Weekend festival will put spotlight on Doheny’s rich surf culture

Dana Point may be known as a sleepy coastal town with a small-boat harbor and a handful of ritzy hotels. But for surfers, it’s an area rich in surf history and tradition, not to mention plenty of waves.

That history will be celebrated with the Doheny Surf & Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23. In its 17th year, the festival will bring more than 100 vendors, music and entertainment to an expected 7,000 attendees over the two days.

“It’s part of our history,” said Mario Cuevas, Doheny Surf Festival coordinator, who like many was drawn to the Dana Point beach for its surf.

As a 16-year-old, Cuevas would travel hours to ride waves at Doheny, back when there was no freeway connected to the then-remote beach — in the days when you could pull your car right up on the sand.

He moved closer to the area — from inland Walnut to San Juan Capistrano — just to be closer to the surf break, which back then included Killer Dana. That was before the harbor was built and destroyed the big-wave break.

Cuevas even picked a profession, spending 40 years as a trauma nurse, that allowed him weekdays off to chase swells.

And still, at age 72, he gets out in the water to surf at least two times a week.

“My life has been around surfing,” he said. “It keeps me sane … it’s been a good ride.”

Despite the richness of the surf culture, it has only been recently that the city has recognized some of the innovations and milestones of area surfers such as Hobie Alter, who revolutionized surfboard making by introducing foam blanks, and Phil Edwards, considered the best surfer of his era.

Alter and Edwards both have been honored in recent months at the Waterman’s Plaza across the street from Doheny State Park.

This weekend’s fundraiser is put on by the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association, with proceeds going back to Doheny State Beach.

There will be plenty of surf history at the event, with historic surfboards on display and for sale by the Longboard Collector’s Club. There also will be classic Woodie wagons and cars lined up in the parking lot for people to check out.

“To some of them, it’s very nostalgic and people are drawn to that,” Cuevas said.

There will be hula performances, surf music and a surf contest put on by the Doheny Longboard Surfing Association. Surf and ocean art will be displayed, and there will be sea-glass jewelry and other crafts for sale.

Food vendors with poke, shave ice, traditional BBQ by the Hawaiian Surf Club, a Kona Brewing beer garden and other food and drink will be available for purchase.

The event is free to attend and runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and until 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, go to dohenystatebeach.org/doheny-surf-festival