AUGUST
ODYSSEYS
MY TIME WITH ROBERT
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BY JESSIE ROWAN
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: JULY 2018
August Odysseys:
My Time With Robert August: I Twiddled my thumbs for a good 15 minutes, thinking how to possibly describe Robert August shortly after our interview at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp — all while sipping smoothies and watching perfect right-handers at Tamarindo’s main peak. Then it clicked.
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While I could describe Robert as a world-renowned surf pioneer and famous shaper of Robert August Surfboards, what better way to describe this intelligent, witty and talented 73-year-old legend than…
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“At our last high school reunion, I told my seat partner, Noah Bailey (we sat alphabetically all through school) that I certainly spent more time with her than any other women in my entire life,” he said.
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That’s Robert August for you.
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Surf, fishing, beer and women – Robert August
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Back in 1991, Robert discovered the sleepy town of Tamarindo — now a lively, captivating and frisky beach town. A peculiar, burly Florida fisherman named Russell had approached Robert at the 1990 Surf Expo in Orlando.
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“I know who you are. I’ve seen that ‘Endless Summer’ thing. I don’t surf, obviously, but I know what it’s about,” said Russell in his twangy accent. He went on to inform Robert about a recent trip he took seeing some of the finest, yet deserted, waves in a town called Tamarindo.
In just a few weeks, Robert and his friends were on their way to see what Costa Rica had to offer.
Roads? Maybe. Surf? Yes – August Odyssey
Robert went on to educate me as to how different Tamarindo is now, as well as the entire country of Costa Rica.
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You think driving the Tico roads today is hard? Try back then, with no GPS, cellphone or paved road — just a pure wild ride through the jungle all the way from the San JosÄ— airport. Yes, that’s right. Liberia airport did not exist then.
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Finally making it to Tamarindo, Robert and his friends quickly discovered just how untouched the area really was.
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“It barely had any place to get food. Thankfully there was Nogui’s, the only restaurant to get a bite to eat after hours in the scorching sun celebrating the world-class waves … all to ourselves. No one surfed here in Costa Rica,” Robert said.
A birthday surprise
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After a long surf session, Russell ask Robert if he wanted to look at some properties in Tamarindo.
“I remember thinking, ‘What properties?’ But I went along with it. It was my birthday and I’d had a couple of beers,” he said.
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Robert is sure happy he reluctantly agreed.
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“We got in the car and headed up this extremely sh**ty road, but the property was breathtaking, with incredible views of the entire surf. It was priced at $10,000,” he said.
Robert took the deal right then and there.
To this day, Robert calls that same piece of paradise his home, where he raises his daughter and lives a truly “pura vida” lifestyle.
Robert August’s effortless ease and relaxed style make for a true longboarder. Pair his surfing with his witty, laid-back humor and you get one of the world’s most famous surf pioneers — Robert August.
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Growing up in Seal Beach, California, Robert was surrounded by waves from the very start. His father, Orral (Blackie) August, was an original California waterman and had Robert surfing by the age of 6. Robert later went on to become a successful contest surfer. He competed in various contests preceding an invite to surf in the prestigious Duke Kahanamoku Invitational.
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Not just a pretty boy, class president and stylish surfer, Robert had a sharp mind to match. He attended Huntington Beach High School and was enrolled in all accelerated classes, planning to attend dental school. Then quickly after high school graduation, he was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.
Together with filmmaker Bruce Brown and Mike Hynson, Robert set out to travel the globe in search of the perfect wave. Their quest would be turned into the famous film “The Endless Summer.” Robert was selected to be featured in the film over other more popular surfers at the time, not just because of his smooth surfing ability, but also his positive outlook on the importance of a healthy — sometimes crazy, but always fun — surfing lifestyle.
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Upon the film’s debut, “The Endless Summer” screened all over the United States and was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of the best movies of 1964. This recognition allowed Robert to live out his own “Endless Summer” life.
At the same time, he helped put Costa Rica on the global surf map. Back in the early 1990s, Robert and Bruce Brown filmed “The Endless Summer II” at what are now considered some of Costa Rica’s most famous surf spots: Witch’s Rock, Ollie’s Point and Tamarindo.
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Robert August – Leaving His Mark
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The film’s popularity also opened up profitable business opportunities and has molded Robert August into the individual he is today: a shaper, business owner and surfing icon, but most importantly a father.
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Since 2011, Robert has resided in Tamarindo, where he raises his daughter, Christine. She is carrying out the August family tradition as a strong and competitive surfer. Robert’s son, Sam August, is also a powerful surfer and former professional baseball player.
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“My son played for the Houston Astros. I couldn’t believe that was my son when I would go to watch him pitch. I remember saying, ‘Thats my little boy.’ He put his mind to baseball as I did with surfing.”
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Upon moving to Tamarindo, Robert became a key representative of the Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. There, he teaches the history of surfing and does surfboard shaping seminars, while greatly influencing the surfing culture in and around the country.
Robert’s surfing achievements were recognized and honored at the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach, California, on Oct. 21, 2017.
Robert August – Family First
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That family is the central focus of Robert’s life is evident when he considers Christine’s future opportunities.
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“My daughter just graduated high school. I would sell everything for her to go to her dream university. I don’t want to limit her, I want her to be able to go wherever she wants. I want what is best for her.”
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Since the “Endless Summer” movies, Robert has kept generating positive surf vibes around the world, leaving a mark everywhere he travels.
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jessie rowan journalist. photographer. writer