Don Hansen, founder of Hansen Surfboards, hitchhiked from South Dakota to California to build his life around surfing when he was 18, he hasn't looked back since.

There’s always been something special about surf shops. From the amalgamated scent of wax, new wetsuits and fresh boards to the intel on which local break is currently working best, where to get the best post-surf burrito in town and so much more, surf culture resides inside surf shops–that’s what makes them special. In Surf Shop Chronicles, a new web series, SURFER will be sharing the stories of iconic surf shops.

The first episode of Surf Shop Chronicles kicks off with the story one of the oldest surf shops in San Diego: Hansen Surfboards in Encinitas, California, founded by Don Hansen. When visiting surfers screened a surf flick at his college in South Dakota in the late ’50s, the mid-west native became hooked on surfing before ever even riding a wave. The film made an impression on Hansen and shortly after seeing it, he hitchhiked to California where he built his life around surfing. Hansen then learned to shape from legendary surfboard builders of the ’60s and eventually opened his iconic surf shop across from Swami’s in the ’70s. These accolades barely scratch the surface, so learn more in the film above.