billstewart
san clemente’s
Stewart Surfboards store front, painted by Bill Stewart
THE NAME STEWART IS AS SYNONYMOUS WITH SURFING AS IT IS WITH
SAN CLEMENTE. But it does not start or end with surfing. Bill Stewart is an inventor,
designer and an artist that has put his mark on the world of watersports, snowboarding, and
literally the face of San Clemente. Though Bill is Kentucky born and Florida raised, he raced
to the West Coast as quick as he could. Over 42 years ago, Bill packed his bags, hopped in a
$500.00 van and drove to California looking for waves, landing in San Clemente, which would
become his home, till this very day. There are so many reasons why Bill Stewart is worthy of the
San Clemente Sportsman’s Hall of Fame.
Bill’s inventions and designs have
shaped the surfing world into what it
is today, creating a global brand in the
wake. It is no wonder he was voted one of
the top 25 most influential people in Orange
County, along with Tiger Woods and Oakley’s founder, Jim Jannard. Bill’s two
most instrumental surfing innovations
came in 1984-85 when he designed
the beveled rail, 2+1 fin configuration,
high performance long board that revolutionized long board surfing. Bill’s need for a
8 | S Magazine
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