What is modern Surf Culture?

I think over the past 2 decades that mainstream culture has become urban culture and as we are all learning, for good or bad, surfing has gone mainstream,. Personally, I'm one of those redneck hillbilly types that has an Ipod full of Skynyrd, Toby Keith and the great Johnny Cash. I'm also an old head. I think most surfers under the age of 25 seem to be more immersed in the urban thing. Then again my two oldest sons are split- the 15 year old is a redneck like his dad, the 13 year old is more Urban- influenced. Good or bad?? I guess as long as you are having fun out there and are not an A$$hole in the lineup, then it's all good.

 

Good points Earl. Have you noticed the amount of "surfers" in car commercials or just regular commercials? I mean it's a summer thing when they do that but still i noticed it a lot more this year than any other so far. Plus with a lot of the major clothing/accessories/gear shops, thy are pushing the "lifestyle" part more than the actual surf gear because its all about the $$$ nowadays. That's my guess to why it's blended. That and surfing used to be a counterculture thing. Now it's kinda just part of the norm in some places.

I read an article and heard a podcast about two older professional surfers talk about if surfing will become "uncool" in the next 20 years or so and if its just a fad with these young kids coming up. One guy said no it will never be uncool to surf but the other guy said he thought it would. His reasoning was that with all these kids doing airs with big sponsors and all that other crap will get bored of it because its so repetitive and it takes awhile before someone innovates something new so kids and other people will be turned off from it.

Honestly, I hope surfing becomes the uncool thing to do! Less people in lineups, kooks not trying to try brag about beings surfers when they can barely stand on a board, less mainstream people stereotyping surfers with lingo that kinda died down after the 90's and all that other stupid ****. Surfing has changed my life so it'll never be something "uncool". It's more than just something to do to me, it defines me and it gives some fresh perspective on things every time i paddle out. It's a passion for a lot of us so it will never die out but if it became less crowded and mainstream, that's fine with me.

 

Honestly, I think the mainstream's interest in surfing will prove to be a flash in the pan, just a fad. I don't think it will become uncool after the fad wears off, but less people will be drawn to it. I can't really say, but I imagine that the mid-late sixties were CRAZY in terms of mainstream/non-surfing types crowding the lineups in places like Southern California. Sure, the lineups weren't as crowded then in general, but I would guess that there were relatively just as many beginners paddling out and dressing "like surfers" at that time because of the popularity of the Beach Boys and other surf bands. Just a thought. Anybody have first-hand knowledge to confirm/deny this?

 

AMEN MY BROTHER 757surfer!!!!! WHO CARES WHAT ANYONE THINKS ABOUT SURFING!!! THOSE OF US WHO UNDERSTAND LIFE DON'T CARE WETHER THINGS ARE COOL OR NOT. The stoke will never die...surfing is the best thing I've ever been addicted to. It has changed my life as well, I'm in better shape, been to more places, and have met some of the most amazing people in other countries because I surf. I wouldn't trade any surf experience for all the money or material things in the world. All one has to do is travel outside the states to understand how lucky we Americans really are. Enjoy the expericence wether its knee high or overhead...the ocean is my favorite playground!!!

 

whatever you do, if you are a real surfer, never wear a flat brim hat slightly crooked. ever.

 

or your pants around your knees...

 

... With your ears tucked up into the hat

 

Whats with surf brands like Quicksilver charging 70 bucks for a flannel shirt? When did surfers get wealthy enough to spend that kind of money? I'll get my flannels at Sears. F them with their fancy labels....

 

Can't speak of So Cal in the late 60's, as far as OC,IRI, OBX and FLA surfing migrated from the Beach Boy phase right into the "counter culture" (hippie) era that seemed to dominate/define "surfing" that lasted until the late 70's. Surfers were dubbed long haired pot smok'n pill dropp'n bums so by no means in "vogue" or "mainstream". Also it seemed surfing/surfers somewhat disappeared from the beach scene in those years too as compared with the earlier/mid 60's. I've seen interviews with surfing legends who began their careers in those years who admitted popping LSD, smoking "J's" or "Angel Dust" to experience a cosmic session. So local heavy drug use in the line up maybe mellowed out hard core from the newbies (Kooks). As far as OC at that time, felt more harmony in the water than now competing for spots/waves. This is what I've seen that has changed we were not fighting among ourselves in those days that appears to be more "mainstream" today (Forum included). We were trying to survive development, OC surfers were pushed around by the City, then to 94th St when they began building all the high rises segregating us from the bathers for more desirable clientele. We were unwanted, then City passed new surfing ordinances so the designated beaches were crowded yet somehow most exercise surfing etiquette. OBX was the new frontier @ the Lighthouse to get away from hassles of OC while aggressive "localism" was apparent there as it was in Fla too. We joked must be the bad dope they're smok'n. Looking back, thought the best years of changing surf board design and styles maybe due to the radical times. Surfing culture has seen its up and downs although agree with others it has migrated more "mainstream" the last decade or more, a good thing.

The good times for some and others who would appreciate this is observing father with his son or daughter in the line-up sharing the stoke as that was a rare sight of my youth, just say'n.

 

yeah and it's often not even good quality gear. just paying for the name. almost $30 for a tee? No thanks

 

there's no surf culture. it's just surfing. that's what's great about surfing these days. you can come from any walk of life and be a surfer. however, that's one of the drawbacks these days...especially in California where everyone and their friggen brother "surfs". plus, you got a lot of old/new guys who take up surfing in their 30s/40s/etc. PLUS, you got the whole SUP contingent, guys riding pop-out NSP longboards, you name it. i dunno man, i think it's just the whole wane and bane of surfing popularity. we are living in a time when surfing is super popular and uber cool. i think surfing just needs to fall out of the mainstream media, then maybe the kook factor will decrease a bit, i dunno.
all i know is, once you got the bug, and I mean really got the bug, it doesn't leave you decade after decade. i've taught plenty of people to surf, and with great success and ease, and they never get the bug. that amazes me, but i guess it's a good thing. if every tool that learned how to surf on their honeymoon in Hawaii stuck with it and donned a 5/4/3 in the winter, we would all be screwed.

 

Exactly.

I don't think surfing is any more popular in the mainstream now than it was in the 80s or 90s when I was a kid. I remember being able to watch surfing themed programming on ESPN in the late 80s/early 90s and now the only network that touches it, fuel tv, keeps cutting back on it's surf coverage in favor of skateboarding and motocross. Check the other thread about video games... no one is making surfing video games anymore even though skate and snowboard games are thriving. That probably says something about it's popularity.

 

^^^ yea really tho. why don't they make a newer surfing video game??!!! or do they already have good ones?? anyone know of any good surf video games for Xbox360? I'd kill to own one.

 

Surfer Magazine with Sonny Miller! The ultimate old school surf show. That show was the TITS.

 

This thread - and a couple of others especially the ones about etiquette and airs - got me thinking about the similarities between surf culture and climbing culture and their relationship to mainstream society and mainstream ways of thinking. If you think about it, both surfing and climbing have ongoing issues with access to beautiful places, etiquette/form, secret spots, localism, and the never-ending clash of different approaches (what's really surfing and what's really climbing), etc. Both surfing and climbing predate recorded history and both became central to the different cultures that pursued them. So whether you're talking about Polynesians or Peruvians catching waves or indigenous cultures on almost every continent scaling cliffs and peaks, both of these activities have been going on for a LONG time and both were very important to the (now-marginalized) groups of (non-European) people involved. In more modern times, surfing and climbing were taken up by counter-culture type Westerners who lived outside of mainstream society and developed rich written and oral histories with colorful characters, famous spots, and fantastic tales. Unfortunately - some would say - they have also both been slowly moving towards the (urban?) mainstream. Both surfing and climbing have gone global and both have all sorts of internal conflicts, ethical debates (most of which seem trivial to outside observers), and competition for increasingly scarce resources. One big difference that strikes me is that there isn't the same competition for rock and ice as there is for waves and maybe this is why you don't have the same sort of territorial tribalism in climbing that you do in surfing. Climbers generally seem to be less selfish about sharing information (beta!) about new climbs and cool places, more friendly and accepting of visitors and even newbs. There is definitely localism in climbing but it's rarely hostile or violent. Not sure where I'm going with this, but I know I'm glad to be in Alaska - far from the mainstream - where there is plenty of rock, ice, and waves and that the people who are out looking for them still (for now, anyway) have respect for one another.

 

Lighten up

You guys sound like a bunch of old men, which are tired of the kids next door playing on your grass lol. There has always been "trends" in the surf culture. I don't mind sharing some waves with guys sporting balding heads of hair, or mullets. No issues with guys jammin classic rock on the beach, as their longboard collects sun. These posts trip me out. The "modern" culture enjoys surfing just as much as any of you have. Honestly, I believe we enjoy it more. Consider the fact that the "modern" crowd does not need to get stoned on the beach, and actually trains outside of the water. It seems like the "old-school" crowd brings the bad "vibes" to the water. Let the endless summer go, and lighten up, please!

 

In my mind there are two surf cultures now. I don't think of this as necessarily a good or bad thing, just the way it is. You have the summer types who hang out and ride the slop on SUP and funboards. Maybe they own a 3/2 and enjoy the early/mid autumn days, but then they hang it up. They don't ditch work to go surf, and they have their "life priorities in order".

...and then there's the slightly unhinged of us who would do just about anything to get shacked. We spend the cash on a 5/4/3 and full quiver, drive longer than a normal person would consider "reasonable", we ditch work, forgo life's luxuries and take comfort in the green room. There's a different culture associated with this group. It changes all the time, though few people would actually consider us "cool" other than each other.

It's funny how many women I've met over the years who responded with the "oh, you're a surfer" in that quasi-lustful tone that indicated approval of this sort of thing. Later, however, things ALWAYS changed. "You are ditching me AGAIN to go surf? Do you realize that there is something seriously wrong with choosing waves over sex? Do you really expect me to sit on the beach like a dog and watch you surf?"

I suppose to some extent the mainstream folks do a pretty good job of making us look a lot more appealing than we actually are. Much like Hollywood stardom, however, experience shows us that this false positive image doesn't really get you very far.

Crap it's late, I like this thread. Hopefully it keeps going...

 

believe it or not, the origin of the "saggy pants" in the modern urban culture derives from ****sexual inmates in prisons in the 70s and 80s. Sagging your pants was a symbol of being willing to "take it"... Haha... isnt it funny how many people in the 90s until now, went through that fad, not realizing that they were promoting their own ****sexuality! Just a note to the kids... dont go there... you know not what it means.

 

but yeah, surf culture to me right now is at a stand still... 3 years ago, the home of "surf culture", socal changed its colors... its not as trendy as it was 5-7 years ago... Yeah, i still hear the same d-bags talking about "name drop spot here" and how they took the "boat out with the boys to score that south swell" at the "secret" spot... But for the most part... All over CA, its not a fad anymore... Its back to people griding for work, making money, delaing with family... surfing has taken a backseat here, which is AWESOME!!!! It will spread soon enough like skinny jeans and 80s clothes... FYI, its been 90s flannel for like 3 years out here... So when you see guys rocking flannel in your home town, you will know that surfing is officially uncool again.. AMEN!

Seriously though... Sponsors arent out as much... photogs got real jobs.... no one is "living the dream" these days... its back to business as usual... so lets all indulge and take advantage... cause when cash is in abundance again, they will flock to the beach... buying boards they will never ride... but for now, its just drunk old hasbeens, eating fish tacos, talking about how "Sick it was today" but they really didnt go... I will take that any day of the week...

Point being... We are at a low right now as far as market saturation, and the cool factor... its back to those of us who care... everyone else is too busy working 80 hours per week to care enough about the brisk, macking barrels that they miss each day... take it while you can.... when money swings back up, so will the "modern surf culture"