Dana Point To Immortalize Surfer Joyce Hoffman With Statue

DANA POINT, CA — Watermen's Plaza will have a new face joining its ranks as Dana Point officials will unveil a bronze statue Thursday immortalizing surfing icon Joyce Hoffman.

Hoffman's statue joins other local surfers memorialized on the plaza, including Hobie Alter, Bruce Brown and Phil Edwards, Dana Point officials said. Bill Limebrook, a local artist, is behind the design of the statues at the plaza.

The life-size bronze statue of Hoffman will be the first of its kind in the United States to honor a woman surfer, city officials said.

The statue's unveiling will be open to the public and take place at 3 p.m.

"I feel it's a tribute to all the women surfers," Hoffman said in a statement. "I'm the one that's going to be the face, but if it wasn't for all the women surfers that came before and after me, I wouldn't be getting this honor."

Hoffman got her start in surfing at the age of 13 when her family moved to Capistrano Beach, Dana Point officials said.

Hoffman participated in surfing competitions around the world from 1963 to 1971, netting multiple victories at the United States Surfing Championships, the Makaha International and the Laguna Masters, according to city officials.

She was featured on the cover of Life Magazine and the Los Angeles Times named her "Woman of the Year" in 1965 and 1994.

Dana Point Mayor Joe Muller said in a statement that it's an honor for the city to recognize Hoffman and "her contributions to surfing ... as a global icon."

"Joyce has such an amazing and far-reaching career legacy," he said. "The notoriety she has brought to Dana Point for its place in surfing's history cannot be understated."