Surfing With Dirty Harry and the Terminator

September 3, 10:58 PMSurf ExaminerPat Pemberton

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Two Actors/Politicians Played a Key Role in the Trestles Toll Road Battle, But Can They Surf?

It’s hard to believe the Save Trestles signs still hang in San Onofre.

After all, it’s been years since a toll road was first proposed in the area. But while opponents to the thoroughfare won a huge victory last February – when the California Coastal Commission struck it down, citing environmental factors – the battle is not over.

The U.S. Department of Commerce, which will consider an appeal, will hold a public hearing at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Sept. 22.

The proposed 6-lane toll road would cut through San Onofre State Beach, near the world-renowned Trestles surf spots.

Opponents fear a toll road would not only cut off access to surf spots in the area but actually impair some of the waves there. Proponents say the toll road would relieve traffic.

While doing a little research on the issue, I was surprised to find a video of Clint Eastwood talking about surfing San Onofre in the 50's. In the video, Eastwood, a Republican, talks of surfing San-O with “Gunsmoke” actor James Arness and other surfers who had nicknames like Hammerhead and Captain Jack.

Eastwood, the former mayor of Carmel, actually opposed the toll road while serving on the state parks commission. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eastwood’s friend who backs the toll road, fired Eastwood from the post this spring.

If you’re thinking the governor must not be a surfer, you’re right. When I interviewed surf legend Gerry Lopez a few months ago, he told me he actually got the Terminator on a board during the filming of  “Conan the Barbarian” (which was directed by surfer John Milius).

“I took him surfing one time on Maui,” said Lopez, who appeared as the sidekick Subotai in the future governor’s 1982 movie. “He paddled out fine, but when we got outside, he looked at me, got off the board, shoved it and said, ‘Ah – I think I go in by swimming.”

 Image: IMDB.com