Malibu Surf History, Gidget, and Pelicans with Michael Blum

In this episode, I interview conservationist Michael Blum about his love for studying pelicans along with his recent article he co-authored with Duke University professor, Mike Orbach, titled, "First Steps and First Point: Protecting California Surf Breaks, Maritime Heritage, and the Malibu Historic District." The paper surveys opportunities to protect surf breaks in California ("Could we do it?" "How would we do it?"), as well as describes subsequent work listing Los Angeles' famed Malibu surfing area on the National Register of Historic Places, the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.

As a sport, surfing is an indelible part of California's character. Yet not the what of surfing, but the where surfing occurs—surf breaks and surfing areas—are authentic sites of culture, history, recreation, leisure, and activity. They are specific places worthy of community recognition, illumination, and protection.

We also talk about, of all things, pelicans dive bombing into the water for food. So come for a short surfing history of Malibu and why it matters, but stay for the pelicans.

Michael Blum is the Director of Sea of Clouds, an organization dedicated to protecting America's important coastal places.

Artwork by Nacer Ahmadi: IG @x.filezzz

Audio by TwistedLogix