OCEANSIDE, CA – When you think of California beach culture, you don’t think of the early 1900s. Well, a new book, Surfing and Rescue tells another story.

Author Patrick Moser’s new book explores California surf culture and the impact legendary surfer George Freeth had on it from the early 1900s. Moser will be at a book signing at the California Surf Museum in Oceanside on 27 July.

“In the early 1900s most people couldn’t swim and there were no city lifeguards. Freeth was there as a lifeguard and he taught people how to swim, row and surf,” Moser said.

Freeth came to California from Hawaii in 1907 as an attraction paid to give surfing exhibits.

“He started teaching lifeguards how to surf and it started spreading to the general population that frequented the beaches,” Moser said.

In the early 1990s, people had heard of surfing, but it was mostly in Hawaii.

Freeth wasn’t the first person to surf in California, but he started teaching people, so he built that culture around lifeguards and surfing.

Freeth can be seen in a short film showing how the rescues were carried out. Thus, he not only protected those who were in the water, but he showed them that there were guards.

“He taught people that the ocean is a dangerous place, but you can get immense pleasure from it and he stays here long enough to teach them how.

Since then, people cannot stay out of the Pacific.

“It’s been over 100 years since George Freeth came along giving surf shows and teaching others how to surf. That’s really the beginning of beach culture in my mind,” Moser said.

The July 27 book signing will be much more than that.

“I’m going to give a glimpse into the life of George Freeth, his importance in California Beach Culture… It’s going to be awesome!”

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