Pigs, hot dogs and ‘Da Cat’

When Dale Velzy hung out his shingle under the Manhattan Beach Pier, according to one account, he was given a new business designation: “surf shop.” What went on inside made surfboard history. The Pig, Velzy’s most famous board, hit the waves in 1955. With a wide-hipped board, surfers could make faster turns. Since then, the balsa wood-based board has become a collectible. Velzy, now 76 and still shaping, sells balsa Pigs starting at $3,100. He and other board luminaries re-crafted their most famous products to be auctioned by Sotheby’s on Thursday at the Surfrider Foundation’s 20th anniversary gala in Culver City. About 700 collectors, supporters, and fans of musicians Tom Curren, Perry Farrell and Jack Johnson, who will be at the event, are expected to turn out. Other star boards: Gerry Lopez’s 1972 Lightning Bolt “Coral Cruiser,” right, and Greg Noll’s hulking “Da Cat.” “This is not just a surfboard auction with a random supply [of boards],” said Christopher Evans, the U.S. executive director of Surfrider. He calls the 29 designs representing the evolution of the sport since the 1950s, “the quintessential surfboard collection.” Opening bid for each is $1,000. Boards from the golden era of surfing tend to be pricier than those from the hot dog ‘70s, the high-performance ‘80s and contemporary tow-in designs. Each board features the Surfrider Foundation’s 20th anniversary logo and is signed by the shaper. Velzy has traded surfing on a Pig to riding a hog: Harleys are his latest passion, but he hopes the auction draws enough funds to clean up California’s beaches. He included redwood inlays in the reproduction he donated “to give it a little pizazz.” The event runs from 7 to 11 p.m.; tickets cost $100. Call (877) 714-7668 or go to www.surfrider.org/auction. Bidders, call (949) 492-8170.

-- Bonnie Obremski