Updated 16 February 2009
 Jeffrey Dale Surfboards Old
style functional shapes, Modern Materials
Retro
Long boards, Performance Longboards and Short boards
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Midget Smith
passed away on August 23, 2008 after a long battle with cancer.
Midget was one of the few shapers on the planet that could shape a surfboard from a block of foam or balsa. The only shaper I could trust to shape what ever shape I asked of him, even if it might be a bit off the wall. He would work very hard to make it like I wanted it. He was my shaper and my friend and I can't believe he is gone. I have to believe that there is more to life than the few years we have on this earth, and Midget is probably getting his shaping room together and checking out the waves in his new sphere of influence. Hang Ten Midget Because of the passing of Midget, I am re-thinking Jeffrey Dale Surfboards. I have 4 different shapes that Midget shaped for me and nobody that I trust to duplicate them. I have been tossing around the idea of machine shaping and digitizing the shapes, but need to do a little more research. For now, I am not building any more boards until I can find the best way to duplicate the shapes we have. If you want to order a board, e-mail me. Welcome To Jeffrey Dale Surfboards In 1960 Jeff Wilson opened a shop in Santa Ana building surfboards. He was an innovator and soul surfer. Not finding a suitable  core
material for his boards, he created his own system for blowing
blanks. One of Jeff's first shops was across the
street from Poche
next to the old donut shop. He opened a shop at Brookhurst and
Orange Ave. in Anaheim in 1963. Jack Hokenson had a shop there
before he sold it to Jeff. I worked for Jack doing repairs and
then for Jeff, when he opened the Anaheim Surf Center. It was a
fun
shop. Surfing is all about having fun. In 1964 we started
the Jeffrey Dale Competition Team. It was a hoot. We were
on the Tom Malone Surf and Ski TV show during the Watts Riots.
That
is a story in itself. There was a trip to Mexico, K-39 and San
Miguel, that was epic. A few competitions with other teams
and and a few contests. For the most part, we just
had fun. In 1966 most of the team went to war,
and the team broke up. Jeff quit making boards about 1980, and
Jeffrey Dale Surfboards was no more. The Come Back For several years I have been looking for old friends and surf team members on the internet. After the Vietnam War was over it seemed  like
everyone had gone their own way and
disappeared. I was living in Hawaii and working as a telescope
operator on Mauna Kea. Computer access was available from the
beginning of the Internet. Search engines came in and made
hunting for old friends much easier. In 2001 we tried to get some
of the team together at a party at San Onofre. Nobody
showed. No sooner than we got home, people started coming
out of the woodwork. I guess when it is time, nothing can stop
it. In 2002 we had our first real Reunion and have been having
one
every year since. Late summer of 2005, I decided to build a few
Jeffrey
Dale Surfboards for old team members and friends. Jeff
signed over the Jeffrey Dale name to me so I can produce surfboards
legally using the name of Jeffrey Dale Surfboards.
We specialize in high quality retro style
surfboards, using some of the old team shapes as models for our new
boards. On
February 8th,
2006, I decided to go full bore and start an online surfshop.
June 2007 I bought a P-30 GMC step van and started converting it to a
mobile surf shop. We are able to keep our prices down,
because our overhead
is low. New boards will be available for pick-up at the Koby
Swapmeet in the San Diego Sports Arena, once a month or can be
delievered anywhere in Orange or San
Diego County for $50. Check out some of the boards we have
made. Click on the link below.Keep
surfing and have Fun
 
 Hang
Ten
Jim
Anything underlined is a link. Just click to go there.
 Melissa is holding one of our
latest retro style boards. It was shaped by Midget Smith using
the latest formula from E-Foam. It is an 8'0" Poche Model.
We are trying an old style rocker with very little in the tail
and the nose kick starts about 1/4 of the way from the
nose. It should make for a fast paddeling down the line
rocket. Melissa is going to test it and we will report
on it in the future.
Melissa is our first new
Team rider in over 40 years. I don't have
any pics of Melissa surfing, but I saw her in 6 to 8 foot surf during
that early March swell. Her good looks arn't her only
skills. (When the surf is good, it's tough to sit on the beach
and take pictures.) Our team isn't going to be required to do
Contests. I personally don't like contests. I want
them to have fun and surf their brains out. With the old team,
that wasn't to hard to do. This kid is smart. Melissa is
a Registered Nurse.
 The photos are of John's new project board. It is a redwood plank that will become a replica of acient hawaiian alaia or olo boards. He is going to ride it this summer and is going to be , like all boards John makes a work of art and function. I would like to give it a shot also.  John doesn't do anything half way. This board is going to be beautiful |
 Melissa and 8' Poche  The Team circa 1965  Dennis Cowin and friend with their new boards  Jim Pomeroy, Don Hart and Dennis Bowen at Rincon 1963  San Onofre Sunset  K-39 Crowds  The Master at work |
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