Early memories of growing up in Laguna

LAGUNA LIFE

The early chapters of life hold the most numerous and often most

cherished moments to remember. Growing up in Laguna for 40 years has

provided a treasure trove of such moments.

Every waking and dream-filled state of mind was under the magical

spell of the ocean. From skin-diving with my dad for abs and lobster

several times a week to “skid-boarding,” as we so fondly called it,

to mat surfing, there was plenty to keep one fired up for the next

day’s adventure.

A loquat tree in our front yard at Shadow Lane holds special

memories. My mom would hold casual supplemental school lessons under

the tree after school. One special day while under this tree she

mentioned that Bing Boka, who lived a few doors up had brought

something by. In the back yard sat my first surfboard, a Velzy Jacobs

balsa. A solid light green enveloped the beauty from to bottom. From

now on the skid-board and mat were relegated to the on-deck circle.

The cast from which to learn from was deep and wide. Thalia Street

harbored plenty of talent for such a small area. Billy Hamilton, Juan

Shelton, Pat Sparkhul, Pat Tobin, Pierre Michel and Dave Tomkinks

were just a few of this talented crew that could be viewed on any

given day. A few hundred yards south of Thalia Street resided the

Brooks and Oak Street gang.

The Callhouns, Bing Boka, Corky Smith, Greg Nichols, John

Parlette, Walter Aunibun (“Honeybun”), Spyder Wills and Steve Eddens

were just a few of the locals to be seen in this area. Spyder could

fly on his paipo while Eddens with an artificial leg would rip and

dropping in on his namesakes reef “honeybun” would lay down some of

the most poetic drop-knee turns you’d ever see. As a youngster there

was nothing like seeing Second Reef at Brooks Street heave up a

glassy southerly beauty, roll into first reef, jack up and ledge out

then finally twist it’s way to Oak Street and Peter out into a

perfect shaped shore break running parallel to the beach and wave

good-bye as it heads toward Thalia Street.

Everyone one has fond memories of their hometown but I feel very

lucky to have been around the cast of characters in such a unique

setting.

* JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach resident, professional surfer

and co-founder of “They Will Surf Again,” a nonprofit foundation

assisting people with spinal cord injuries. He was also a member of

the Water Quality Advisory Committee. He can be reached at

[email protected]. His Web site is

AlohaSchoolofSurfing.com.