DAVE SCHAEFER

Dave Schaefer, nicknamed "Gnarly Dave" by "Buttons" Kaluhiokalani, is the Barahona team's  (and ultimately the South Bay's) truly experienced waterman.  At the age of 6, Dave's entry to the world of surfing and marine life began, just after his mom bought a sailboat in a nearby King Harbor slip.

It's hard for him to remember any time during his childhood spent East of his Hermosa Beach home.  Surfing, sailing, and fishing, sometimes spent from 4am to 4pm on weekends at the young age of 12, ruled his life.

After a very watery high school experience of sailing and surfing, he spent nearly 6 years fishing in Kodiak, Alaska, and traveled to many rarely-touched places such as Neah Bay — the tip of the Olympic Peninsula.  A long stint in central California gave him the opportunity to master many quiet central coast breaks, and he eventually came back to Southern California to work for LA City Fire in 2000.  Now a boat captain, Dave is still on the water daily and practices his grandmother's motto — Don't Just Surf.

Stay up to date with Dave Schaefer at @dontjustsurf