Killer Dana History

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History of Killer Dana Surf Break | History of Dana Point, CA

Legendary Dana Point, California



Dana Point, California is named after author Richard Henry Dana, who, in the late 1800's wrote the classic American novel, "Two Years Before The Mast", a book which is still required reading in many American schools. Dana called the high bluffs and sheltered coves of this area the most beautiful spot on the California coast. Pioneering surfers thought so too, as they surfed the many beach breaks along this rich coast. Dana Point has a surfing history to rival anywhere outside Hawaii. Hobie Alter opened the very first retail surf shop here in 1954. You could fill a book with stories from the days of Hobie Surfboard's nearby factory. Surfer Magazine began here, and to this day, calls Dana Point home. The Surfer's Journal, Steve Pezman's outstanding magazine, is also based here. Bruce Brown produced the classic "Endless Summer" right here in town. On any given day, you can spot Phil Edwards riding his bike, Mikey Munoz at the market, and many other classic surfers whose roots go deep in Dana Point's rich surfing heritage.

Dana Point was also once home to a very special Wave. That wave broke at the Dana Point Cove and was known as Killer Dana. The break got this name because it came out of deep water and broke close to the rocks which lined the beach. In the days before leashes, wipeouts were sure to bring at least a few dings - if not worse. The crew at Killer Dana included many of Southern California's earliest surfers - men like Peanuts Larsen and Whitey Harrison. Later on legendary surfers such as Phil Edwards, The Patterson Brothers, Flippy Hoffman, Del Cannon, and Billy Hamilton came to call the break home. When not surfing, these watermen spent their time lobstering, fishing, abalone diving - all the while unknowingly setting the stage for decades of surfers yet to come.

Tragically, Killer Dana was mostly destroyed when the Dana Point Harbor was built. A giant breakwater now cuts right through the heart of the once epic right point. Few can imagine the silence that must have embraced the line-up on the local's final evening at Killer Dana. Many who had surfed the break for decades knew they would be powerless to do anything but watch as the break was filled with stone in 1966.

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Read more about Killer Dana and see more amazing photos of what the 'killer' used to look like.

If you are interested in shopping at a great surf store in Dana Point, visit Killer Dana.

Learn more about the history of Dana Point.