Did pro surfing ruin surfing?

being that surfing is becoming a 13 billion dollar market by 2017, I would say no.

Even with that growth, you will still find the lineups empty in New Jersey during the winter months

 

I think the answer is yes and no.

I love watching contests and all the ASP guys going nuts on perfect waves but the reason I say yes is I just recently read an article in some mag (forgot the name) with a headline that said, "How to get a Surfer's body...without actually having to Surf". That among other "yes" reasons like more crowds, higher prices, Hurley/Nike, and airline bag fees skyrocketing.

I wouldn't say surfing is ruined, it has just changed...a whole lot.

 

^^^^^WINTER!!! Totally forgot to mention that. Winter is my solitude. Summer sucks.

 

yes it has and hasnt. but who cares us true wave riders will find those tasty waves no matter what.

 

Monsanto ruined surfing. See the yootoob video.

 

I take it that was a fitness related article.

Similar discussions have come up concerning the of the rise of martial arts tournaments and whether they are corrupting the true meaning, spirit, and "art" of martial arts. There are mixed opinions on that as well.
As with sports and other activities, competition and the professional side of is just another aspect of surfing. Remember when US Olympic athletes had to be amateurs, not professional?

 

No, it was Surfer Mag tv show. It brought the dweebs out from the cracks and into the line up.

 

Yeah, it will never be quite the same again after these gratuitous conspiracy threads.

 

i'd argue that the internet ruined surfing more than pros and contests. surfline did it almost overnight. 15-20 years ago you could score sneaker swells when everyone thought it was flat.

 

I think pro surfing is great for the sport, but it has fostered an idyllic narrative of what a functional board is to the normal every day Joe Surfer. I see many guys who are in good shape struggle in less than perfect conditions because they have too little volume. They all wish they were Dane or Kelly, but the truth is a harsh bog out on waist to chest to shoulder high wind chop/swell combo that we surf all the time. But it is awesome to see Teehoopoo and Cloudbreak and Pipeline shredded by the best of the best. Don't be a hater, be a congratulator! Kelly Rules!!!!

 

I don't think pro surfing ruined surfing except to kinda create two different types of surfers: Career/Money surfers and the soul surfer. There is also a third type that I guess was created which is and will always be the poser surfer.

Your career/money surfer.. just like any "sport" or hobby is someone who is out to make money or a name or job from their skill. Be it homebrewing where you make beer to enjoy it or you make beer to one day have the idea of making a brewery or selling bottles. Is it wrong? No. But do they enjoy the tiny things about the hobby/sport that others who just do it because it makes them happy.

Soul surfers... people who surf because they want or need to. No need of epic rides or waves for recognition; but more so to just enjoy anything dealing with surfing. Being out in the water and paddling even on flat days to just be part of it and really being a waterman is how I kinda link that.

Posers.... Shop at surf shops buy clothing, gear, and overpriced boards and ride once. May have the nicest car at the beach with every surf sticker and advertisement on it... but never rides. Or complains that they only ride when its "23footers" so they never ride..... This all started with the classic Gidget.

But does any of the above ruin surfing? Or does it make surfing more complicated and diverse for good or bad?

 

Whats up with the surf related question Arch?Is this some sort of a trap?

 

Still ok, brah. The breaks can be packed with the posers and neoprene models that are found sitting on their board for hours, peering into the horizon they'll never brave. Consider them the audience of spectators of your session. Even if they're the drama queens that pretend to effort for waves they fake-takeoff for and just fall off the back of, they're not gonna steal your peaks. If they do legitimately try to do that, go for a takeoff same time as them, hold onto their wetty so they shot the pier with you like you was Bodhi skydiving with Utah on your back. They'll never try to snake you again.

 

And when they sell their surfboards on craigslist dirt cheap when the go home or in the off season think of the savings

 

One step ahead of you son! Got the ill quiver on the steep discount.

 

Got five boards last year for $350 off one family who thought surfing would be the sport for them. Two soft tops for my girls, a dinged out shortboard I repaired and sold for $350, a brand new WRV semi-gun, and another semi-gun WRV with minor dings which I also sold for $200.

Love seasonal surfers