Brad Basham, who helped shape generations of surfboard makers, won’t easily be forgotten. A plaque has been added to the Catalyst at Bashams Surf Shop, dedicating the building and his former shop in his name.
A dedication ceremony officially declaring “The Brad Basham Building” drew a crowd over the weekend, a chance to pay homage to Basham, who died in 2022.
“We want to preserve what is and what was,” said Matt Biolos, one of the many board builders who was mentored by Basham.
Biolos bought the building with a promise to keep Basham’s legacy alive.
“We just wanted to celebrate and commemorate Brad’s 50-year contribution and commitment to the surfboard industry in San Clemente,” Biolos said. “He raised so many of us, and financed a lot of our brands, he helped beginners and part-time board builders, giving them a place to develop their skills.”
In the ’70s, Basham started making boards in his mom’s garage, but business really got going for him in the 1980s. He became a main distributor for Gordon “Grubby” Clark, who owned the surfboard blank manufacturing company Clark Foam.
Basham became a staple in San Clemente, a well-known glasser who put the final touches on boards before surfers picked them up to enjoy the thrill of the ride.
His shop became the hub where surfboard shapers – both professionals and hobbyists – from San Diego to the South Bay and beyond bought foam blanks and the supplies needed for their craft.
Roman Krecu, owner of Los Molinos Brewing Co., now just steps away from the building, grew up going to Basham’s shop, dabbling in surfboard making in his younger years.
“He treated everybody the same — whether you visited here once a week or once a year, if you bought a surfboard, or whether you were someone who spent thousands of dollars,” Krecu said. “He really mentored a lot of the younger shapers … he was like that for thousands of kids. Matt Biolos, the guy who owns it now, was one of those kids.”
Keeping on with the tradition, Biolos created shaping bays where up-and-coming board builders can fine tune their craft.
“That’s one thing we need to hold onto, so that tradition can continue,” Krecu said.
When Basham died in 2022, it was unknown what would become of the building. Biolos and business partner Mike Reola contacted Basham’s sister, Linda Storment, who had several offers from developers wanting to tear down the space. They offered a deal to take over the shop, with the caveat that it would still honor Basham’s legacy.
Some parts of the shop are the same – the big Basham surfboard sign once outside is now in the shop and there are still plenty of supplies for board builders, the soul of Basham’s business.
“The industry that made this part of town cool – people want to come in and capitalize … if all the shapers go away and the board makers are gone, what makes it cool anymore?” Biolos asked. “We wanted to come in and maintain it for what it was, what it is and what it should be – and that’s a hard-core surfboard building shop.”
Storment, who helped unveil the plaque alongside Basham’s longtime girlfriend Lynn Smith, called her brother a “humble, unassuming guy who did not want to be the center of attention.”
But she could hear his voice say “that’s pretty cool, yeah …cool,” she said.
“I know he would be proud to see the factory alive with creativity,” she said. “The building wasn’t just a factory, it was Brad’s life work.
“His presence is in the walls, the desk of the shaping room, the resin on the floor. In every way, his boards continue to ride,” she added. “Thank you for keeping his wave alive.”
Smith said it was the community support that got her through the early days without Basham.
“Without the surf community, I would be lost,” she told the gathered crowd. “When I first started running his shop alone when he passed away, the reason I was not sad is because everyone came and told stories about Brad.”
The plaque shows an image she took of Basham years ago, a smile peeking out from his thick salt-and-pepper beard.
“In this building, Brad Basham fostered and helped build the San Clemente surfboard manufacturing industry,” the plaque reads. “By mentoring, financing and supporting local shapers, brands and artisans, Brad helped create and maintain a vital manufacturing community that thrives today. This plaque commemorates and celebrates his contributions to the San Clemente surfing community.”