Page 12 - V38 #3

In Memor
In Memory.... with Aloha
Aloha
y

..
..
with
Patti McGee 1945 - 2024
When San
Diegan Patti
McGee first
tried skate-
boarding, the
skateboard
was
probably
a piece of
wood with
metal roller
skate wheels
nailed onto
it. And it was the idea that “everybody can skate.”
definitely a boys’ sport, a radcal boys’ sport! Though she also competed in surf contests, the
Entering the first-ever National Championship in petite tomboy went on to become the first professional
1964, Patti took top honors in the women’s division with female skater – and skateboarding’s official Queen.
her rolling handstand, a move she invented. Her iconic Open, honest, real, yet modest and sincere, Patti
handstand was captured on a cover of Life magazine in continued to influence generations of young girls, many
1965 and Patti began touring the country, appearing on of whom are breaking new boundaries today. Patti
he most popular TV shows of the day and promoting loved skateboarding and it showed throughout her life.

Dropping In
Dropping In...continued
LIVE FROM CSM!...

Shawn Styles and his Channel 8 crew were on
hand to film in the museum as a lead-in to a July 20
presentation of “Women Can’t Surf” at the History
Center in Balboa Park.
Shawn has regularly donated his masterful cooking
skills as part of the annual GALAs live auction
festivities.
Linda Merrill’s VISIT...

Almost 60 years ago, Linda Merrill was the first
woman to be featured on the cover of Surfer magazine
(November, 1964) and she came across her image in
our Stars, Cars, and Guitars exhibit recently.
Linda had driven from her home in Santa Clarita
to attend her very first GALA,where she was able to
catch up with many surf pals from her years at San
Onofre, as well as from the contest circuit.
The daughter of Benny Merrill, one of the founders
of the San Onofre Surf Club, Linda was encouraged
to surf ats a youngster and by her early teens the
stylish goofyfoot was a top female competitor.
In 1963 she teamed up with waterman Mike Doyle
and they took ttandem titles on the West Coast and at
the Makaha International.
Linda continues to get in the water today, primarily
as a stand-up paddler.
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