When you think of a legend in the surfing world, and what ultimately defines their legacy, certain images tend to hold precedence over others. These days it may be a 10-point ride in the heat of competition for a title win, or a challenging air maneuver for big points. Maybe it’s a surfer’s will to reinvent the sport by searching for that lonesome and perfect wave somewhere far off on the horizon.

Southern California has its share of surf pioneers, but when it comes to the early years of surfing and water sports, here in south Orange County in particular, no one stacks up to the man, the myth or the legend of Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison.

For that very reason, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens will key the spotlight on Harrison by kicking-off its summer “Coast Culture” programming with the opening of the exhibition “Whitey Harrison: California’s Legendary Surf Pioneer.”

The exhibition, which is presented in collaboration with the Surfing Heritage Foundation, pays tribute to local surfing and water sports pioneer, Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison, and opens with a special festival on June 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“This exhibition is really the story of how one man influenced beach living in Southern California,” said Casa Romantica Executive Director Jenifer Finley. “It’s a story that is of interest to surfers and non-surfers alike.”

Youthful jaunts in Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar

Harrison was born in Garden Grove in 1913 in a time where the city was just as its name suggests—a rural-type garden. However, in his early years, Harrison’s family owned a home in Laguna Beach at a bright little spot known then and now as Sleepy Hollow. In those days, there were no multi-million dollar homes dotting along Pacific Coast Highway, and Harrison’s upbringing was rather humble. When he and his family were not traveling by horse and wagon throughout much of the area visiting friends, often Harrison could be found bodysurfing the entire stretch of beach from the rock-reef system at Sleep Hollow to the sandy

bottom of Main Beach.

As a fifth-grader, Harrison began using his craftsmanship to create a vehicle for riding waves, his first ride a 4-to-5-foot long plank about 18 inches wide. But it was not until 1920 that he had finally seen someone stand up while riding a wave, the moment becoming evident while on a trip to Redondo Beach with his father.

At about the same time, Harrison would take a long 12-mile walk further south from Laguna Beach into Corona del Mar to go surfing with friends the likes of Carroll Bertolet, Jack Pyle, Wally Burton, Keller Watson and Bud Higgins.

From 1927 to 1935, Harrison surfed Corona del Mar mostly with a communal board made of white pine left behind by another surfing legend of the time—Duke Kahanamoku.

However, as the county began to see its early waves of development, and in turn some displacement in surfing because of the construction of a jetty extension at Corona del Mar, Harrison needed a new break to engage more of his sensory faculties, and one that would provide even more escapism into the unknown.

Surfing San Onofre and Hopping Ships to Hawaii

Around 1933-34 is about the time when Harrison first surfed the waves at San Onofre. The real shocker was that the surf was mostly steady and just plain good. Always more of an eccentric, he rooted himself within a bohemian-type world of surfing at the time, which also included an entourage of other eccentrics looking for that creative summit from which the sport is naturally built. Though he and his crew were not the first people to explore the beaches at San Onofre, Harrison was definitely one of the first to surf it. On his first night there, he and the boys actually slept in a large palm thatch house—a leftover Hollywood movie prop at the time.

1932 marked the first time Harrison, 18, made it out to Hawaii and was actually one of the first surfers from the mainland to get there—the first being Tom Blake in 1927. Twice Harrison boarded vessels as a stowaway and was even caught in the act a couple times. In one instance, and just five miles off Diamond Head in Oahu, Hawaii, Harrison was booked by officials on the U.S.S. Monterey and sent back on an overnight freighter to San Francisco where a judge ordered he leave town immediately or face some serious consequences. Right after the incident, Harrison found another ship heading for the islands and actually made it out there this time, but not before being caught yet again and turned over to Hawaiian law enforcement. He eventually was released from jail, found a job and stayed for six months, touring the numerous breaks with several friends and honing his skills in the water.

Living, Laughing and Loving in South Orange County

Harrison eventually made it back to the mainland and married his second wife Cecilia Yorba in 1946. Yorba had inherited a beautiful adobe home located in San Juan Capistrano from her grandmother as a wedding present. The house was known as a “hide house” where hides were originally stored between early ship arrivals. On the property, is the famous barn where Harrison completed

and stored much of his shaping of redwood surfboards, paddleboards and outrigger canoes. The barn was later converted into

a surfboard shop where Harrison continued to shape rental boards and complete other surf-related projects. Aside from his role in early watersports in the area, Harrison was one of the first people to dive for abalone and catch large quantities of lobster in the area. He also trimmed waves outside of what is now the Dana Point Harbor when waves could be ridden within Dana Cove.

“Lorrin was one of the earliest to be in this area and one of the more famous surfers at the formative stage of modern surfing in California,” said Steve Pezman, publisher of The Surfer’s Journal. “He is a major influence that helped the surfing culture form its characteristics, its romance and the escapism. He maintained a willingness to forego the 9-to-5 life for a surfer’s life, and felt that life is a wave and must be ridden. He is also a symbol of everything that makes surfing so wonderful.”

Looking back on her father’s life, Harrison’s daughter Jennifer Harrison Van Swae remembers that her dad seized every moment of every day as a joy to behold.

“I don’t think I have a fondest memory, there are thousands,” Van Swae said. “Every day was a joy to him, and anyone who was lucky enough to be around him got to be part of his crazy fun. I laughed when I saw the recent movie Yes Man. My dad was the original “Yes Man.” ‘Do you want to go surfing?’ ‘Yes! Let’s go!’ Even if he just got back from surfing. ‘Do you want to get something to eat?’ ‘Yes!’ So what if he’d just eaten. Every question was an opportunity for something new and you never knew where it would lead, who you’d meet, or what would happen. All life is an adventure and he always lived it to the fullest.”

On September 8, 1993, Harrison suffered a massive heart attack and passed away while he and Cecilia were driving to the beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. The question that remains is why do we honor men like Harrison within the storied history of surfing? Because aside from surf artifacts, memories of something great are all we have.

“It’s important to remember that my dad and the other early watermen were extreme athletes, who regularly shouldered their 250 lb. solid wood boards to go out in huge waves,” Van Swae said. “They challenged themselves and each other with friendship, fun and laughter—then went back to play music all night and then start over again. But, also remember they were creators, inventors, pioneers, and innovators. So many of the things they did and places they went were for the first time. They were only larger then life because they chose to be. They didn’t feel that they were different then anyone else. They felt anyone who wanted to could learn to surf, play music, design boards, and basically do anything they chose.”

The Whitey Harrison Exhibition runs through August 31. In conjunction with the exhibition, Casa Romantica will include several special events such as “Surf’s Up!”, a program on fun and safety in the water with local children’s author, Roberto Diaz, and long-time local lifeguard, Richard Chew. And an evening presentation called “Sharks!” by Jim Serpa, Supervising Ranger at Doheny State Beach, will offer an eye-opening talk on sharks, their role in ocean ecology and their relationship with man.

For more information on the Whitey Harrison Festival and Exhibition, contact the Casa Office at 949.498.2139.

Harrison’s Boat to be Displayed Publicly for First Time

What is believed to be the first boat ever built by Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison will be publicly displayed for the first time as part of Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens’ “Coast Culture” exhibition. Built in 1939, the wooden boat was recently discovered and authenticated. It had rested for years in the back yard of an Orange County resident who used it as a planter.

The outrigger canoe was crafted by Harrison and is believed to be the first of many water craft and surf boards that he built. The 70-year-old craft has suffered severe damage to its bottom, but still displays the many skills used at that time in boat building.

The 23 foot-long craft will join dozens of artifacts from San Clemente’s Surfing Heritage Foundation for the summer-long exhibition. Experts will be on hand to explain how the boat was found and authenticated. According to Steve Pezman, publisher of The Surfer’s Journal, “The mark of a true waterman was that he built his own toys and tools.”

Good Tunes and Good Times

The festival will include live music by The Eliminators band and roving ukulele players. There will be crafts for the kids and great food. Many of the late Harrison’s friends and relatives will be on hand to share their stories of the iconic waterman. Admission is $5, children 12 and under free, and Casa Romantica Members free.