Monday, August 10, 2009

The State-of-the-art Surfer


From the Beach Boys' ode to surfing:

"If everybody had an ocean
Across the U.S.A.
Then everybody'd be surfin'
Like Californ-i-a
You'd seem 'em wearing their baggies
Huarache sandals too
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo
Surfin' U.S.A."

Back in the sixties, the surfers I knew crammed their woodies with waxed-down wooden surfboards and headed out to the beach. In southern California where I lived, there was usually no need for wet suits, which were then considered kind of sissy.

How things have changed. The above gear, including the car, is streamlined and trendy. And there are bikes, too!

7 comments:

Lowell said...

Goodness, this is a great shot. You've got the eye!

Unknown said...

Those wetsuits always remind of me of the skins that snakes shed. Something creepy about them unworn!

Thérèse said...

Last retirees from Wall Street... lol

Hilda said...

I'm always in awe of people who spend so much time, effort and resources on their sports and hobbies. I find it amazing.

Maybe because I'm such a lazy bum outside of my job ;)

Alexa said...

What, no kayaks? This is such a quintessential So Cal shot, Bibi. You really do have the eye! Hope the surf picked up for these folks—looks like a lake out there.

B SQUARED said...

What a great time to grow up. Everybody wanted to be in So. Cal. My, how times have changed.

Kim said...

That is a typical Central California coast shot to love, for me. I recognize Avila Bay and can see a restaurant I've enjoyed meals out at with my fam there just in the distance in your photo.

It might interest you to know that a Japanese submarine made it all the way in to Avila Bay in the World War II era. I remember my grandmother showing me a newspaper clipping about it. The central coast is still pretty unspoiled compared to SoCal. Looks like home to me, so familiar!

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