On a warm August day in 2024, the lawn of the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art came alive as surfers, shapers, and enthusiasts gathered for the annual Surfboard Buy, Trade, and Swap event. Organized by Shea Somma of Somma Special Designs, the event celebrated the Central Coast's surf culture, showcasing custom surfboards from Oceano Surf Collective and the unique artistry of vendors like Abby Ahlgrim of Surf Gems. The swap meet, set against the backdrop of the museum's "Whose Waters?" exhibit, brought the community together to connect, share, and celebrate the creativity and craftsmanship at the heart of local surfing.
Shea when asked about the evolution of the event and instead of acknowledging the destination it has become gave us some authentic background you would expect.
The Surf Swap started in 2020. It was during the pandemic and people were really turning to surfing as a safe socially distanced activity and there was a real hunger for good used boards. I thought the swap could be great to do as a way to get together outdoors and trade boards and Field Day generously offered their parking lot as a venue. It was a huge success and has been a yearly tradition since! The swap ethos has been to simply invite anybody and everybody to come bring boards to sell or trade. No entry fee, no requirements. It's a great way to connect with the surfing community and potentially score a great board!
This year’s location and timing was special and seemed like a little bit of a high note for the Organizer and community builder when asked about the event location. Does surf belong in an art museum some of us asked?
We did a swap at the SLO Museum of Art this year in conjunction with their current show, "Whose Waters?" which examines surf culture through the lens of inclusion and exclusion within that culture. I contributed 2 pieces to the show and the curator, Emma Saperstein, asked me to host a swap as a way of gathering the local surf community at the museum and promoting the show. The lawn outside the museum was perfect for laying out boards and it was super enjoyable to hang there for the afternoon and chat with folks who came through! I think the show is fantastic and everybody should see it if they can! It's free to the public and runs till October 20, 2024. We will also be doing the yearly swap at Field Day in the fall, likely in October but the date is still TBD.
Shea tells of some historical artifacts from a special era surfaced this year at the swap which lit up the faces in a small crowd that circled a particularly vintage collection gathered by Austin Gandler.
I particularly loved checking out a few interesting designs folks brought to the swap! The most memorable was probably a stringerless Midget Farrelly stringerless V-Bottom model from G&S. This essentially is the first "short" board, precipitating the design revolution following the World Championships in Puerto Rico in which these radical designs allowed Midget and Nat Young to surf with much more aggressive maneuvers and turns than their competitors on more traditional 60's logs oriented toward noseriding, and therefore kicking off the design trend of going shorter and lighter. Always fun to see historically significant shapes at a swap!
At this year’s Surfboard Buy, Trade, and Swap event, Oceano Surf Collective proudly showcased a range of exceptional custom surfboards. These high-quality shapes were meticulously crafted to meet the demands of California’s Central Coast's diverse surf seasons / conditions. A highlight of Oceano Surf Co. presence was the inclusion of a board from their increasingly popular Test Pilot Program, which offers surfers the opportunity to ride boards for free in exchange for honest feedback on their performance and design. This program is gaining momentum as more local surfers discover the benefits of testing out custom shapes before committing to a purchase. What better place to introduce this initiative than at an event teeming with passionate surfers eager to find the perfect board? Surfers are invited to join the Test Pilot Program and experience the quality and craftsmanship of Oceano Surf Collective boards firsthand. Boards are available for pick up and drop off at the Oceano Surf Shack located at 324 Pier Ave Oceano CA.
Perhaps the most distinctive artist at this year’s swap meet, Abby Ahlgrim of Surf Gems captivated attendees with her one-of-a-kind creations. Abby transforms the vibrant colors and psychedelic swirls of surfboard fiberglass waste into stunning pieces of jewelry that capture the spirit of the ocean. Each piece is a testament to her passion for sustainability and her love for surfing, as she reimagines waste into wearable art. Her handcrafted designs are not only visually striking but also carry a deeper message about the importance of mindful consumerism and the potential to repurpose waste into something beautiful. Abby’s jewelry was undoubtedly one of the most captivating highlights of the event, offering a perfect blend of artistry, sustainability, and ocean-inspired creativity.
As the Surfboard Buy, Trade, and Swap event wrapped up, the lawn of the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art was alive with the shared energy of a community deeply connected by a passion for surfing and creativity. The event was a vibrant mix of history, innovation, and artistry. Local shapers, garage-salers, and families all came together, showcasing everything from vintage boards that sparked nostalgia to hardcore designs from Oceano Surf Collective. Among the highlights was the captivating work of Abby Ahlgrim of Surf Gems, whose jewelry made from surfboard fiberglass waste served as a beautiful reminder of the power of sustainability. This gathering was a true celebration of the Central Coast surf culture—a diverse, inclusive, and ever-evolving community that continues to inspire both on land and in the water.
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