Ask the expert: What’s the story on Vardeman?
June 1st, 2009, 5:01 pm · 4 Comments · posted by Laylan Connelly, staff writer
Three-time international surf champ Corky Carroll answers your questions each week on the
Beach Blog. To ask him a question, hit him up at corkysurf@aol.com
Q. I was reading that the U.S. Open of Surfing is being sponsored by Hurley this year. I am sorry if I sound out of touch, but I am new to the sport of surfing, having just moved to the West Coast from Kentucky. Is this Elizabeth Hurley the actress?
A. Yep, that’s her alright. NOOOOO, just kidding. The Hurley in Hurley stands for Bob Hurley, longtime Orange County surfer, surfboard shaper and surfwear mogul. Elizabeth might be better looking, but I don’t think she has the clout in the surfing world as my pal Bob. Bob Hurley is one of the good guys that has been ultra successful in the surfing world. Although I would like to see Elizabeth in a thong.
Q. I found an old surfboard with a Vardeman logo on it. Do you know anything about this brand?
A. Yes I do. That board was made by a great surfboard craftsman named Sonny Vardeman. His shop used to be about a block south of the Huntington Beach Pier on Pacific Coast Highway. If he liked you he would let you park in his parking lot when you went surfing at the pier. Sonny was a cool dude and also very fun to surf with.
Regarding note on Sonny Vardeman..he is alive and well in Hermosa Beach, and still fun to surf with, may occasionally shape a board in conjunction with with Wateman’s Guild.
Cheers,
Wendy Vardeman
Sonny Vardeman was and still is a hero to all of us who grew up in Newport and Huntington in the early 60’s. We would hang around the shop across from the pier, look at pictures of Sonny in Hawaii, and plan for our turn at the Islands. We were Vardeman’s Vaqueros, one of the best Surf Teams of the 60’s. I still have my blue 9′8″ from 1964. I treasure it almost as much as the time shared with one of the finest shapers in surfing history.
Val Wright
Estero Bay Surf Club
I have a 64 Vvardeman all redone excellent cond I am willing to get rid of, I have no room, If anyone is interested let me know.
Mahalo
Dennis
I also have a Vardeman in the garage. It belonged to his old surf buddy Tom Sweeney. It was pretty beat up (from an encounter at Makaha I was told). Had a generic repair done just to keep it afloat. I also have Tom’s Moselle in the rafters. My wife Jamie is Tom Sweeney’s first daughter.