ABOUT US
HOURS
Established in 1961, Ventura Surf Shop has been serving the Gold Coast of California for over forty years. Rich tradition combined with cutting edge technology makes V.S.S. the destination surf shop in the area.
HISTORY
Started in 1961 by Tom Hale. Tom handled manufacturing and retail was taken care of by Terry Jones, winner of the first pro contest, the Morey-Pope Noseriding Invitational. Shortly thereafter William “Blinky” Hubina became the first employee of Morey- Pope Surfboards, where he worked with future partner Dennis Ryder. In 1967, “Blinky” and Dennis started William-Dennis Surfboards. Dennis departed shortly after the business got started and Blinky carried on through the “transition period” of the late 60’s and early 70’s. The next few years saw great changes in surf boards. These exciting times saw the beginning of the modern short board era, with the first down-railers, diamond tails, the introduction of California round pins, silene cloth, and modern construction methods. Blinky had some of the best young surfers in the area as his R&D Department, collectively known as the William-Dennis Zoo.
1970 marks the move to the old Morey-Pope shop on Front Street and expanded retail operation headed by Zoo member Pete Bundy.
1974 brought more growth through associations with several local up and coming shapers and their brands including Malcolm and Duncan, the Campbell Brothers (designers of the Bonzer), a very young Steve Huerta, Merv Larson and his Surf Ski, and Hawaiian shredder Les Wong.
1975 along came shaper Stan Fujii. He helped not only with the shaping, but when Pete left in 79’, he pitched in on the retail end also.
1980 Stan purchases the shop and Blinky leaves for greener pastures in the restaurant business.
1986 sees the name of the shop changed from William-Dennis to Ventura Surf Shop.
1995 brings about the move to our current location at 88 E. Thompson Blvd.
2000 Stan sells the shop to Mark Ellison, who promptly installs Bill “Blinky” Hubina as Managing Partner.
2000 - today. Growth, growth, and more growth. A three fold expansion of our inventory, coupled with new associations with local shapers Robert Weiner, Wayne Rich, John Roddenberry, and Spencer Kellogg, as well as a re-association with shapers Malcolm Campbell and Steve Huerta, and of course Blinky's own William Dennis boards leave VSS in the best shape its ever been in.