Professional surf competition organizer, World Surf League’s world HQ is on the North West Corner of Main St. and Bay St.
World Surf League (WSL) opened its 10,000 sf world headquarters on the tight-lipped end of Main St in February 2015. A global professional surf competition organizer and broadcaster, WSL runs more than 180 global surfing contests annually. The entrance is hard to find, the shades are drawn - the only signs of life are security guards walking the sidewalk day and night.
WSL is owned by publishing heir, Florida billionaire Dirk Edward Ziff. International Professional Surfing founded in 1976 became the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) in 1983. ASP was owned 50% by professional surfers (who paid dues), and 50% by surf brands, including Billabong, Quiksilver, and Rip Curl. Both Billabong and Quiksilver filed for bankruptcy in 2015. Ziff invested in WSL in 2012 and subsequently became the majority owner. The reclusive billionaire is a polarizing figure for some in the surfing community who see his quest for a mainstream audience as alienating to the core surf community.
“[Surf brands] have always believed that there’s a huge mainstream audience, particularly in America, who don’t surf but, if surfing was presented the right way, would engage with it. The previous incarnation of the sport learned that this was always fool’s gold and it’s never really existed.” Beach Grit
The non-historic WSL building (also listed as 1920 Main St), built in 1947, is on the same parcel (APN 4289-020-006) as two of the Bay Craftsman Cluster Historic District buildings (i.e. 145 & 147 Bay St). The parcel is zoned Mixed-Use Boulevard Low (MUBL). MUBL zoning is intended to facilitate broad, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks with local-serving uses. Like the other buildings on that block of Main Street, the office use is an existing legal nonconforming use. A legal, nonconforming use may be continued subject to certain provisions. City-wide, office uses are required to provide 1 space of off-street parking per 300 sq. ft of space - which would be 33 spaces here.
Surfing heals. Surfing empowers. Surfing inspires. Surfing is magic.