Surfing History: The Sixties Influence and Change on our Sport. (part 4)

“Hell no we won’t go” and “make love not war” rang out from college campuses throughout the country. There was no rest to be found. It was a time of change. It was a time of rhetoric. It was a time of action. For the first time in American history, college students were becoming a force for social change. From Berkeley to Boston there were sit-ins and violent and nonviolent demonstrations. Much for the unrest was blamed on President Johnson, and his abandonment on the war on poverty and his focus on Vietnam.

Surfers didn’t let the art of protest go unused. They did stand up for causes that were important to them, like the closure of their beaches or restricted surfing hours. Over 300 surfers marched on the New York City Hall carrying surfboards and signs demanding more liberal surf hours. Surfing had been restricted from 6A.M to 9A.M, five days a week. Surfers weren’t going to take this laying down, and they threatened to have a surf-in if there weren’t compromises.

Just like all the other facets of society, surfing was going through changes. Due to the freedom and lifestyles of the 60’s it wasn’t odd to pick-up your surfboard and follow the waves. Gas was cheap, and Mother Earth would take care of the rest. Surfing had a more religious mood to it, with its little symbols and style. A couple of the small but meaningful symbols were bumps on the knees and above the ankles. These bumps were calcium deposits from countless hours of kneeling on a surfboard and paddling around. Surfers wore these gross growths proudly.


Surf History Part 5