John C Elwell

John C. Elwell is a former lifeguard, teacher, author, photographer, and world traveler, who started surfing as a teenager, long before foam boards, wet suits, and leashes. He has served as a consultant to surf museums and the film industry, and he was a close friend of revolutionary board designer Bob Simmons, who drowned at Windansea in 1954. A resident of Coronado, Elwell has been collecting surfing history for over 50 years. Jane Schmauss is a cofounder of the California Surf Museum and has...See more

John C. Elwell is a former lifeguard, teacher, author, photographer, and world traveler, who started surfing as a teenager, long before foam boards, wet suits, and leashes. He has served as a consultant to surf museums and the film industry, and he was a close friend of revolutionary board designer Bob Simmons, who drowned at Windansea in 1954. A resident of Coronado, Elwell has been collecting surfing history for over 50 years. Jane Schmauss is a cofounder of the California Surf Museum and has been avidly documenting the local lore since 1986. The California Surf Museum, one of the first of its kind in the state, is located in Oceanside. See less