A look at surf culture...

[Duncs]

Hey guys,

I recently went with a mate to Croyde for a weeks surfing. Which for some of you guys is a very easy thing to do, I however, am from a town called Horsham, which is near Gatwick and so therefore it is rather more difficult...

Now i am very envious of all the peeps out there who by pure chance happen to be born in a place where surfing is easy to reach. While i am fully aware that being in Horsham gives me opportunities that you probably don't have, i.e. for me getting to gigs in London, Brighton and Tunbridge Wells is very easy, i am still very jealous...

The impression i get is that surfing is not just an activity, but is really a lifestyle. Now i have only been surfing for a week, and before that for a week's bodyboarding in S.A, but i would say that i am a fan. Proabably would be hooked if i had the opportunity to do it more often...

Being 18 just about now gives me the freedom to do what i want. I am starting with organising a winter sun trip to the Canaries this FEB to surf. Hopefully i can improve my standard of surfing. By the end of the week in croyde i managed to catch a green wave,..and to turn a bit. I was pretty stoked with that...

So is surfing a lifestyle that welcomes new people?!

One look at it shows me that there are those surfers out there who look at newbies and laugh,..make us feel small,...cos we just can't cut it. I mean we aren't "real" surfers,...we don't know all the lingo,..."we are land goers".

Hey but from the other view,..we are making the effort to come to Croyde ( a long-ish journey) and stand up proud that we are using foam boards...and are fully adamant that we are learners. However there is still the fundamental instinct inside us that we are born to play in the sea,..and be a bit free from your office jobs. We could of course remain like our fellow "townies",..who live in burbury,..listen to trance nation,...go raving and generally hang on street corners.

All im saying is that we aren't great surfers,...we can't cut the mustard in the sea yet, but there is the same love of the ocean,...and the same perspective on life,....that sets us apart from the townies of this world.... we will eventually also be the next sunny garcia's

After all we have made the effort and have the dedication to get of our asses and go out there and do it.

So we really oughta,..in a show of good old hippy love,...respect each other,..no matter what level of surfer. After all we are all in it for the same things,...the healthy lifestyle,...and whether its a big wave in Taihiti or a 3 ft-er in croyde we all get that same rush (y'know what i mean?!)

My skills lie elsewhere. I can play guitar,..in a band,....and thats cool. We are progressing well, but at the same time im happy to see other young musicians in my area picking up instruments,..no matter whether they can't palm mute,..play harmonics,...or dont have Marshall stacks and a great guitar..... Im just happy to see people turning to ( in true lord of the rings style) the "light" side,..rather than the "dark" side of garage music and stuff,..which requires no talent what-so-ever. Im sure the people who are into it would disagree but hey...

Although thats off the point,..i hope you can see the similarities in the way of thinking.

Now i really started to write this with a point,...but i can't remember it now. Im basically just trying to occupy my working day somehow. Lol,...to conclude i would say:

"surfing rocks,...and whether you like it or not,...every new surfer is one less burberry cap at 45 degrees,..one less tracksuit bottom tucked into a sock,...one less white adidas shell suit,..one less set of gold rings and earings, one less trance nation album bought (go jack johnson),...one less innit vehicle done up with neon lights and a "pumpin" sound system playing **** music.....the list goes on..."

[Dave]

Hey Duncs,

I totally agree man. From all levels of ability, surfers are what we are. We are like one big family. Im gettting emotional now!

Surf on,

Dave

[surf patrol]

Hi Duncs, Hi Dave - Welcome to Surfing Waves Forum

surfing rocks,...and whether you like it or not,...every new surfer is one less burberry cap at 45 degrees,..one less tracksuit bottom tucked into a sock,...one less white adidas shell suit,..one less set of gold rings and earings, one less trance nation album bought (go jack johnson),...one less innit vehicle done up with neon lights and a "pumpin" sound system playing **** music.....the list goes on

Classic quote, and a great post - and lots to respond to. I'll have a quick go at your question 'So is surfing a lifestyle that welcomes new people?!'
On the whole I would have to say surfing is certainly a sport/pastime/lifestyle that welcomes new people. The thing with surfers is that they have the one thing in common - a love for the ocean. This is true the further away from the crowds you get. If there are a lot of waves and only a few surfers out you will not find a more welcoming, or for that matter, happy bunch. It does become a slightly different issue as the crowds get thicker.
If you respect other wave riders, and behave sensibly in the water then people will give you respect - no matter what standard you are. There will always be idiots out in the water just like there will be in a Horsham pub! Respect other surfers and get out in the water as much as possible - and don't get put off by what some other surfer may think. Pretty soon you will be able to hold your own in the surf, and will no longer be a newbie - every surfer has to start from somewhere.
One last thing - things are not as bad as they may seem living in Horsham. Have you thought about heading to the south coast? You have waves only a couple of hours away. Check out the coastline from Hastings right round to East Wittering - there are some gems to be found when there is a decent swell running.

Welcome to the world of Surfing!

[Guest]

hi guys!

Horsham, huh? Im just down the road in Storrington...

No need to go to Croyde mate - pop down to Ocean Sports in Hove, grab a board and get yourself down Lancing beach/Shoreham beach (by the power station), the Witterings, etc....plenty of good waves in West Sussex!

Im off to the Canaries too - 24th of Jan for a week in Lanzarote - cant wait!

Catch soon on a wave in Sussex!

Ross

[Duncs]

Hey Ross,

You fancy a surfing buddy?!

I'd be well up for surfing in this area,...but i'd need to get some serious wetsuit gear cos its freezin!!! lol

Ho long you been surfing/how old are you?! Not that it matters...we are all brothers in this life!!

Lol

Catcha lataz

Duncs

[Guest]

Hey,

Im 24 - give us a shout - my email is scuba_sharks@yahoo.com - always good to have a surf buddy! I used to do a lot of surfing when I was 12/13, but only recently got back into it, so confined to the mini mal until my balance is up to allowing me back on my sexy little custom number! Off to Lanzarote for a week in Jan so should be a bit better by the time I get back!

Chat soon,

Ross

[-1-luv]

to the new surfers out there, welcome to the greatest sport ever. I started surfing a little while ago and the problem im burdened with is not living near a beach. I live in southern Virginia so i have to make a 4hr trek out to the coast every weekend. . . its worth it. Just wanted to point out a little irony in your comment Duncs, you concluded with a quotation that i thought was judgemental of others i.e. people who wear burberry hats and drive cars with loud systems. I find this ironic because as a new surfer you don't want to be laughed at or be judged. However, after acknowledging this, you in the same article no less, judge others by what kind of hats they wear and what kind of music they listen to.
If the surfing communities attitude is anything similar to that quotation you left us with, heck they may not let you onto the beach . . . simply cuz you are new to the sport. I'm Just saying maybe we should get to know people b4 judging them by their clothes or musical preference.
~1~

[Duncs]

Hey,

Happy New Year to all,.....

Your probably right,...i was being hypocritical, but then again you don't live near crawley, capital of all townies.

To be fair, and this is not just my opinion, if you approach a skater/surfer/grunger/rocker or whatever you wanna call us, then you are most likely to get an open reaction, and someone who is likely to at least listen to you.

If however you approach an "innit" then, atleast where i am from, you are likely to get
innit: "did you just look at me!",...
unfortunate being no1 : "no i didn't sorry!
innit: "did you just NOT look at me?!"
unfortunate being no1 : "AHHHH scampering down road"

lol. Anywayz im sure there are nice townies out there, but i aint found one yet, and hey man judgments are just made on personal experience and this is mine

lastly, there is a flaw in your argument too.

I was talking originally about surfers [experienced] patronising surfers [beginners]. Now this is INTRA-group angst. I.e. people who are supposed to be into the same surfing lifestyle criticisiing each other.
On the other side, I am not a townie, and so although it may be wrong, i was judging them with INTER-group angst. I.e people from different so-called social groups criticising the other groups way of life.

SO all i am saying is, in a really ethical way is:

"Groups should not undermine their own side, as it doesn't help the fight against other groups"


In which case i am not being hypocritical, im just not happy with people with the same outlook and enjoyments in life criticising each other. So technically you can't haul my ass. And no don't tell me townies surf too,...they'd be in the innit foam clubs at Ayai Napa and Ibiza.

HA, lol,...im still judgemental though, and happily so. I'd have no purpose if it wasn't based on the fact that at least im not a townie

cheers,

duncs

[Mcleod_007]

i can totally relate to ya im in teh middle of england near stratford birmingham and they just look down in me like a tramp soem of the girls trhing its pritty kewl and soon u'll see what i mean dont forgetr to bring thjem on ure surf hols. ne way ive been goin all way to cornwall to catch soem surf i have close to 0 surf buddies and wanderin if u know where i can find some surf more close to home

catch ya later

[Duncs]

Well to be honest isn't that why all us guys became surfers?!

To look good in fornt of the really fit beach babes?!

Oh and to get a six pack too,...and what the hell its better than doing sit ups in a dingy smelly gym!!!!!

[Mcleod_007]

well i spose originally u type of do, but in the long run its just addictive and u wanna concour the waves, as well as keeping fit. also being part of that surfers family we all look out for each other, yeah u get the old ones.

[surfer bob]

i think ur right duncs, after all the world would be a better place without as many townies

[Mcleod_007]

agreed. u can save some of em. take them down to check out the ocean scene an they love it or they dont.

[vitopilot]

Duncs,

About that post, I agree with everything you said. It's funny but you will see that kind of situation almost everywhere you go. When I was in flight school and started flying, it wasn't until I soloed for the first time and got my first license that anyone talked to me or respected my flying skills. My friend, (surfer Dave) we called him, was from Denver Colorado 1000 miles from any water and when we were in flight school together in Florida they didn't even talk to him and made fun of him, the joke was on them because he was a professional surfer. Funny when you talked about your band, I found they were the nicest people when I started learning how to play guitar, they grabbed the guitar and sat for 2 hours teaching different tunes. Surfpatrol and everyone else is right, I agree with everything they said. Take care man.

[Duncs]

Hello!

Thankyou for your agreement vitopilot!!

it wasn't until I soloed for the first time and got my first license that anyone talked to me or respected my flying skill

What is it with people, that we always have to prove ourselves before being treated normally?! I know it is only certain types of people, elitist people normally, but still i make an effort to treat people well, until they let me down etc etc. Its like the whole innocemt till proven guitly thing.

Yeah, i think you just have to pick and choose who you socialise with. And generally its about being openminded!!!!

[Guest]

people seem to forget where they came from, but that just lets you know what kind of people they really are. But you raise good points as always.

[vitopilot]

Duncs,

People seem to forget where they came from. It shows what kind of person they really are and it's good to know that. You always raise a good point.

[def]

only a surfer knows the feeling, mate.

as far as being a lifestyle, it is, which is exactly why real surfers fight hard to protect it. its why we hassle tourists and kooks, and protect our local with our lives and are so intolerant of anyone else. if we just let everyone in, wouldnt be much of a select fmaily would it? ;)

[freaky_welsh_chick]

i wouldn't say that surfers are intolerable of anyonme else at all. i just think they demand respect, which is fair enough. surfing is for anyone who wants to try it.

[def]

^maybe in wales


but come and surf where i live, surf my point, or go to hawaii or new zealand, u will get wat im talking about