surfside beach
Surf spirit
Every December,
Austin Campbell rides
the waves as Santa
Surfing was not supposed to be Austin Campbell’s thing. The sport belonged to his dad, Steve, a well-known Texas surfer in the 1970s. Even though Campbell spent almost his entire life in Surfside Beach, he was going to do something different.
At 6-foot-1, he played basketball as a teenager. When he chose a career, he went into flooring. But the pull of the Gulf never let go. Campbell spent some of his free time making surfboards in garages for himself and his friends. Then people started paying him to make custom boards. Soon, his side gig turned into a full-time hustle. And in 2020, he opened a surf and beach supplies shop called Surfside Surf Station in a building that once housed a fire station where his dad used to volunteer.
“It’s almost like I was running from being a surfer because that’s what I was supposed to be,” he says. “Then one day I woke up, and I own a surf shop, I build surfboards. I guess this is what I am supposed to do.”
Campbell’s shop is open year-round. He says the best time to visit and surf is October, when the water is less crowded and it’s not too hot. Along with making custom surfboards, he also offers surf lessons and repairs boards.
Every December just before Christmas, Campbell and some of the town’s 20 active surfers dress up for an annual Surfing Santas event. “The first year everybody got regular Santa suits made of felt, and we all almost drowned,” he says. Now participants wear Lycra Santa suits and other costumes. “They give out awards for best wave and best costume, and the crowd coming down to watch has grown significantly,” Campbell says.
Enjoying this article?Campbell’s Surfside Beach Picks
1 ⁄ Jetty Shack
The bar and grill next to Jetty Park has indoor and outdoor seating, a pool table, and what Campbell calls the best burger in the area. “It’s just a bitty hole-in-the-wall bar,” he says. “It’s like going back in time.” The menu includes diner classics such as a patty melt, a Philly cheesesteak, and Frito pie.
2 ⁄ Sharkies On the Beach
Campbell says Sharkies is the best local spot for hot wings. Choose from sauces that include buffalo, Sriracha, garlic parmesan, and bourbon molasses. The menu also has spicy pickle chips, stuffed and fried crawfish, and alligator kickers. “But definitely try the wings,” he says.
3 ⁄ Surfside Beach Bird & Butterfly Trail
The 2.5-mile trail, which begins across the street from Jetty Shack, leads you to the future home of a life-size replica of Fort Velasco, which was destroyed by a hurricane in 1900. An 1832 battle between Stephen F. Austin and other colonists and soldiers from Mexico took place on the site. Visitors can expect to spot butterflies, herons, pelicans, egrets, and terns while walking the path. “The nature trail also has some good fishing spots along the way,” Campbell says.
4 ⁄ Dorado’s Dive Club
If you’re looking for drinks and live music, Dorado’s is the place to be. “They’re on the Intracoastal [Waterway], and it’s a really good spot,” Campbell says. Along with a raw oyster bar, the menu includes an elote plate with shrimp or chicken, shrimp tacos, and a variety of cocktails.
5 ⁄ Culture Coffee
For a caffeine buzz, Campbell recommends this coffee trailer owned by surfer Cailyn Anderson on Ocean Avenue. “It’s just really good coffee,” he says.
