What is modern Surf Culture?

Baggy jeans or Skinny Jeans. Im going baggy (not so much hood baggy). But I cant stand thos pu**y a** skinny jeans.... Look like a bunch of tools

 

Was watching the news about thre recent eruption of violence in Egypt and one of the protesters was rocking out a Billabong t shirt. The fashion industry sells the surf image as well as the urban image. Go to the middle of the country in some small town away from the inner city and you will see kids rockin the baggies like they are straight out of the hood the same as you'll see kids with board shorts and O neil T's miles from the ocean. Who cares? I'm sure a lot of 70's surfers jamming to ELO and Yes looked down or didn't understand surfers getting into the Ramones or the Clash and sportin' a mohawk. If the older generation doesn't understand the youn ger generation then the young are doing there job!

 

forget trying to analyze "surf culture" which is a meaningless concept, instead embrace the "waterman" culture

 

The greed of the surf industry (Nike has jumped on the bandwagon) and the media portreyal of what surfers should be and act like has degraded once what was considered to be "sport of kings." Surfing has become just another way to capitalize and make big money off people's perceptions of what they think the lifestyle should be like. The last thing that comes to my mind when I think of surfing is not about how I dress. My most vivid memories of being a surfer in the last 20 years are those of ice cream headaches at Masonborough inlet in Feb, being nervous in sharky lineups in N. California but scoring some of the best waves of my life, getting barreled in Hatteras alone while a group of Amish women swam in the shorebreak fully clothed having the time of their lives while their husbands watched them from the beach and mystical sunrises and sunsets. They can't sell that in overpriced surf shops yet.

 

i'm so tired of listening to all you so called surfers complaining about (kooks)beginner surfers..like were'nt we all beginners at some stage..i don't think a local shop is gonna turn down business from kooks..so lets all enjoy the blessings that we have. share it with others, and have fun...

 

I think everybody's pretty right on, except perhaps the people who are commenting on how baggy pants signify more than a fashion choice.

The fact of the matter is, nearly EVERYTHING is more saturated, watered-down, and co-opted by the mainstream culture than it once was thanks in large part to the Internet. Punk rock, independent music, skateboarding, heck, even something that was already pretty mainstream like basketball! That simply means that those who choose to skate, listen to punk rock, or play basketball have to decide for themselves what it means to identify with that activity or interest.

That said, I'm not arguing for a 100% individual-centric view of anything, but I certainly think it's going to be impossible to singularly define or identify a specific norm and to call that norm modern surf culture. Everyone dresses differently, listens to different music, views lineup etiquette differently, etc etc, but if I could choose just two things to be a part of every modern surfer's idealistic quiver they would be:

1. Respect for the ocean, which includes making choices in one's life to produce less waste and to dispose of the waste we inevitably produce in a proper manner.

2. Respect for others, which includes a general regard for the safety and well-being of others in the water, regardless of what you may feel about them.

Surf culture is what WE, those who feel that we've connected with surfing and ocean in a way that it's not just a fad for us, make it. Corporations like Nike and Billabong aren't going away, but we have the opportunity to align ourselves with them or to stand opposed to the image they're deciding we should fit into. Corporations only have the power that we grant them.

 

This is kind of humorous

There must be a lack of swell, considering you guys are posting novels

 

Even lil' wayne is rappinig up about board shorts, and "dressin' like a skater" as far as the saggy pants H.o.m.o-erotic therory goes; it's now accepted, and trendy,( at least by the set standards of MTV) to be gay. Which is cool, I aint here to judge.... but don't hate on me for playing "smear the queer" in my youth either, young buck! I guess my point being is that while surfing might be for the "in crowd" these days, so is putting a ***** in your mouth. So I try not to look too deeply into trends, or fashions of the time. I just try and be me.

 

Just an observation, has any one else noticed some "higher end" department stores carrying more of the Surf Shop Brands (fashion) if so, might validate your last statement of "urban" image crossing over by Surf companies.

 

I think the surf fashion industry like any fashion industry latches on to what's popular at the time, and the hip hop look has been extremely popular. I remember all the new wave neon pinks and greens of the 80's with shorts WELL above the knees being cool and that look faded so if kids latch onto something else the surf industry will follow suit. I am amazed at how long this current urban look has ben going on for though,

 

sort of on this topic:
I wonder how you guys define a kook. I started surfing in February of 2010. I am obviously still a beginner and on top of that I live two hours away from the beach. I am therefore a kook?

I am the kid who paddles hundreds of yards away from any other guy or the lineup to stay out of the way. I read both both surfing and surfer from the library. I'll drive two hours to go to the beach just to visit my grandparents and paddle when its flat. Most importantly I have never worn Hollister. Someone please enlighten me on what and who a kook truly is

 

Don't sweat it dude, you're fine, I'm a newb too and started last Sept and pick up tips from my friends or people I meet. You don't need to surf in isolation but stay out of an organized lineup unless you know everybody than its cool (some etiquette). I talk to some of the older surfers and the common theme is having fun, and the best surfer is the one catching the most waves etc.. There's older posts on here about what peoples opinion of a kook is so look that up. I picked up on the culture/history by research, hanging w/people that surf and reading some posts like the ones here and just be yourself in water. I met a guy the other day who big time surfs here and abroad and he did not look like he just walked out of coastal edge... Peace

 

It is what it is. Just surf.

 

True. Except you can't surf on a surf forum. The whole point of a surf forum is to have discussions about surfing. If you're gonna come on a forum and say 'just surf' why come on at all? Just surf, right?

 

surfing culture has turned into aggro, expensive, and full of kooks. It almost looses its fun when you have to deal with some of those people in the water.

 

What is Modern Surf Culture?

Modern is defined as "of or relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past."

Culture is defined as "the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively."

And because it is relevant, Trend is defined as "a general direction in which something is developing or changing."

So one could argue that no matter what surf trends rise or fall, they are all part of the one surf culture. Modernly speaking, one could say that the easy going ways of the 60's are or are not part of the culture today, but this comes down to what we view as "old". But whether you are the guy out there strictly for shredding and leaves the surf image at the beach, some yuppie who wears "kooka shells" or the old school laid back hombre hanging loose who carries that smoothness where ever they may roam, it is all one.

"The term (culture) was first used in this way by the pioneer English Anthropologist Edward B. Tylor in his book, Primitive Culture, published in 1871. Tylor said that culture is "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

IMO, surf culture is whatever you perceive it to be.

P.S- I feel like I'm writing an English paper over here hahahaha damn finals week.

 

What is modern surf culture? Gay. Just be you. Tight pants or baggy pants. Athlete or stoner. benign or agro. Beginner or loc dog. Airs or turns. Long or short. Just watch out for the corporate BS. Its necessary evil but don't let them tell you how to be. Just be you.