Jackie Baxter "2009 Local Hero"

A fearless Huntington Beach local


PHOTO: Duke Boyd ad featuring Jackie

A fearless regularfooter from Huntington Beach, Baxter earned his reputation by tackling Pipeline and Sunset Beach in the late-‘60s. Baxter grew up in Venice in the 1950s. By age 12, he was hitchhiking for rides to Malibu with his wooden Velzy or Jacobs surfboards in hand. 

By the mid-‘60s Baxter was riding for Dewey Weber and, in 1967, Sonny Vardeman introduced a Jackie Baxter Model. That same year, Baxter moved to Hawaii to delve deep into more serious surf. In 1971, Baxter was an invitee to the prestigious 1971 Duke Kahanamoku Classic. His son Josh Baxter is also a world-class longboarder.


PHOTO: Jackie Baxter model laminate
1966 Bruce Jones and Jackie Baxter shaping the Jackie Baxter Model at Vardeman Surfboards on PCH in Huntington Beach, across the street from the pier.. Photo taken with a 2 1/4 Zeiss Super Iconta B, Pre-WWII German camera.
Bruce Jones and Jackie Baxter
PHOTO: 1966 Bruce Jones and Jackie Baxter shaping the Jackie Baxter Model at Vardeman Surfboards on PCH in Huntington Beach, across the street from the pier. Photo taken with a 2 1/4 Zeiss Super Iconta B, Pre-WWII German camera. Photo courtesy of Leo Hetzel.