DOWN SOUTH SURF SHOP in Corpus Christi, Texas was established in 1965 by owner TONY MIERZWA ,a former surfboard rental stand operator, who opened his doors at the Salem shopping center on South Alameda Street.

      DOWN SOUTH sponsored a very competitive surf team and featured complete line of several name brand surfboards and accessories and also operated a large surfboard rental business out of an old school bus, “THE MAGIC BUS” (photo above) on the beach in Corpus Christi, Texas. The store was famous for the organization of the DOWN SOUTH TEXAS SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS in 1968, which attracted Texas’ best surfers to compete.

      DOWNSOUTH SURF SHOP closed in 1978 after 13 successful years. TONY is a wonderful surf character and can talk surfing as long as you can listen. He is a very interesting piece of living TEXAS SURF HISTORY. TONY MIERZWA now lives in Austin, Texas and helps to “keep it weird” working at the new “N-LAND SURF PARK” man made surfing park in Travis County. Drop by and surf some man made waves and say hello to TONY (if you have the time).