I’ve often wondered how long surfing has been going on in Pensacola.
The story I’ve often heard was 1959, when navy guys from California were stationed here. They brought their boards, surfed here, and showed some of our local guys how it’s done. This was when Scott Bush and Tom Grow started surfing.
Then I discovered this photo from 1941!
Johnny Swindell posted it originally. Since it was taken from the pier, I wondered if we even had a pier back then. Apparently our first pier was built in the 1930’s. I called Mrs. Swindell, Johnny’s mom, and she graciously took time to talk with me. She said her now deceased brother used to take a lot of photos around Pensacola Beach until he joined the military for WWII. I believe he worked for the Pensacola News Journal. She said he probably took the photo. Check out the Tom Blake era wooden hollow board. This means surfing has been going on at our beach for at least 80 years!
How cool is that?