Smorgasboarder_12_July-2012

BEHIND AN ICONIC
CALIFORNIAN
SURFBOARD LABEL
WITH DEWEY WEBER BOARDS NOW AVAILABLE IN
AUSTRALIA, WE WENT TO FIND OUT A LITTLE MORE OF THE
STORY BEHIND THE NAME.
CLOSEOUT: BUSINESS
BUSINESS PROMOTION
Dewey Weber is recognised as one of
surfing’s all times greats, first noted
for his surfing in the 50s. In the 60s
he was known as one of the most
innovative surfboard manufacturers.
Dewey was born in Denver Colorado
but later moved with his family to
Manhattan Beach, California. As a
young boy he would sit atop the local
pier and watch the likes of Dale Velzy
and other members of the Manhattan
Beach Surf Club.
At age nine, he started surfing
himself and within two years had
got the knack of it. Dewey was later
sponsored by Velzy and even ended
up managing his Manhattan Beach
Surf Shop.
He was part of the legendary class
of ’57 who headed over to Hawaii
and pioneered that famous stretch of
coast known as the North Shore.
Dewey appeared in numerous surf
films of the era such as Bud Browne’s
Cavalcade of Surf and Goin’ Surfin’,
Bruce Brown’s Slippery When Wet,
John Severson’s Angry Sea, Dale
Davis’ Inside Out, and Greg Noll’s
Search for Surf.
Upon returning to California in 1960
he began Dewey Weber Surfboards.
He enlisted the best of the best
and his elite stable of team riders
included Nat Young, Randy Rarick,
David Nuuhiwa, Rell Sunn, Mike
Tabeling and Jackie Baxter to name
but a few. Pretty soon Dewey was
making 300 boards a week, the most
notable being the Weber Performer.
Just as Dewey heralded the age of
hotdogging in surfing he showed
as much flair in business, doing
everything with flamboyance and style.
THE NAME LIVES ON
Whilst Dewey himself passed away
in 1993 his memory lives on with his
family continuing to build surfboards
and associated merchandise under
the Dewey Weber label.
The Weber family has dedicated
themselves to the continuance of
Dewey’s commitment to excellence in
all their product lines. And perhaps,
most importantly, they have remained
‘close to the soul’ of the surfing lifestyle.
As Shea Weber, now President of
Dewey Weber, puts it, “We don’t follow
industry standards... We set our own.
We have very definite ideas on how
we develop and produce our products.
We have a responsibility to not only our
consumers, but to our heritage.
“Each shape and material is tested
and taken to the limits by members of
the Dewey Weber Competition Team.
“DEWEY WEBER ISN’T JUST
A LONGBOARD COMPANY, WE
ARE A SURFBOARD COMPANY...
ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.”
The company currently boasts different
shapes, from traditional longboards to
performance shortboards.
DEWEY WEBER ARRIVES
The legendary Californian surf icon’s
gear is now available in Australia.
Adam and Michelle Jenkins have
recently become the Australian
distributors for Dewey Weber’s boards
and merchandise. Adam gave us a
little insight into his new venture.
“Its about preserving a classic name
that shaped the surfing world back in
the 60s... Bringing back that era that
has been lost.
“I have a passion for the old school
style of surfing and also the history
behind these great shaper’s names.
“My main aim is to make sure names
like Dewey Weber - the little man on
wheels - continue to be known well
into our generation of surfing and
beyond.”
For more information or to get in
touch with Adam, visit the website:
www.deweyweber.com.au
RIGHT: Dewer Weber Surfboards
circa 1964
ABOVE: The man himself, back in the day.
Photos supplied courtesy of the Weber family.
jul/aug 2012
115