l ask this because i've picked up a few Surfer magazines at the airport out ofboredom. it seems like all l have ever read in that magazine was what pro surfers were doing, what tournaments they won, and clothing advertisements. my point is that l think the media is just turning the hobby into a teeny bopper pop culture.
i'm not going to ratebased on sympathy, i'm just looking for an array of opinions. l understand i'm going to getfrom beginners to pros, from soul surfers to hot rippers, and groms to grey haired old salts.

my opinion is that surfing is a natural act of pleasure. it is not the same as mainstream sports because there are no written rules to how we act on the water. l never take a life of pleasure seriously, it would not be as enjoyable anymore.l could hardly give a crap if anyone makes comparisons because l do not spray as much water as another.

i could hardly give a crap about the success of a corporation. l could surf without them.

just look at the tournament entries at pipe. what is it, a maximum of 10 hawaiians? no wonder Gerry Lopez moved to Bend, Oregon.

well that is me. nice seeing . shaka.

Yes, many of us are annoyed about it. It would be wonderful if the media world stopped promoting the sport. The problem is, they won't.It is too cool. The hot bodies that the media really makes the sport look like its all about, the suntans, the smoothness of the sport and awesomeness of riding such a strong source of nature.It is just too cool to ignore and that sucks for all us surfers that hate the crowds, but we have to deal with it if we want to surf.

teeny bopper pop culture? what sorry to break it to u but surfing has been around for hundreds of years its not like its new. Its a SPORT it should be takin seriously like any other sports with media, sponsorships, & advertising. Why should it be treated differently from other sports like football, basketball or baseball? Were players r branded with clothes from Nike, Reebok or any other companies. Then again u picked up a SURFER MAGAZINE surfer being the keyword there. What do u expect advertisements from other sports that has nothing to do with surfing? Maybe a rifle ad or fishing gears. Maybe new addidas cleats ad & another thing surfing has always been pretty popular the media has always portrayed it as some layed back ''cool'' care free lifestyle. Which is the main reason we been branded by such horrible stereotypes that most surfers r just beach bum stoners who has nothing else better to do in life.

So growing popularity? No its ALWAYS been popular & that hasnt change what has change is the way big surf industries advertise to a wider audience & different demographics

NCVA- learn to read. He did not say it IS a teeny pop culture fad, he said the poplular media & money hungry ad agencies r trying to turn surfing into one. AND HE IS RIGHT.
l have been surfing for over forty years. l bet most of u reading this crap instead of surfing have parents who were not even born then.
Surfing is not just a sport, it is a means of pleasure & joy, where we hook up with the ocean & create pleasure. l do not resent the pros, l tend to admire them. l wish l could surf like that. Competitiveness is part of human nature, & that is okay. But everybody does not have to compete.
l think my biggest complaint is the influx of new surfers (young & old), who do not try to understand the feeling of surfing. They drop in on you, they snake ur waves, they get rude & nasty on the beach. The leave their trash behind, & when there r no no waves, they go & ride their smelly wave wave runners & pollute the air in the only place where l can go to find any clean air, the beach.
It seems like every little kid on the beach is wearing a rash guard & dragging around a soft top board, while their ''soccer moms'' sit around & let them get in everybody is way in the water.
Do not get me wrong, I'd like to teach the world to surf. I'd like everyone to be as happy as l can be on a wave (and believe me, as old & out of shape as l am, EVERY WAVE is a treat). But I'd like them to learn it the right way. To learn how to be at home in the ocean. The more & more inexperienced ocean swimmers in the water means the more & more rescues by the becah patrol, which results in more & more restrictive anti-surfing rules!
I'd like everybody to learn surfing etiquette. l see kids who r great surfers, in a technical sense, who have no concept of surf etiquette. This is not localism, because they r all tourists themselves, it is just plain bad manners.
l am kind of a blue collar guy, who loves to surf. l do not get anywhere enough opportunities to do it. l just want to have fun, & share the waves with like minded people, not rude yuppies & their spoiled kids.
Hey, if u send in a question here, & u want to learn to surf, I'd be happy to meet up with you, & help u along. But l would start by teaching u how to handle yourself in the ocean, & how to be polite & friendly in the line-up. The technical stuff will all come along depending on ur natural athletic ability. And, believe or not, some people will always SUCK, but they can still have fun, & not be labelled KOOK, if they know proper etiquette.
So, yes, l too hate the growing popularity of surfing, in the way that it seems to be going. l wish it would change, & we could all meet up on the beach & go surfing, & have FUN. Because joy is what this is all about.
PS, l could not get the spell check feature to work, so l am not going to proofread this< l am not illiterate. Thanks

Well, this problem started here in Malibu in the 1960's.
Now we hve contend with oarboarders along with all the Vals.

u would probably consider me one of the annoying teeny bopper people because i'm a teen that surfs & i'm not that great because l only get to surf twice a year.so i'm just gonna say that l find the whole ''worshiping'' pros & the competieion frenzy annoying, but what is so bad about surfing growing in popularity??? the sport will die out if nobody is intrested so l say urge people to try it.get people intrested & instead of separating ourselves from people help unite people by getting them intrested in something fun.

Yes and no, all surfers are selfish, we love having the sea to ourselves, and can not stand localism! But l love how so many people are so eager, then again there are the people who surf just for the image, and do not appreciate what an art it is! l say kudos to the people who take it seriously, and pass on the love for surfing to other people!