Ventura Surf Shop

Ventura Surf Shop
dba William Dennis Sports
88 EAST THOMPSON BOULEVARD, Ventura, CA, 93001
ShopVSS.com

Phone: (805) 643 - 1062

Established in 1961, Ventura Surf Shop has been serving the Gold Coast of California for over forty years. Rich tradition combined with cutting edge technology makes V.S.S. the destination surf shop in the area. We stock over 125 new boards and have 75 to 100 used boards at any given time of the year.

History-

Started in 1961 by Tom Hale. Tom handled manufacturing and retail was taken care of by Terry Jones, winner of the first pro contest, the Morey-Pope Noseriding Invitational.

Shortly thereafter William Blinky Hubina became the first employee of Morey-Pope Surfboards, where he worked with future partner Dennis Ryder.

In 1967 Blinky and Dennis started William-Dennis Surfboards. The next few years saw great changes in surf boards.Dennis departed shortly after the business got started and Blinky carried on through the transition period of the late 60 s and early 70 s.These exciting times saw the beginning of the modern short board era, with the first down-railers, diamond tails, the introduction of Calif. Round pins, silene cloth, and modern construction methods. Blinky had some of the best young surfers in the area as his R&D Department, collectively known as the William-Dennis Zoo.

A 1970 move to the old Morey-Pope shop on Front Street brought an expanded retail operation headed by Zoo member Pete Bundy.

The early 70 s brought more growth through associations with several local up and coming shapers and their brands including Malcolm and Duncan, the Campbell Brothers (designers of the Bonzer), a very young Steve Huerta, Merv Larson and his Surf Ski, and Hawaiian shredder Les Wong.

In 1975 along came shaper Stan Fujii.He helped not only with the shaping, but when Pete left in 79 , he pitched in on the retail end also.

More changes in 1980 as Stan purchases the shop and Blinky leaves for greener pastures in the restaurant business.

1986 sees the name of the shop changed from William-Dennis to the Ventura Surf Shop.

1995 brings about the move to our current location at 88 E. Thompson Blvd.

2000- the big change.Stan sells the shop to Mark Ellison, who promptly installs Bill Blinky Hubina as Managing Partner.

2000-today.Growth, growth, and more growth.A three fold expansion of our inventory, and relationships with local shapers, Malcolm Campbell (Campbell Bros.), Robert Weiner (Roberts), Wayne Rich, John Roddenberry (JHR), and, of course, Blinkys own William-Dennis Surfboards leave VSS in the best shape its ever been in.