Thaaar She Blows: Whalebone Surf Shop
July 23rd, 2009 by mbassett in the Uncategorized category
Being the world’s biggest online surf shop has some obvious advantages. Like the fact that throughout our decade long run we’ve made some incredible allies. By far, one of our strongest comrades comes from the eastern shores of Nags Head, North Carolina. If you’re familiar with the region than you’ve undoubtedly come across the famed Whalebone Surf Shop, a landmark and legend for local surfers, fisherman and watermen of all kind. (Check out some of their logo tees and hats, here.) Whalebone’s history is as colorful as it’s owner Jim Vaughn, who opened shop in 1975 before the area had either a street sign or traffic light. But what this little Outer Banks town lacked in modern conveniences it made up for in pristine beaches and perfect, peeling Atlantic wind swell — which was all the young surf retail pioneer needed.
It was if God was smiling down on Vaughn and his dream, literally. With help from a business partner, he rented an 800 square-foot house from a Catholic priest who had converted the dive bar next door into the Holy Trinity church. Vaughn carpeted the attic above the shop and called it home. When sermons were over, the neighboring church played host to an array of Super surf films. “Jim Plimpton used to make surf films and, for beer he would play really outstanding Super-8 movies for us,” Vaughn recalls. In the winter of ‘76, Vaughn bought out his business partner and officially changed the name to Whalebone Junction Surf Shop.
In the next few weeks will be posting additional articles about Whalebone’s top-ranked team, cool events and killer promotions. And should you happen to find yourself in their vicinity, be sure to stop ion and tell ‘em Swell sent ya.