A-frame

Aaberg, Denny

Aaberg, Kemp

Abberton, Koby

Abbruzzi, Sid

Abellira, Reno

Abubo, Megan

academia and surfing

Adler, Tom

advertising and surfing

Aeder, Erik

aerial

Aguerre, Fernando

Aichner, Scott

Aikau, Clyde

Aikau, Eddie

Aipa, Ben

air-drop

airbrush

Airshow

Ala Moana

Alabama

alaia board

Alaska

alcohol and surfing

Alexander, Kala

Alexandre, João (Dapin)

Allen, Chuck

Alms, Paige

aloha shirt

Alter, Hobie

Alvarez, Pepe

Ancell, Kevin

Andaman Islands

Andersen, Lisa

Anderson, Craig

Anderson, Simon

Andino, Kolohe

Angel, Jose

angle

Angola

Angourie

Antarctica

Apocalypse Now

Arabian Sea

Aragon, Janice

Arakawa, Eric

Archbold, Matt

Arena, Eduardo

Ashton, Juan

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)

Atlantic Ocean

August, Robert

Aurness, Rolf

Auster, Ken

Australia

Avalon, Frankie

Azores

backdoor

backside

backside attack, Pipeline

backwash

bail out

Bain, Rob

Baja California

Baker, Bernie

Baker, Grant “Twiggy”

Baker, Tim

Bali

Ball, John “Doc”

Ballard, Bill

Ballard, Rochelle

balsa

Baltic Sea

Banks, Jim

Barbados

Barilotti, Steve

Barland, Michel

Barreda, Sergio “Gordo”

Barry, Michael

Bartholomew, Wayne

Baxter, Jackie

Bay of Bengal

Beach Boys, The

Beacham, Debbie

beachboys

beachbreak

Beachcomber Bills Grand Prix

Beachley, Layne

beavertail

Becker, Phil

Bedford-Brown, Stuart

Belgium

Bells Beach

Bendall, Ma and Pa

Bennett, Barry

Benson, Becky

Benson, Blanche

Benson, Linda

Bermuda

The original surf industry trade show, conceived and sponsored by 

 magazine, held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium from 1962 to 1964. The Los Angeles Surf Fair, precursor to Surf Expo and the Action Sports Retailer (ASR) trade shows, was designed to showcase the latest in surfing equipment, fashion, and media. Because it was also meant to help rehab surfing's rowdy image, Surf Fair exhibitors for the most part looked the very soul of propriety, in ties, slacks, and blazers, with neatly combed hair.

The first Los Angeles Surf Fair (some media outlets called it "World's Fair of Surfing") took place on December 27 and 28, 1962, alongside the debut Santa Monica Midwinter Surfing Championships. Auditorium doors opened at 10:00 AM and closed at 10:00.

While a portion of Surf Fair booths were taken up by wetsuit companies, surfwear producers, surfing clubs (lined up in a convention-floor aisel called "Surf Club Row"), surf publications, and surf filmmakers, the majority of floor space in the exhibitors' hall was claimed by surfboard manufacturers, with well-known brands like Hobie, Con, Weber, and Jacobs vying for attention with start-ups like Diwain, Pacific Coast, and Skag. The event was open to the public, as well as retailers and manufacturers. Unlike surf trade shows in years to come, people were allowed to purchase boards and other gear.

Added attractions included a display of nearly 20 cherried-out woody wagons, a "surfing museum" featuring historical surfboards, and a gallery of surf art. Live acts included the Beach Boys, just as they were beginning their rise to superstardom, and folk group the Shenandoahs. The Surfside Four wrote a theme song for the occasion, titled "Surf Fair."

The Surf Fair was both a commercial and PR success. "The world's largest assemblage of surfing equipment was exhibited," the 

 reported. "It provided surfing enthusiasts with an opportunity to view the latest styles in surfboards, swimwear [and] surfing accessories." "Crowds were so large on Thursday," the 

 reported, "that director Larry Stevenson had to close the doors temporarily at 1:30. More than 4,000 attended the show."

The '63 Surf Fair was co-sponsored by Top 40 radio station KRLA. Newly-added special events included a bathing beauty competition, with the winner being crowned Miss Surfer Girl, and an "International Surf Film Festival"—although the only "international" work seemed to be a double-bill from Australia's Bob Evans.

The 1963 Midwinter Surfing Championships, meanwhile, had a starting field of 430—up from 184 the previous year—and spinoff events included skimboard and skateboard competitions. The surf contest itself was covered by local TV stations.

The 1964 Surf Fair was a slightly bigger version of the previous year, and was held the week before Christmas.

This proved to be the final Surf Fair, likely because Surf Guide magazine, which was located nearby and had been the driving force behind the event, went out of business in early 1965.

Surf-O-Rama (or Surfarama), a similar trade show conceived and presented by surf filmmaker Don Brown, was held at the Santa Monica Civic from 1961 to 1963.

Los Angeles Surf Fair

Subscribe or Login

Encyclopedia of Surfing

History of Surfing

Features

The Sunday Joint

Encyclopedia of Surfing

History of Surfing

Features

The Sunday Joint