A surf journalist once wrote that “Malibu is the exact spot on earth where ancient surfing became modern surfing.” When the lineup is crowded with every kind of surfer imaginable, from foreign tourist groms to reality show wannabes posing for paparazzi staked out on the shore, no doubt many Malibu regulars probably wish they could go back into time.

Back the day, Malibu was ruled by longboard icons like Dewey Weber, Mickey “The Black Knight of Malibu” Dora and Terry “Tubesteak” Tracy.  Dora’s riding style is still being copied by surfers today, and “Tubesteak,” well, he was the model for the Great Kahoona, made famous by surfer/actor Cliff Robertson in the movie “Gidget,” which was set in Malibu. That 1959 cinematic pop culture phenomenon catapulted surfing into the American youth culture, and waveriding at Malibu would never be the same.

Personally, I’ve found dozens of reasons to love Malibu besides the surf, not the least of which is the killer banana bread french toast at Coogies Beach Café, and then running into Dick Van Dyke and Pamela Anderson (but not together) while avocado shopping at the Ralph’s next door.

A fitting tribute to the original beachhead of American surf culture and the iconic surfboards of the day, the Longboard Legends Collection “Malibu” by Surf Ohio is a limited-edition of 100 hand-crafted 23” surfboards, each numbered and signed by Ron Kaplan, and arriving ready-to-hang in your tiki bar, beach house, office, or wherever you hang ten. Only $45 per board. Buy any two boards for $80 (savings of $10), or all three styles with matching edition numbers for only $110 (savings of $25).  Priority Mail shipping is $12 for one board, or $16 for two-three boards.