In 1935, two local pioneers, John "Doc" Ball and Adolph Bayer, gathered a small group of passionate surfers along the Southern California coast.
They formed the Palos Verdes Surfing Club (PVSC) at Palos Verdes Cove, making it one of the very first surfing clubs on America's mainland, if not the first.
Initially, the duo disagreed on the name - Bayer preferred "Cove Paddleboard Riders Fraternity," but Ball, wary of frat culture, pushed for Palos Verdes Surfing Club.
Seven young men joined initially, including future surf legends like Leroy Grannis. By 1941, membership grew to 28.
Their meeting was not a random affair but a deliberate step to shape a new lifestyle that honored both skill and camaraderie.
At its start, the club had only seven members.
Soon, more surfers joined the group, including names that would later become part of California's surfing lore, such as Cliff Tucker, E. J. Oshier, and Tulie Clark.
In an era when only a few hundred people surfed, the members of PVSC were pioneers exploring a sport still in its infancy.
They gathered regularly for meetings held in Doc Ball's modest office and apartment in Los Angeles - a space filled with surf trophies, paintings, and numerous black-and-white photos capturing the excitement of riding waves.
Meetings and Club Rules
Each week, the members came together not just to plan outings and competitions but to reaffirm a shared code of conduct.
The club had a handwritten credo - displayed for all to see- that promised every member would act as both a true surfer and a gentleman.
Smoking was not allowed during these meetings, a rule that set the tone for a respectful and disciplined environment.
To join, you had to surf well and endure a secret initiation (involving marshmallows, according to one photo).
Meetings were held in Ball's Los Angeles dental office, decorated with surf trophies, shark jaws, and a handwritten creed:
"I... swear to conduct myself as a club member and a gentleman."
After the formal gathering, the members would often move on to a nearby club for light refreshments, sharing beer, pretzels, and many stories from their adventures on the water.
The PVSC's home was Bluff Cove, a secluded beach in Palos Verdes.
In the 1930s, surfers drove Model Ts down a dirt road to the shore, avoiding the hike with 100-pound redwood boards.
They surfed by day, fished for abalone, and hosted bonfires at night.
"It was paradise," Grannis once recalled. Waves were shared freely - no territorial squabbles.
Uniforms and Symbols
The PVSC was not only about surfing; it was also about belonging to a community with its own symbols and style.
Members proudly wore letterman-style jackets, typically in a distinctive green, each adorned with a circular club patch on the left breast.
These jackets were more than just clothing - they were a badge of honor that identified each surfer as part of the club's unique heritage.
In addition, some members wore silver bracelets, another mark of their early commitment to the sport and their community.
Stories and Traditions
Over the years, many stories have emerged from the days of the PVSC.
Members recalled moments of playful hazing, humorous mishaps, and challenges that came with handling the heavy, solid boards of the era.
One tale tells of a surfer who received stitches after a board hit him on the head - a moment that, even then, brought a mix of concern and laughter.
There were also stories about the "surfing bumps" that developed from years of paddling and kneeling on heavy boards.
These stories, passed down in club newsletters like the "Ye Weekly Super Illustrated Spintail" and later in scrapbooks and reunion gatherings, paint a picture of a group united by both hardship and humor.
The club competed in paddleboard races and surf contests from Malibu to San Onofre, facing off against other fledgling California clubs.
They danced at luaus and road-tripped in jalopies.
A Gentle Spirit and Lasting Legacy
The spirit of the Palos Verdes Surfing Club was marked by an old-school sense of brotherhood.
Unlike today's competitive atmosphere, the early members shared waves as a collective effort.
If a group caught a wave together, they helped each other ride it rather than claiming individual glory.
The cooperative approach, coupled with a strict adherence to their club's code of conduct, set a high standard of sportsmanship that helped forge the very essence of California's surf culture.
The club's influence went beyond weekly meetings and local competitions.
Doc Ball's passion for surf photography, for instance, inspired fellow members like LeRoy Grannis, who later became a celebrated photographer during surfing's golden age.
But World War II halted the fun. Members enlisted, the coastal road closed (authorities feared spies), and the club dissolved.
However, the memories and traditions of PVSC lived on.
In later years, former members and their families continued to meet at local spots in Redondo Beach and beyond, keeping alive the legacy of those early days.
Ball, who surfed into his 80s, became a famed surf photographer. His 1946 book, "California Surfriders," documented the era's raw beauty.
Grannis, mentored by Ball, later co-founded Surfing magazine, capturing the sport's 1960s boom. Both men helped turn surfing into art.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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