It’s true, the Surf Culture Icon reaches half a Century.
The past year has marked the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the Moon Landing, and Sesame Street. Joining this impressive list is one of surf culture’s most beloved icons, the Tijuana Surf Monkey. This twelve inch tall, plaster-of-paris, irregularly painted statuette first appeared in the San Ysidro border lines during the early 1970s as street vendors hawked them to passing tourists. Many a gringo returning from their surf trip, tourist jaunt, TJ bar run or mission trip came home with one of these in the back seat.
But, where did they originate?
And who created them?
These are questions the fine team of history detectives here at Surf Monkey Fellowship have asked for over a decade. After tireless research, a bit of good fortune, and exploration that led from various locations in Baja to Portland Oregon to a northern L.A. suburb, WE FOUND THE GUY!
But more of that later…