Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to JANE SCHMAUSS. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
JANE, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?
When I was a teacher, and later, when I was in the restaurant business, I learned that it was important to find out what your students/customers needed from you. One does that by listening, then doing. When it came to trying to build a museum from the ground floor up – or, in our case, from the basement up – one realizes how critical that philosophy is. The California Surf Museum is now in its 39th year, and getting stronger than ever because we have listened to our visitors and members and have created an organization that gives them much more than they expect.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I went into the restaurant business in 1983 in Encinitas, a community pretty much dedicated to surfing. We named it “George’s Restaurant,” after a well-known surf break in Cardiff. Our food was excellent and the prices were low, and it became a hangout for the local surfers. Word continued to spread and soon surfers from all over made sure they stopped at George’s for breakfast or lunch. I had always admired surfing as a sport/lifestyle, but in meeting so many interesting surfers, I just got hooked on their energy. When a friend suggested founding a surf museum, I was all over the idea – especially when he informed me that there were no museums dedicated to surfing at that time – I was on board.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The museum’s mission statement – to collect, preserve, and present the history of surfing for future generations – pretty much says it all, and those of us who are dedicated to the museum have never wavered from that focus. The people who are attracted to serving CSM, whether as staff or as volunteers, are pretty like-minded – often older surfers, or those who have had some experience with catching waves. They are passionate and dedicated. These individuals have always been a source of joy and inspiration to our many visitors.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
It’s always been a challenge to think outside the box, to follow what, to you, is a clear path towards an objective. It seems like, in today’s world, there are more barriers and predjudices that can discourage one’s efforts. There are more regulations, more expenses, more delays, more nay-sayers in positions of control – or so it seems. Our timing in starting the museum (in 1986) was pretty good, given the fact that we had positive encouragement from the very pioneers and giants whose stories we were collecting and displaying. When those personalities came on board, we knew we were attempting the right goal. We just had to keep at it, and keep at it we did!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://surfmuseum.org
- Instagram: yes
- Facebook: yes
- Twitter: yes
- Youtube: yes
- Yelp: yes
- Other: trip advisor; vimeo
Image Credits
The images are all from CSM collection, two can be credited:
1) Jane with Surfer magazine founder John Severson, 2013
2) 1958 women’s championship at Makaha, won by Marge Calhoun (#6). Photo by Clarence Maki
3) World Champion bodysurfer Mike Stewart visiting CSM, 2021
4) Surfing icon and world Champion Nat Young signing the Takayama shaping room wall, 2021
5) Ocean magazine editor/publisher Robert Wald and surfboard innovator Carl Ekstrom, 2023
6) article about the founder of CSM, Stuart Resor, 1987
7) Australian champion Tommy Carroll photographing the Bethany Hamilton display, 2024
8) WindanSea legend Woody Ekstrom describing Doc Ball’s wood-housed camera. Photo by Carl Ackerman