By Chris MacDonald

Legendary Surfer/Surfboard Shaper Robert August recently helped out a friend as he autographed posters of the movie that helped make him famous, "The Endless Summer," to raise funds for the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum. The classic 1966 documentary showed August  with his friend Mike Hynson, as they surfed around the world. August put  35,000 miles on a single surfboard during that trip as he circumnavigated the globe,  surfing in many areas that had never seen a surfboard.

The inductee of Huntington Beach's Surfing Walk of Fame (1994) and the Surfers Hall of Fame (2002) signed posters and shirts that fans purchased at the museum during the US Open of Surfing. Fellow surfers joined him at the signings, including L.J. Richards, one of the first to ride the big waves in Hawaii, Bruce Gabrielson and Chuck Linnen.

August, whose dad, Orall (Blackie) taught him to surf off some of the same beaches he enjoys today, when visiting from his Costa Rica home, has taught his own family to surf, including Christine, 13, a Costa Rican girl he adopted. August started his own surfboard brand in 1974 that is still popular around the globe. "Many clients on the East Coast order 9 to 11-foot surfboards," said Lisa Carden of Robert August Surfboards, who's also a director on the Surfing Walk of Fame. "But we customize all sorts of boards."

August's popular brand reminiscent of 'The Endless Summer' appears on shirts, skateboards, bikes, wine, hats and even golf balls. Check out robertaugust.com to see more.

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