Surf Monkey Fellowship

Dropped some Surf Monkeys and Mexican Blankets off at Bird’s Surf Shed today.  The monkey loves this surf shop/events venue/surf board museum in San Diego!

Now wouldn’t this make someone happy?

We have begun our holiday shipping, so don’t delay and order today! (ok, sorry for the cheesy rhyme, we’ll do better next time).

We’ve shipped to over 20 states and our shipping guy Joe, is considered one of the few Master Surf Monkey Shippers in the world.

Buy Monkey

Oh, and did we mention you can BUY A SANTA HAT TOO?!!!

And don’t even get us started on the CHRISTMAS CARDS.  You won’t find these at the local mall!

Whew!  That’s a lot of Monkey Love.

Whether you buy somethin’ special, or don’t spend a dime this year (a concept we support, which makes us really sorry business people),–

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND SPREAD SOME LOVE!

Okay, maybe “history” is not the best term, “legend” might be more appropriate.

There are a few things we know about this 8 toed, plaster-of-paris, irregularly painted monkey on a Surf Board.

First of all, the Surf Monkey is not a monkey at all.  It’s a chimpanzee.  And if you are not a primatologist, perhaps you are unaware that chimpanzees are in the Ape family.  For more, see Monkey Facts.

The Surf Monkey was birthed in the Tijuana border region 40 plus years ago and has resided almost entirely at the border crossing vendor booths awaiting adoption by gringos heading back home to the States.  According to Steve, last name withheld, a regular at the Tourmaline Pacific Beach parking lot, “the monkey was at the border in ’69.”  So the first Surf Monkey sighting we know about was 43 years ago.

The female Surf Monkey was first seen in 2009.  We believe this is due to the shyness of their nature.

The Surf Monkey is affectionately known as “Chango,” (male) or “Changa” (female), which is slang for monkey in Mexican Spanish.  They have a relatively small natural habitat, stretching from the Tijuana/Rosarito/Tecate/Ensenada area.  There has been stories of births occurring in States farther South in mainland Mexico, but it is our understanding that the monkeys no longer propagate outside of the border region.  What is amazing about these little guys, is that even though they are a relatively fragile species, their dispersion throughout the country has been well documented and impressive.  They are known to reside in at least 25 states and will probably turn up in all 50, when more research is collected.  The Surf Monkey’s Facebook page is a good source of stories and pictures of Surf Monkeys throughout the country.

Southern California is their most preferred region.  Thousands have made their home on lawns, shelves, and in the garages of these beautiful coastal communities, giving them the name “Southern California Lawn Gnome.”  It is somewhat surprising to discover that these plaster primates seem to also thrive in many of our land-locked states.  And colder climates have not deterred them, in fact, in snowy regions these highly adaptable creatures have been seen using their 15-inch boards as snowboards!

For years, these much-loved creatures have been prolific.  In the past three years, however, researchers, such as the highly acclaimed Surf Monkey research team from Surf Monkey Fellowship, have been finding their numbers dwindling to the point of great concern.  Surf Monkey Fellowship and partners, will not stand by and allow this beloved species to go the way of the Dodo Bird.  We are committed to Saving the Tijuana Surf Monkey from extinction!  If you would like to help this noble effort, the best way is to wear a Surf Monkey on your t-shirt or adopt your own Surf Monkey.

You can find more info on our “About” page and “Home” page.

If you have any info on the Surf Monkey, please email us at SurfMonkeyFellowship@gmail.com

“LepreChango” photo coming our way from Vicki D.  Thanks for the photo Vicki!

The good men of the Normal Heights, San Diego Fire Station #18 have long loved the Surf Monkey.  For years they have displayed it proudly in the alcove built into the station wall (as seen in this photo).

Tragically, the monkey took a fatal fall in a recent storm.  Needless to say, it was a dark day for these brave men at station #18.
Fortunately, the story doesn’t end here with the sadly empty alcove surrounded by the forlorn bunny/chipmunk thing and spotted dalmatian puppy.

Thanks to the good people at Surf Monkey Fellowship,  (not to toot our own horn, but we really are pretty good people),  Station #18 now has a new Surf Monkey!  Yeah, I just heard the angels sing.

And really, nobody wants a sad fireman.

We did it!

Surf Monkey Fellowship founder Beth Slevcove and San Diego City Beat reporter Enrique  Limon spent the day wandering the streets of Tijuana with a hand-drawn map in order to find the Surf Monkey Factory.  And boy, did our efforts pay off.

Fernando is an expert monkey-maker, having created the monkeys for 40 some years.  He patiently guided us through the monkey making process.  He even let Beth help.  (Needless to say, she was in Heaven!)

More on this story in San Diego’s City Beat.  Check it out!

We at Surf Monkey Fellowship have been asked on numerous occasions if Surf Monkey Fellowship is some kind of a church.  The answer is no. Yes, we know that our little monkey is angelic, even so, we want to be clear that we are not a church.  We realize that here in Southern California, where Surf Monkey Fellowship is headquartered, there are many churches named so-and-so Fellowship.  We are very happy for them.  We are not them.

Fellowship,

according to Merriam-Webster means, “a community of interest” 

Surf Monkey Fellowship is a community of people who love and appreciate the Surf Monkey.

Some of us might love Jesus too, but that is another story.

Shake your hairy booties everybody!

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Thanks for the pic, Vicki!

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