Is it any wonder why so many freakishly talented surfers come from San Clemente? With Trestles down the street, T-Street in their backyard, and a handful of other proper beach breaks scattered about, this Orange County town is a breeding ground for killer surfers. And when there’s no surf (as if), the Spanish style town is filled with quaint bars, restaurants, art galleries, and of course, surf shops. Somehow a handful of friends managed to open a board shop right on El Camino Real back in 1985 and operate it with some level of success for nearly ten years. We say some level, as Surf Rats seemed more like a hangout than an actual business, but nevertheless, they managed to keep the lights on while keeping their locals-only fanbase well supplied and apprised of the latest surf conditions, all despite spending an inordinate amount of time riding waves themselves.