Corky Carroll's Surf Lifers

I thought I would talk a little bit about surf “lifers” today. A lifer is a person who, in one way or another, has devoted their life to being a surfer, surfing, or somehow involved in the surf culture. I consider myself one of these dudes. I have been a surfer my entire life, starting at about 7 years old. We lived in Surfside on the beach, so I was able to surf as much as I wanted.

Celebrating Surf Lifers

We have a number of extremely cool lifers here in our beautiful Orange County. I want to share a few of them with you. There are many more, but these are the ones that came to mind.

Mickey Munoz

Mickey Munoz, known as the “mongoose,” grew up in the Malibu area during the time of “Gidget.” In fact, he did stunt doubling surfing for Sandra Dee, wearing a blond wig and a girls' bathing suit. After high school, he moved to Orange County to get into the surfboard business, working for Hobie in the early 1960s. Mickey has been surfing and building surfboards ever since. At 88 years old, I have no doubt he is the best surfer in the world for his age. He is almost always one of the best in the water, even now. Mickey was my mentor when I was coming up in surfing.

Steve and Barrie Boehne

Steve and Barrie Boehne own and operate Infinity Surfboards in Dana Point. Steve opened Infinity in 1971 and has been surfing and shaping boards ever since. Barrie, who came from Santa Monica, was the tandem surfing partner of the great Pete Peterson before teaming up with Steve. Together, the Boehne’s became the number one tandem team in the world. They continue to do what they love: surfing and running their surfboard shop.

T.K. Brimer

T.K. Brimer started surfing at 12 years old. He moved to Huntington Beach from Titusville, Florida, in 1967. He went to work at the “Frog House,” a small yet very cool surf shop in Newport Beach. The first time he walked into the shop, he thought, “This is the surfiest surf shop I have ever been in.” After working his way up to shop manager, he bought out the original owner, a dude who didn’t surf. T.K. has kept the Frog House as close to “the surfiest surf shop” as possible ever since. He also became a collector of cool surf stuff. Great guy.

Robert August

Robert August grew up in a cool green house with a sphinx on the roof right on the sand in Seal Beach. His dad was the legendary surfer, Blackie August. Naturally, Robert started surfing very young, having the waves in his front yard just like I did. His dad would take him surfing up and down the coast and was friends with the elite in the surfing world at that time. The August house was a hangout for many great surfers and colorful surf characters. Robert starred in the epic surf film “Endless Summer.” He later went into business building surfboards in Huntington Beach. When speaking of “locals,” Robert is about as “local” as you can find.

George Lambert

Another “local” surf dude is George Lambert, the unofficial Mayor of Main Street in Huntington Beach. George, the perpetually stoked George Lambert the third, was born and bred in Huntington Beach. He is a great surfer and was a huge part of the legendary surf team at Huntington Beach High School in the mid-1970s. He became the manager of Robert August's surf shop and later co-managed the Longboard Store at Huntington Surf ‘n Sport alongside me. I loved working with him; he is as stoked and “surfie” as they come. George is extremely social and has the “gift of gab.” For a brief period, I also worked for Bob “the Greek” Bolen at Huntington Beach Realty. One day, I suggested to Bob that he hire George; he would be perfect for that job. It was a match made in “real estate in a surf town Heaven.” Today, George thrives in selling houses, has a great family, and his son Max is one of the hottest up-and-coming surfers around. He is still a dominating “pier rat” and a regular on “San Onofre Tuesdays.” One of my favorite people.

The Legacy of Surf Lifers

The stories of these surf lifers remind me of the rich heritage and craftsmanship that defines our culture. Each of them has contributed to the surfing community in unique ways. Their passion for the ocean and dedication to the sport inspire many, including myself.

As I reflect on my journey, I realize how fortunate I am to be part of this vibrant community. The connections we share through surfing are profound. We celebrate not just the waves but the stories, the friendships, and the legacy that we continue to build.

Conclusion

There are many more surf lifers I would love to mention, but I’m running out of space. Don’t be surprised if I come back to this topic later. The world of surfing is vast and filled with incredible individuals who embody the spirit of the sport. Each lifer has a story worth telling, and I look forward to sharing more in the future.

In the meantime, let’s keep riding those waves and cherishing the moments that make surfing such a special part of our lives.