Rediscovering the Common Bond Between Surfing and Skateboarding

Larry Stevenson (RIP) founded the first modern skateboard brand, Makaha, in 1963 and invented the kick-tail in 1970. His son, who is bringing back the brand organically, gave a touching speech about his father, his legacy and the memorable days of that era. Named (appropriately) after the best known surf break of the late 50s it became the symbolic model for skateboarding’s boom.

Michael Mel was a member of the original Hobie team and appeared in the first-ever skateboarding film, Skater Dater, in 1965. The film was an Academy Award nominee and winner of the Cannes Film Festival Palm D’Or. As uncle to Maverick’s master Peter Mel, he introduced the theme of the night: surfers and skateboarders share a close and common history.

Frank Nasworthy was the first to ever put urethane wheels on a skateboard in 1970 and the first to sell them to the public with his Cadillac Wheels brand in 1973. As was noted in his introduction without his development in the wheels (akin to the development of foam for surfboards) there may have never been skateboarding as we know it today. It was a reminder too, of how innovation and invention have been at the core of both these sports since their beginning.

Fletcher, one of the very first guys to ride a pool back in 1963 became an icon in boardsports – surfing, skating, jetski-riding, filmmaking - and part of first family of surf. With son (Christian) who brought skate aerials to surfing and a grandson (Greyson) he cemented the surf-skate connection and the legacy of a great surf-skate family.

Tom "Wart" Craig charted the early history of skateboarding and surfing and appeared in the first issue of Skateboarder himself in 1964. With his collection of memorabilia, he is considered a one-man museum himself. A founding family member of the San Onofre Surfing Club, his connection showed that almost everyone in the 60s and 70s rolled on both waves and asphalt.

Beloved skater surfer motorcross legend Gail Webb received a top of the line electric bike, an unexpected surprise from Soul E-bike’s Jim Decker.

Top '70s pro Tony Alva wrapped up the first annual Silver Skater Awards with a rousing speech about his influential life and times, as well as offering up a few nuggets of wisdom and stoke.

Influential names from both the surfing and skating communities were out in force: Original Dogtown team rider turned Malibu kingpin Allen “Wave Killer” Sarlo slipped in, donating a sweet twin-fin Fish model for auction. Icon Catalina Classic icon Henry Hester, fin innovator and skateboard pioneer Bill Baine, 70s superstars Brad and Robin Logan made their entrance causing a stir as they did.

Presented by The California Surf Museum and The Skateboarding Hall of Fame, the Silver Skater Awards -“Rolling From the '60s Into the '70s” - was held at the Veterans Association of North County hall in Oceanside, California.

Attendees came from near and far: Skate legend Steve Cathey flew from Texas, East Coast Surf Hall-of-Famer Hunter Joslin flew in from Cocoa Beach, Mark Bowden flew in from Kauai, original Z-Boy Wentzel Ruml IV flew in from Cape Cod, and 1976 Brazilian Champion Mario Reposo made it an international affair.

Malibu maestro Nathan Pratt, pool prodigy Jim Gray, X-Games Don Bostick, Skate Hall of Famers Edie Robertson Jack Smith, Laura Thornhill, Billy Ruff, Di Dootson, Paul Freis, Paul Hoffman roamed the tables. It was a fitting reminder that these two boardsports hare a common origin and a kindred spirit.