Steve Taylor is a true Haskulls local. He doesn’t take the title lightly. Being called a Haskulls local back in the day meant you were part of an exclusive group and it had to
be earned. Steve earned it the hard way and he was nice enough to share some of his private collection of surf photos.
Martin Connolly and Steve Taylor.
Black wetsuits, plain boards. No neon.
1981, Haskulls locs.
Steve grew up in Isla Vista as a ‘long haired skater’ and started surfing in 1977 at 12. He
learned to surf watching the older guys like Bob Lambert, Marc Duncan, Chris Pulido and
Dave Marks. All soul surfers who liked to hang in the green room. Steve in the slot: 1982
A major bonus about growing up in I.V. was Bud and Sharon Cosmic’s Surf Shop. They
were good folks that helped support the local kids with free wax and deals on boards.
Who knows how many Goleta kids they stoked.
Steve Taylor, Martin Connely and Big Al Aquistapace sacrificed Steve’s 7’4″
Lightning Bolt gun to the Surf Gods in an effort to break a flat spell.
Notice the tagged up sign: L.A. Go Home!
Here you see an example of how unwanted visitors were taught the rules of the H.
Mr. Taylor introducing himself to an L.A.
Welcome to Haskulls, now go home.
This is from the old trail down to the beach, looking towards Sands.
Steve Taylor, head dip. 1982.
Hanging out in the Haskulls parking lot. Steve Taylor and Joe Coffee, 1982.
Becoming a Local at the H wasn’t as easy as parking your beamer at the Bacara
like nowadays. These guys had to literally fight for the right to surf there.
Marc Duncan, Steve’s pick for one of the best to surf Goleta. Mid 80’s.
Winter swell, circa 1985.
Brad Bastian and Marc Duncan checking the surf at a Western Goleta spot. The
girl in the hat is Tracy Reynolds. Check the green single fin in the foreground.
We can only wonder where that board is now..
Steve at Haskulls.
Not much has changed, at least when you look towards the ocean.
Some of the heavies that claimed Haskulls at this time were the Glasbys, the
Taggerts, the Galtes bros, Eugene Shands, John Henzel, Matt Bowlen, Blake Reynolds,
Martin Connolly, Jeff Jasiorkowski, the Coffees, Pat Donahoe and Allan Aquistapace,
just to name a few.
Steve and his son Zack in 1985. Check the steel pipes sticking out of the
white water. Serious hazards.
Steve lives up near Yosemite now, but a big part of him still lives in the
lineup at Haskulls.
Some of Steve’s kids enjoying the beach their dad grew up at.
Living proof that Haskulls Locals Never Die.
