Gee Has a Passion for Old-Time Surfing

Michael Gee’s beloved Phil Bector Red Nose Rider surfboard is just as state-if-the-art now as it was in 1966, the year it was designed.

Gee, 25, will be on that board Saturday when about 80 surfers gather at Old Man’s at San Onofre State Park to surf and reminisce at the San Onofre Longboard Classic, in which only pre-1970 longboards are permitted.

Gee, who returned not long ago from a surfing excursion to Panama, is ranked fifth on the Bud Longboard Surf Tour. He recently took first at the Reunion Islands event off the east coast of Africa. And though the former Cypress resident usually competes on a lightweight, high-performance board, the opportunity to surf on his classic board and watch some legends is the chance of a lifetime.

“No way would I miss this,” said Gee, who lives in San Clemente. “It’s important to get back to the roots of surfing. I’m so stoked to be able to watch guys like L.J. Richards surf. I grew up watching these guys. Their styles are so relaxed and to be able to surf with them--it’s so cool.”

In addition to Richards, other veterans expected to surf include Mickey Munoz and Ron Sizemore. Also competing will be top-ranked Joel Tudor of San Diego, who will be riding a 1960s Donald Takayama Bing surfboard, and Josh Baxter of San Clemente.

Gee, who was 3 when his father first put him on a surfboard, has gone full circle from longboard to shortboard to longboard. While he has nothing against the shortboard, Gee said he would never go back.

“It’s an attitude thing,” Gee said. “Longboarders look out for each other. One of the reasons why I love surfing so much is because of this attitude.”

Gee noted that only a few hundred yards north of Old Man’s, which is Gee’s preferred surfing spot, is Trestles, where shortboarders predominate and competition for waves is the norm.

“Most longboarders will ask which way you’re going. They’re not agro or [angry]. It’s laid back . . . like the old days,” Gee said.

For event organizer Allan Seymour, surfers are an important part of the contest, but the primary focus is the boards.

“It’s like vintage race cars,” Seymour said. “It’s a time to admire these old boards. To talk to the guys who ride them.”

Since classic boards are usually heavier than current lightweight longboards, a surfer must rely more on grace and style rather than maneuvers normally associated with shortboards. And for Gee, who said his best maneuver is riding the nose, that’s just fine.

“There’s going to be some really nice rides out there. It’s going to be graceful. And that’s what surfing is all about,” Gee said.

Competition starts at 7 a.m. and includes three age-group categories: under 36, 36 to 49, and 50 and older. Finals are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. After the contest, Seymour said there will be a vintage surfboard display at the Picnic Bowl at San Clemente State Park at 5 p.m.