REMINDER: WEIDER PUBLICATIONS, LLC has no obligation to monitor the Forums. However, Weider Publications, LLC reserves the right to review any materials submitted to or posted on the Forums, and remove, delete, redact or otherwise modify such materials, in its sole discretion and for any reason whatsoever, at any time and from time to time, without notice or further obligation to you. Weider Publications, LLC has no obligation to display or post any materials provided by you. Weider Publications, LLC reserves the right to disclose, at any time and from time to time, any information or materials that Weider Publications, LLC deems necessary or appropriate to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, contract obligation, legal or dispute process or government request. Click on the following hyperlinks to further read the applicable Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Your favorite decade of surfing
- Thread starter StratoCycleSurf
- Start date
1970's
The O'Neill supersuit was released and let me surf for much longer in mid-winter New England Waves.
We had shortboards and leashes, a big improvement over the 9'6" Greg Noll I started with.
Multi temperature surf wax became available. The paraffin wax we had to use before this provided almost no traction in the winter.
No one went to the beach from labor day to the fourth of July. Labor day was always a zoo at the beach. Tuesday morning was a ghost town. Empty waves for months.
The O'Neill supersuit was released and let me surf for much longer in mid-winter New England Waves.
We had shortboards and leashes, a big improvement over the 9'6" Greg Noll I started with.
Multi temperature surf wax became available. The paraffin wax we had to use before this provided almost no traction in the winter.
No one went to the beach from labor day to the fourth of July. Labor day was always a zoo at the beach. Tuesday morning was a ghost town. Empty waves for months.
Really that phenomenon lasted until about 15 years ago. Surf here is now crowded even when its 20*.
In my mind it's the 90s since that was my greatest stretch of progression due to age. Learning new maneuvers, paddling out at new spots to me for the first time, and challenging myself in bigger surf. Geeking out to the Momentum generation stuff, "punk" music, and pouring over contest results in the mags. Huddling around our college dorm to dissect the wave fax my buddies dad would mail us to the front desk. Driving up the coast with the weather radio on the dashboard giving latest buoy and wind updates.
The personal documentation I have of that era shows a different story. Long, thin, overly rockered boards that out ran the pocket and flailing laybacks that mostly resulted in missed sections. Not to mention everyone running around looking like they're dressed up as Guy Fieri for Halloween.
I like surfing today. Wetsuits are so comfortable and I can get away with thinner mms in colder conditions. Greater acceptance of surf design in the lineup than I can ever remember and easily accessible forecasts. I even joined the trendy guys and ordered up an Allan Gibbons channel twin pin for bigger surf. Stocked!
The personal documentation I have of that era shows a different story. Long, thin, overly rockered boards that out ran the pocket and flailing laybacks that mostly resulted in missed sections. Not to mention everyone running around looking like they're dressed up as Guy Fieri for Halloween.
I like surfing today. Wetsuits are so comfortable and I can get away with thinner mms in colder conditions. Greater acceptance of surf design in the lineup than I can ever remember and easily accessible forecasts. I even joined the trendy guys and ordered up an Allan Gibbons channel twin pin for bigger surf. Stocked!
The 90s, especially early 90s (and late 80s)
Even tho HPSB design fashion was lame (thanks again, Slater) surfing wasn't hip or cool. Lotsa days with light crowds, surf travel was better, longboarding was so passé that you could buy a used Frye for $200, custom shapes from Mitzven and Rusty et al for $350. Secret Spots stayed secret, and in the event of butthurt or malfeasance, you could have a good old fashioned fistfight on the beach like gentlemen and no one got sued. Bonus: sketty strap summer dresses all over SDSU
Even tho HPSB design fashion was lame (thanks again, Slater) surfing wasn't hip or cool. Lotsa days with light crowds, surf travel was better, longboarding was so passé that you could buy a used Frye for $200, custom shapes from Mitzven and Rusty et al for $350. Secret Spots stayed secret, and in the event of butthurt or malfeasance, you could have a good old fashioned fistfight on the beach like gentlemen and no one got sued. Bonus: sketty strap summer dresses all over SDSU
Animal Skins! Bayley Suits! Coconut Wax Research and Coppertone. And free transportation to and from the beach (hitch hiking)!
The answer will likely depend on the time frame when you were a young teen to young adult where you were old enough to explore new spots and buy real surfboards but before the reality of a full time career set in.
Surfers: 00s. Arc, First Chapter, Free as a Dog, Secret Machine
Music: 90s
Boards: 2021
Styles: DGAF
Chicks: DGAF
Spots: 90s.
Three of the Vero go-to's died in the late 90s/early 00s. First Peak turned to sh!t in early 00s. The last real Vero "spot" got worse after the Isabel swell in 2003 and now it's a shorebreak or blowout novelty.
70's. bali was empty, oahu was controlled, oxnard localism was at its peak, spots were uncrowded mostly, and bonzers were beginning. 77/78 winter on the north shore was magical. at home it was still possible to get the best days with just a few friends. wetsuits made it nice. no aids, no fentanyl, just free love. the golden years for a teenage surfer.
The 90s were cool. I was a 90s kid and remember reading all of the magazines and the styles from that era. MCD, Gotcha, turbo surf bodyboards, T&C, HIC, Local Motion. Back when the only media you could consume was magazines and you couldn't order stuff online.
My first fullsuit was O'niell Animal Skin with dark green chest/back panels. Toasty!
Animal Skins! Bayley Suits! Coconut Wax Research and Coppertone. And free transportation to and from the beach (hitch hiking)!
90s were the best for me for many reasons. That said I got the best wave and session of my life this year.
Its more crowded than ever but I wont quit till my body gives out, its just too much dam fun!
Its more crowded than ever but I wont quit till my body gives out, its just too much dam fun!
The Aipa crew were my high school heroes. Throw in Dane Kealoha's man turns.Bertleman, Lidell, Buttons...
Kaiser's / Ala Moana Bowl's parking lotBertleman, Lidell, Buttons...
Haleiwa, Chuns, Laniakea, Sunset, Velzyland
