Brad Basham could always spot young, talented board makers and never hesitated to quietly give them a helping hand as they started their careers in the surf world.

Basham, a staple in the San Clemente surf scene since the 1970s, mentored many surfboard makers through the decades. He died Sunday, Feb. 20, after collapsing at his Basham’s Factory and Surfshop. He was 68.

Basham was a well-known glasser, who put the final touches on boards before surfers picked them up to enjoy the thrill of the ride. He was also one of the original shop owners who helped spawn the “surf ghetto,” also called “surf alley,” a tucked-away enclave of surf-centric businesses on Calle de Los Molinos in the quaint surf town.

Surfers trickled into the business this week as news spread of his death; a memorial of flowers and tributes growing as a wave of memories were posted online by friends near and far.

Brad Basham, a staple in the rich San Clemente surf community, died at age 68 at his shop Basham’s Factory and Surfshop. (Photo by Laylan Connelly/SCNG)

Timmy Patterson was among the surfboard makers in the south Orange County beach town Basham helped mentor.

“He gave me a chance,” said Patterson, who bought his first foam blank from Basham. These days, Patterson makes boards for some of the world’s best surfers.

When Patterson was just getting started, in the mid 1990s, he took over one of Basham’s workspaces when the glasser moved to the larger building to expand his business. But first, Basham told Patterson he wanted a letter explaining why the younger man wanted the space.

Patterson explained he was just starting out, was passionate about board building and wanted to run a family owned business in San Clemente. Basham approved and gave him the keys.

“It was really cool he gave me that opportunity,” Patterson said.

In those early years, there were times Patterson said he couldn’t settle his bill during slower months – and Basham always carried his debt, trusting Patterson was good for it.

“Everyone got their feet wet with Brad,” Patterson said. “He enjoyed watching people succeed.

“Deep down he knew he was a big part of it,” Patterson said. “He was too humble and couldn’t pat himself on the back – but he knew he was a part of that community.”

Basham was a quiet listener who was calculated in his thoughts, Patterson said.

In the ’70s, Basham started making boards in his mom’s garage, but business really got going in the ’80s. He was a main distributor for Gordon “Grubby” Clark, who owned the surfboard blank manufacturing company Clark Foam.

Basham’s shop became the hub where surfboard shapers from San Diego to the South Bay, and beyond, bought foam blanks and the supplies needed for their craft.

His business isn’t like other surf shops. It doesn’t carry the latest surf apparel, focusing instead on the functional aspects of the sport – foam blanks, fins, leashes and tools for board builders.

Surfboards of all sizes line the walls.

Brad Basham, a staple in the rich San Clemente surf community, died at age 68 at his shop Basham’s Factory and Surfshop. (Photo by Laylan Connelly/SCNG)

Novices could come in and rent space to get their hands dusty, finding all the tools and supplies needed to try the craft.

Longtime friend Steve Dunn said Basham was an artist in his craft, his reach and influence wide-reaching.

“It was just a high production shop that was modern and dedicated to just that,” Dunn said. “It’s one of the biggest glassing shops on the West Coast, if not the world.”

Basham, Dunn and friend Jerry O’Keefe, founder of Soul Stix Surfboards, had in recent years started experimenting with epoxy – making big, lightweight versions of shortboard designs aimed at aging surfers. Basham’s job was to try and figure out how to best glass the different materials so they wouldn’t brown in the sun.

“It was fun, we felt like we had figured out something new,” Dunn said.

On a recent board Dunn shaped, Basham added “acid wash art” that was popular in the ’80s, splashes of blues, yellows and greens.

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“He was so proud of it because it was one of the best ones he ever did,” Dunn said. “It was so beautiful, I wanted to just hang it on the wall, but he said ‘No, you have to surf it.’”

Basham was part of San Clemente High’s surf team decades ago, as was a younger O’Keefe, though 11 years separated them.

“He was like a big brother to me, and Brad’s passion for making surfboards and the soul he put into each one was a great influence on how I came up with, and named, my board company  Soul Stix over 30 years ago,” O’Keefe said.  “A lot of shapers and glassers have gotten their start from Brad. He was just a really kind person.”

Basham lived a modest lifestyle, for years staying in a small camper in front of his shop. He kept his “hippy” look through the decades, long hair and beard, always wearing resin-stained blue jeans and a flannel, O’Keefe said.

Surfboard makers Terry Martin (left), Jerry O’Keefe and Brad Basham, who died on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022 at his surf shop Basham’s Factory and Surfshop in San Clemente. (Photo courtesy of Luki O’Keefe)

Memories flowed on social media of the surf community’s loss.

“Like so many others, my heart is breaking. The surfboard building community and San Clemente lost an icon and a legend,” wrote longtime surfer and friend Greg Hulsizer. “Brad Basham was the nicest person you’ll ever meet. We had so many interesting talks at his shop or when we would see each other around town over the years. He glassed my first shape in his mom‘s garage 47 years ago. And he glassed pretty much every board I have made since that time. Brad taught me so much.”

Basham was described as a humble man who was quiet and shy, but giving and generous. In the water, he floated effortlessly while riding waves, his salt-and-pepper long hair and beard whipping in the wind.

“He felt so fortunate and grateful,” Dunn said. “He just wanted to help all these shapers and he loved the sport so much.”