Who is Tom Blake

A brief bio as exerpted from Surfline.com (Click here for the bio)

Tom Blake was a larger-than-life surf pioneer, a seminal force in the history of the sport, who almost single-handedly transformed surfing from a primitive Polynesian curiosity into a 20th century lifestyle. In the process, he was responsible for preserving much of surfing's oral history as well as resurrecting the streamlined surfboards of ancient times.

Born and raised in Wisconsin by relatives after his mother died, Blake took to the road after high school. He was in Detroit in 1920 when Olympic Gold Medal swimmer Duke Kahanamoku passed through on an exhibition tour and was so inspired by the strong, soft-spoken Islander that he decided to devote his life to the great Hawaiian watersports of swimming, paddling and surfing. Less than four years later, Blake met Duke once again, but this time it was on the beach at Waikiki, and the 24-year-old Midwesterner was one of the strongest swimmers in the country, good enough to set a world record in the 10-mile open.

He spent many years living in Hawaii and California where he contributed many innovations to surfboard design and paved the way for what is now considered a "modern" surfboard – light weight and with a fin.

At the age of 92, back in his home state of Wisconsin, Blake passed away. Alone with Duke Kahanamoku as an honoree of both the swimming and surfing halls of fame, he was both savior and conductor of the 20th century's first surfboard revolution. In many ways, he was the first modern surfer.

What is the Tom Blake Memorial?

The Memorial is an installment at the Washburn Historical Museum to honor Mr. Blake's legacy to the sport of surfing and to water sports in general. Through the tireless efforts of a one Greg Issacson of Duluth, MN, the display has been installed at the Washburn Historical Museum. This includes some plaques that tell of his life, acheivements, and innovations, as well as some artifacts. With the popularity of the surfing lifestyle and culture now being celebrated on the Great Lakes, Mr. Iverson, and some others inspired by his efforts, keenly saw that the time was right to honor one of its greatest innovators, back in his home region.

Why do funds need to be raised?

There is always a nominal need to maintain the display and the artifacts on display at the museum, as well as procure any new items or information for display. There is no target amount that needs to be raised, necessarily, but 100% of the proceeds from any fund-raising efforts conducted on behalf of the Superior Surf Club will be donated to the museum to help defray any costs to them for procurement, installation, and maintenance of the display.

For all the ribbing the Great Lakes surfing community takes from the larger surfing world, it is poetic justice that surfing's greatest innovator hails from right here on the Great Lakes - and on the greatest of the Great Lakes no less!