x
Breaking News
More () »

Island Surf: First family of surfing

As another unfettered morning unfurls on the crown city, Coronado is free and easy. An early Orange Avenue stroll is the locals' way to uncover the day. There you will find Island Surf, the beach c...

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — CORONADO (CBS 8) - As another unfettered morning unfurls on the crown city, Coronado is free and easy. An early Orange Avenue stroll is the locals' way to uncover the day. There you will find Island Surf, the beach community's unofficial city hall and Coronado's oldest surf shop. Manny Granillo was 15 years old, when he got his first job there.

"It was Dureyea's from 1972 to 1992, and that's when I bought it and changed the name to Island Surf," Manny said.

Island Surf became Manny's immersion into the lifestyle.

"I was sweeping the floors, cleaning sunglasses," he said.

And rubbing elbows with some of the master shapers of the day.

"Donald Takayama, Neil Velzy, and they just took me under their wings," Manny said. "The boards that I have in here are primarily all Velzys and Takayamas. Some of them go back to the 1950s."

Growing up in the burgeoning board culture of Coronado was idyllic for Manny.

"People can't believe it, when they came over to Coronado the first time. They come over the bridge and they look and they go, 'You're kidding me. You live here. You guys really live here,'" he said.

No trace of island fever at Island Surf.

"There will be months before I even go over the bridge. It's not necessary," Manny said.

It is necessary that Island Surf be here to answer the Coronado vistiors' daily quests. They come like clockwork.

"'How do I get to the beach? Where is the Hotel Del?'" Manny said.

Ten years ago, a 15-year-old named Joe Cowan applied for a job there. He became the latest link in Coronado's longest-running surfing legacy.

"Life is good. Life is good here on the island," Joe said.

A life of time, tide and tradition.

Before You Leave, Check This Out