Business
Stolen surfboard led California teen to launch world’s oldest surf shop
FOX Business’ Kelly Saberi reports from Seal Beach, California, where the world’s oldest surf shop is preserving nearly 70 years of surfing history by handcrafting boards in the same workshop where its founder first opened for business.
A surfboard stolen from a California teenager nearly seven decades ago helped launch what has become one of the world’s most recognizable handcrafted surfboard brands.
FOX Business correspondent Kelly Saberi joined FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on “Varney & Co.” to highlight Harbour Surf Shop in Seal Beach, California, home to the world’s oldest surfboard manufacturing shop operating continuously from the same location.
Founded after Rich Harbour decided to build his own board when his original was stolen, the shop continues to operate from the same location, preserving many of the original tools and shaping templates that helped establish its reputation.
Surfers lined up with their surfboards in San Diego, California. (Getty Images)
Current owner Robert Howson said the company’s focus has never been chasing professional surfing trends, but instead understanding everyday surfers.
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“I think the level of appreciation for handcrafted products is improving globally… We are not one that follows necessarily professional surfing as a barometer to the success of surfing. We take a look at the people that are at the beach. What are they enjoying?” Howson said.
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That philosophy has helped keep the brand relevant across generations. Each surfboard is still crafted in the original shaping room, and the company produces only about 400 boards each year, emphasizing quality over volume.
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Harbour Surfboards has also earned a place in pop culture. The company’s iconic triangle logo appeared in the 1959 film, “Gidget,” and later in a 1965 television series starring Sally Field, introducing the brand to audiences well beyond Southern California.
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Nearly 70 years after one missing surfboard changed Rich Harbour’s path, the shop remains a symbol of American craftsmanship, proving that a small business built on quality and tradition can leave a lasting legacy.
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