Bruce "Snake" Gabrielson is a celebrated figure in the surfing world, widely respected as a multi-sport athlete, scholar, surfboard innovator, and prominent leader.
Born with a passion for sports, Gabrielson found his footing in surfing during the 1950s in Belmont Shore, Long Beach. It wasn't until the 1960s, however, that his surfing career truly took off when he began riding waves seriously at the Power Plant in Seal Beach. By 1964, his family had moved to Huntington Beach, a surf hub that would be pivotal to his career and reputation in the sport.
Gabrielson quickly rose in competitive surfing, entering U.S. Surfing Association (USSA) contests in 1964 and reaching a 3A ranking by 1967. That same year, he placed third in the U.S. Championships and the final U.S. rankings, solidifying his position as a top competitor.
Gabrielson continued his success in the surf contest scene through the 1970s and, after moving to the East Coast in the early 1980s, transitioned into the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA). While he eventually retired from active competition in the 1990s, he still occasionally enters longboard and legend events and serves as a contest judge in the Mid-Atlantic.
Beyond his success as a competitor, Gabrielson played a foundational role in surfing's organizational development. While studying at California State University Long Beach, he co-founded the first intercollegiate surfing association, and during his graduate studies, he founded the first high school surfing league and the country's first varsity surf team at Huntington Beach High School.
He later established the surf program at Edison High School, authored a book for surf coaches, and even became president of the Huntington Beach Surfing Association (HBSA) in 1967, a role he held for ten years. Under his leadership, HBSA grew into an influential organization that impacted everything from competitions to surf politics.
As Western Association Director and Director of the U.S. Surfboard Championships, Gabrielson helped secure the independence of competition surfing from sponsor and community control, a landmark achievement in the sport's development.
Gabrielson's contributions extended to surfboard design. Mentored by legendary shaper Dale Velzy, Gabrielson launched Wave Trek Surfboards in 1969. The brand became known for its innovative board designs and competitive manufacturing team, and he continued shaping boards in Huntington Beach until 1978.
After relocating to Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, he reopened Wave Trek in 2005 and resumed crafting custom boards.
His influence wasn't limited to surfing alone; Gabrielson also excelled in wrestling, earning him a spot in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Academically accomplished, Gabrielson holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering along with degrees in computer science and business, and he has authored books in both engineering and surfing, including titles like "The Aerospace Engineer's Handbook of Lightning Protection" and "The Complete Surfing Guide for Coaches."
Over his distinguished career in computer security, he received numerous accolades, earned three patents in telecommunications, and chaired the Department of Defense Insider Threat Technology Advisory Group for seven years.
Gabrielson has also championed surfing's cultural preservation and growth.
In 1993, he launched the first surf-related website, marking a technological milestone for the sport. In 2002, he completed the U.S. Surfing Federation's Olympic application to gain recognition for surfing as an Olympic sport, and in 2005, he founded the National Surf Schools and Instructors Association, even writing a manual titled "Teaching Surf Instructors to Teach."
In 2012, he opened the Bruce "Snake" Gabrielson Surfing Museum and Surf Art Gallery in Chesapeake Beach, which was later ranked among Maryland's top 20 cultural museums by the state's Department of Tourism.
Gabrielson's lifetime of contributions earned him a place on the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame and the role of East Coast director for the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame in 2012.
In 2023, he published the book "History Of West Coast Surf Clubs: Surf Club Golden Era To The Mid-70s."
A dedicated mentor and speaker, he continues to inspire younger generations and remains actively involved with the Ocean City Surf Club and the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame, ensuring that his legacy in the surfing world endures.