The South Bay is home to the first known surf shop: Velzy Surfboards.
Founded in the ’50s by legendary shaper Dale “Hawk” Velzy after he was kicked off the beach for the mess he made shaping balsa boards for his surf club. Set inside a former shoe repair shop on Manhattan Beach Blvd, it became a hub for surf culture — influencing the shapers, brands, and shops that followed.
In 2025, @southbayboardriders rallied to commemorate the spot with a plaque where the shop once stood, now home to @thestrandhouse . There was debate over whether it qualified as a surf shop — no cash registers, marketing, or sales pitches.
But surf shops have always been much more than commercial. They are the gathering places that help keep surf culture alive, and we’re stoked to partner with shops from the North Shore to Montauk in making our maps that help to tell their stories.
Happy Surf Shop Day. Hope you stop by your local shop today and make a purchase. This biz isn’t easy - you gotta love it…and today’s a day to give a little love back. 🤙
#internationalsurfshopday #dalevelzy #velzysurfboards #supportyourlocalsurfshop
The waterparks we went to as kids never looked like this…
Stoked to partner with The Palm Springs Surf Club on our desert map.
#palmspringssurfclub #palmsprings #waterpark #wavepool #desertsurf
Our map trucker hat just dropped.
Available online and coming to a surf shop near you as fast as we can….
If you’re in San Diego this week come stop by our booth @carv.expo
#surfmaps #surfhat #truckerhats #sandiegohat #mapmakers
Happy Moms Day to all the Surf Mamas…in and out of the water.
Whether you surf or support your children’s surfing - like getting in the ocean or watching it from your beach chair with a marg - you are a force and we love you. ❤️
Art by @drewtoonz@centerofradicaleducation
#happymomsday #surfmama #beachmom #supportmoms #supportyourlocalshaper
Larry “Longboard” Williams was the inspiration for Chicken Joe from one of our favorite surf movies, Surf’s Up. Back in the mid-’60s, Larry helped pioneer Great Lakes surf culture and was the first to call Sheboygan “The Malibu of the Midwest.”
Alongside his twin brother Lee “Waterflea” Williams, he braved the extreme winds and weather that fueled the waves along the western shore of Lake Michigan — surfing purely for the stoke of it — and helped create the legendary Dairyland Surf Classic.
It’s interesting how people who grow up in the most challenging conditions are often the most appreciative of the waves they’re dealt. Larry was a Buddhist, and like Chicken Joe, chose to flow with whatever the universe served.
This maps for you, Larry, and for all who appreciate and love…life on the lakes. 🌊 Available @gliksofficial - family owned and operated since 1897.
#larrylongboardwilliams #chickenjoe #malibuofthemidwest #lakemichigan #greatlakessurfing
Our printer connected me with @landon_mcnamara to collaborate on tour merch a few months back - after a few phone calls of discussing his new music and how he wanted to express it through the tees, I felt the need for a little transparency. Because I go by Martinez, he didn’t make the connection between @brookstreetsurfer and his Dad @liam__mcnamara , but I thought he should know. He was quiet for a minute, then he laughed and said of course he still wanted to work with me. He said this was a great example of the Hawaiian way - life can have its rough patches but the aloha spirit and love always makes things right.
Thanks for a great night! Keep the positive vibes flowing.
#landonmacnamara #alohaspirit #coachhouse
Congrats to @lakeypeterson and @georgepittar on their Margaret River Pro win!
Our Margaret River map is available at our partner surf shop @hillzeezsurfshop and @starsurf.com.au
#margaretriverpro #margaretriver #lakeypeterson #georgepittar #supportyourlocalsurfshop
Rick Kane had to start somewhere.
Our Palm Springs Map is available @thepalmspringssurfclub
#desertwaves #wavepool #palmspringssurfclub #pssc #rickkane
📷 @madelineejavier
Happy Earth Day…and a special shout out to the East Coast crew @fariassurfsport - our LBI map covers beaches for miles and waves for days.
Beach gear by @localbeach 🤙🏼
#earthday #fariassurfshop #LBI #newyork #supportyourlocalsurfshop
📷 @madelineejavier
