholsterer. He grew up on 54th and 14th Ave in Borough Park, Brooklyn, across from Public School 103...
, and Don Rickles
Don Rickles
Donald Jay "Don" Rickles is an American stand-up comedian and actor. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Rickles has acted in comedic and dramatic roles, but is best known as an insult comic....
.
In literature
The title article in Tom WolfeTom Wolfe
Thomas Kennerly "Tom" Wolfe, Jr. is a best-selling American author and journalist. He is one of the founders of the New Journalism movement of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early life and education:...
's book of essays, The Pump House Gang
The Pump House Gang
The Pump House Gang is a 1968 collection of essays and journalism by Tom Wolfe. The stories in the book explored various aspects of the counterculture of the 1960s...
, is about a group of surfers from Windansea Beach who "attended the Watts riots
Watts Riots
The Watts Riots or the Watts Rebellion was a civil disturbance in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California from August 11 to August 15, 1965. The 5-day riot resulted in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and 3,438 arrests...
as if it were the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
."
See also
- Beaches in San Diego, CaliforniaBeaches in San Diego, CaliforniaBeaches in San Diego, California, USA *Torrey Pines State Beach*Black's Beach*La Jolla Shores*La Jolla Cove*Children's Pool Beach *Windansea Beach*Marine Street Beach*North Pacific Beach*Pacific Beach*Mission Bay Beaches...
- Bill Andrews (photographer)Bill Andrews (photographer)Bill Andrews , is a documentary photographer and archivist.Andrews surfed his first wave in 1957 at La Jolla Shores. He joined the line-up at Windansea Beach in the early sixties and was one of the first to discover and surf the world class waves at Black's Beach...
| To the North: Marine Street Beach Marine Street Beach Marine Street Beach is located in La Jolla, San Diego, California, north of Windansea Beach, at the base of Marine Street. This wide white sand beach rests between two rock reef points, Little Point and Horseshoe . The beach has no public bathrooms or parking lots.-References:... |
To the South La Jolla Strand Park |