Our History
With the passing of Baron Stander in 2006, the Timewarp Museum at The New Pier, Durban, was closed. This sparked a realization that the rich collection of surfing memorabilia - the tangible part our surfing heritage - could be lost. Fortunately, Arthur Limbouris purchased all the surf craft and most of the photos, art and other surfing memorabilia, with the intention of donating it to a newly proposed 'surfing museum'. This collection and our awareness of individuals with private collections of surfing memorabilia who would donate or loan their collections for professional curation by a non-partisan, not-for-profit organisation or foundation, if one existed, led to the formation of Surfing Heritage South Africa in June 2009. Surfing Heritage SA now provides security to benefactors of memorabilia, funding and other resources that their contributions are being managed with integrity and will be protected by legal agreements which are binding years after individuals involved disappear.
The formation process involved conversations nationally and abroad with individuals in the sport, administration, commerce and media of surfing and resulted in the formation of Surfing Heritage South Africa, a non-profit company, registered under section 21 of the companies act of South Africa. The following members of the SA surfing community were in agreement to form the company and became it's founding members:
Anthony Brodowicz - Word Amateur Surfing Champion/SA Surfing icon and leader in surf retail on KZN South Coast.
Arthur Limbouris - Retail entrepreneur within the SA surfing industry. Brands, Quiksilver, Roxy and DC Shoes are testimony to his success.
Alister Brown - Successful retail entrepreneur and surfing personality.
Alwin Van Breda - Surfing personality and businessman. Currently all Africa distributor of Quiksilver, Roxy, O'niel, Jeep and Salomon Brands.
Bruce Jackson - Durban/SA Surfing icon and Businessman in SA Surfing.
Chen Sagnelli - Leading Personality in SA Surfing/ Businessman(Architect).
Cheron Kraak - Founder of Billabong SA and owner of Country Feeling and internationally renowned retail stores in Jeffery's bay.
Glen Thompson - Masters Degree in History(currently studying for doctorate in 'History of surfing culture in 20th Century').
Graham Taylor - Leading Personality in SA Surfing/ Businessman and Attorney.
Robin De Kock - General Manager of Surfing South Africa(National Surfing Administration).
Mike Larmont - Durban/SA Surfing icon and Businessman. Founder of Larmont Surf and Co-Founder of Zigzag Magazine.
Jonathan Paarman - Cape town/SA Surfing icon and Businessman in SA Surfing.
John Whittle - Big Wave Waterman/Springbok Surf-lifesaver.
Leighton Alcock - Durban/SA Surfing personality and Businessman in SA Surfing.
Paul Botha - Life's a Beach Communications(ASP Media)/Gunston 500 contest director/Surfing Historian.
Paul Naude - CEO Billabong USA/SA Surfing icon & Springbok surfer, Founder ZIGZAG Surfing magazine.
Ross Lindsay - Cape town/SA Surfing Big-wave icon and Businessman in SA Surfing.
Shaun Tomson - World surfing icon, 1977 World Surfing Champion and six-time winner of the Gunston 500.
Steve Pike - Wavescapes Media/Weather Expert - surf forecaster.
Since formation Surfing Heritage South Africa has continued the work of collecting, and curating a full spectrum of historic collectables from surf craft to oral histories. We have worked consistently towards the establishment of the first Surfing Heritage Centre being established in Durban through negotiation for a site at Dairy Beach, New Pier, and are also exploring our relationship with the Muizenberg(Cape Town) surfing community who are actively pursuing their dream of establishing a surfing community and visitor centre at Muizenberg.
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