
DATE: Sunday, August 3, 1997                TAG: 9708010318

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 22   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   88 lines

MUSEUM WOULD FOCUS ON SPORT'S LOCAL ROOTS

UNLESS YOU ARE part of the surfing community, the fact that Virginia Beach has a significant surfing heritage might come as a surprise.

But a group of local surfers who have had roles in that history are out to raise awareness on the issue.

They've been collecting memorabilia for a museum that might eventually be called The East Coast Surfing Museum.

``There is plenty of history up and down the East Coast and there are just so many people who have been involved over the years,'' said George Desgain, the group's unofficial spokesman. ``And we'd also like to eventually make this a permanent home for the East Coast Legend's Surfing Hall of Fame.''

Several factors prompted the ECSC (East Coast Surfing Championships) Foundation's idea to start a museum.

The induction of three locals - Pete Smith, Bob Holland and Bob White - into the Surfing Hall of Fame last year helped. And with the ECSC being the second-oldest, continuous-running surfing contest in the world, it was only natural that Virginia Beach be home to such a museum.

``The one in Huntington Beach (Ca.) is a big tourist attraction,'' said ECSC Foundation chairman Myron Nahra. ``And with this being a tourist area . .

Another factor was the group's previous experience with putting together artifacts for public viewing.

As part of the ECSC's 30th anniversary five years ago, the group set up a mini-museum at the Oceanfront. It drew rave reviews from those who have surfed over the years.

``For those of us in our 40s and 50s, and for some of the older guys, surfing is now part of our history,'' said Desgain, 53. ``For many of these people, it's a huge part of their history.''

Virginia Beach surfers constantly make names for themselves in the national surfing community. Recently, nine Beach competitors took part in the U.S. championships in California.

Wes Petticrew added his name to the long list of previous national champs when he brought home a title in the menehune bodyboarding division.

Also, Beach resident Paul West will be the national championships competition director next year. He already is the East Coast competition director and the U.S. Surfing Federation's marketing and public relations director.

``It's just way cool that we're getting up a museum here,'' he said. ``There is just so much history around here and it will be great to show it off.''

And document Virginia Beach's role in surfing history.

After attending the first big East Coast surfing contest in Gilgo Beach, N.J., nearly 40 years ago, many local surfers appealed to the Virginia Beach Jaycees to start a contest here. Thirty-five years later, the ECSC is arguably the biggest surfing ``happening'' in the world.

The Jaycees are gearing up for what they predict will be the biggest year ever when the event takes place Aug. 21-24 at the south end of the resort strip.

On display at that time will be the elements of what could evolve into the East Coast Surfing Museum.

Thanks to Waterman's Restaurant owner Mike Standing, the Foundation has able to secure the second floor of the restaurant's 5th Street and Atlantic Avenue location to display memorabilia.

``He's been a big help and it's a great location for during the contest,'' Desgain said. ``We might be able to keep it there for a while, but we're eventually hoping that the city will work with us on a location where we can keep it all year long and constantly work on it and update it.''

Foundation members have been networking with local surfers, young and old, and have come up with a wide array of items - old surfboards, posters, photographs, trophies, T-shirts. But they'd like more.

``Pete Smith has one of his uncle's old boards from the '30s,'' Desgain said. ``We've heard of a guy from up north who supposedly has T-shirts from every ECSC. There's just so much stuff out there and the more we have, the better job we can do of making this a classy place.''

Foundation member Bill Frierson will oversee how the museum is put together, and if the 30th anniversary endeavor is any indication, it will indeed by a classy museum. MEMO: Members of the ECSC Foundation need help preparing the new

museum. They are appealing for anyone from the surfing community to dig

around in their attics and come up with old surfing paraphernalia that

can displayed _ namely old surfboards, bathing trunks, sun shades,

T-shirts; trophies, photos, paintings, carvings, statues, rings,

trinkets, phonograph records _ anything.

If you have any items you think might be of interest, call Desgain

at 486-0138. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH

George Desgain and other members of the ECSC Foundation hope to open

the East Coast Surfing Museum with local memorabilia.