The sport of surfing has a hazy history that is traced to back to 12th century Polynesia. Drawings depict fisherman riding the waves into shore with their haul rather than paddling in as riding the waves brought them to land faster. Captain James Cook observed surfers in the Pacific Islands in the 1700s. After his death his lieutenant, James King was so intrigued with surfers in Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii that in 1779 he wrote, “the art is to guide the plank on top of the swell.” That still rings true for today’s surfers! Author, Mark Twain who seemed to have an uncanny way of showing up just about everywhere in the world tested his skills at surfing in 1886. Later, author, Jack London wrote an essay titled, “A Royal Sport” about his experience surfing in 1907.

Early in the 20th century three Hawaiian princes arrived on the west coast showing off their surfing skills along the southern coast of California. Another Hawaiian, Duke Kahanamoku, “The Duke” brought the sport of surfing to California in 1912 - training and loaning equipment to new surfers. After winning the gold and silver medals for swimming in the 1920 Olympics he travelled the world promoting and popularizing surfing.

 

Meanwhile volleyball, an indoor sport developed in 1895, had moved to the sand in Waikiki in 1915. In 1920 the sport was being played on the beach in Santa Monica. Beach volleyball clubs began popping up in Southern California during the great depression as it was an inexpensive activity.

Soon the tiny, sleepy enclaves along the coast were embracing these two new beach lifestyle sports. Ole Hanson had begun developing our “Spanish Village by the Sea” in 1926 around the same time surfers began to ride the waves from Malibu to San Diego.

Imagine for a moment it is 1935, Art Beard and his high school friends have recently discovered surfing. The group of friends would sneak out of Santa Ana High School, driving down the two-lane highway to San Onofre. In those days the early surfers called it, “N’Ofre,” today locals refer to the spot as SanO. On December 7, 1941, Beard and his buddies were surfing at Huntington Pier when Pearl Harbor was bombed. After he graduated from USC he joined the Navy, serving in WWII. Returning from fighting overseas he became a Civil Engineer following in his dad’s footsteps. (Fun fact:  A.A. Beard, a Civil Engineer for Orange County, left his legacy in the area with his name on the bridge in San Juan Capistrano.) Art married Eileen who had been a WAVE in the Navy. 

Although surfing was mostly on hold during those war years, it was not long before Art and Eileen converted a 40-foot bus into a motorhome, loading their eight children, Tim, Maureen, Pati, Dennis, Terry, Kevin, Pegi and Tom into the large vehicle. The family headed straight to San Onofre every weekend. On Saturday night Art and Eileen and all eight children slept in the big, old bus parked right next to the San Juan Capistrano Mission. They woke at the crack of dawn for the 6am mass, then off to SanO to the sandy beach with its beckoning waves.

When Art started surfing the boards were made from Balsa wood. His five young sons embraced the new style foam boards made by Hobie Surfboards. Art was a founding member of the San Onofre Private Surfing Club that was established in 1952.

Daughter, Pegi Beard Cheatum shared with this writer that if the waves were perfect Art allowed his children to skip school to surf. The ideal Southern California climate enticed families to flock to the beaches regularly. Parents and children, young and old mingled on the sand and in the water. The days were spent not only surfing, but also listening to music, embracing the ‘Aloha Spirit’ of the Hawaiian culture, and when the waves were flat, beach volleyball became a favorite pastime of the beachgoers.

Volleyball became the true legacy of the Beard family as they evolved from just a surfing family into several family members becoming very skilled at playing the game; the sport sustained a passionate lifestyle through four generations of their family. The children and grandchildren of Art Beard are still playing and coaching volleyball locally and internationally. Days at SanO surfing and playing beach volleyball evolved as family members took their early athletic skills from the beach sports to Europe, Kauai, and back to their hometown of San Clemente.

Youngest son, Tom who honed his volleyball skills during family days at the beach eventually developed into an exceptional player, playing on the team at San Clemente High School, then garnering a scholarship to play at Pepperdine University. After graduation he headed across the pond to play professionally in Italy and France. He is well-known in the volleyball world as a top setter. He still plays in many international and national tournaments. His wife, Jen Adams, was a setter for San Francisco State. She was also a regular player on the beach at SanO. In 2013 She and Tom started the San Clemente Volleyball club, (SCVB). Both of their sons, Max and Finnegan love to surf at SanO while Max currently works with dad coaching volleyball at SCVB.

As for the rest of the Beard family, most have been enthusiastic about playing the game since those childhood days at the beach. Tim and his wife, Pati moved to Northern California with their children, son Benjamin and daughter, Amalia. While teaching at UC Berkeley he took a one-year sabbatical, moving the family to Ferrara, Italy to watch and cheer Tom on while he was playing professionally overseas. Tim’s granddaughter, a fourth generation Beard youngster plays club volleyball.

Maureen married Kenny Nielsen, who lived most of his life as a resident of San Clemente, in fact he is memorialized on the San Clemente Pier. He graduated with the very first class of San Clemente High School in 1965. He and Maureen met on the beach at SanO. He was a consummate ocean man, catching fish off the pier from age 12, later becoming a sea captain and commercial fisherman, fishing the coastal waters from San Diego to Santa Barbara. He was also an ocean researcher and a very active San Clementean. Maureen and Kenny’s legacy continues with their two daughters, Jennifer Cuda and Kristine Bonnot who both played volleyball at SCHS. Currently, Jennifer coaches volleyball and surfing at Saint Margaret’s private school. Her husband, Scott is the president at San Onofre Surfing Club. Their sons, Michael and Logan spend many days surfing and playing volleyball at SanO. If you are on the beach on a Sunday, you will catch them playing under the Palapa. Kristine’s daughter, Majken plays on SCVB team coached by her uncle Tom.

Pati Beard has taught many youngsters to play volleyball at SanO. She played professionally on “The Little Dippers” team with Wilt Chamberlain. Her son, Mike Murphy coaches at J Serra High School. Her husband, Pat announces the games at the high school. All three of their sons, Mike, Tommy and Riley coach at the SCVB with their Uncle Tom while granddaughter, Shannon plays for the club.

Dennis’ children, Brianna and Marshal passion leaned into surfing over volleyball. The two siblings entered lots of surfing contests.

Terry was an avid surfer and skateboarder. He married Carmen from the Philippines.

 Kevin owned Kevin Beard Custom Woodworks in San Clemente for over 40 years, building kitchens for many residents of San Clemente. He and his wife Ann coach beach volleyball at Doheny Beach. Their four children Rachel, Zak, Mia and Kian all played in college, continuing to play the sport today. Zak and his wife, Sarah host a Christian surfer’s gathering in their home weekly.

Pegi married Brad Cheatum, the son of well-known San Clemente builder, Noah Cheatum. They named their son, Noah after his grandpa. After living and playing volleyball in Kauai growing up, Noah now resides in San Clemente, following in his namesake’s profession, he works in construction. When Noah was in middle school in Kauai his parents started a boys volleyball club on the island. The club was featured in Volleyball magazine as they were able to raise enough funds as a non-profit entity to take the boys to the Junior Nationals in Houston, Texas. Pegi says, “SanO, surfing and volleyball has kept their family connected with the aloha spirit!” 

You can often find a Beard family member at the SCVB or on the beach at SanO setting and/or spiking a volleyball or on a board riding a south swell. Kudos to this San Clemente family for their continued strong roots in town and to their legacy on the surf and in the sand!b