Hey Dibi: Do Surf Punks Die Or Just Get Old?
Editor’s Note: Have a question for Dibi Fletcher? She’s definitely got answers. Or at least a perspective. Don’t hold back, shoot her a DM on Instagram and ask away. Here’s this week’s dispatch from the Matriarch of Radical…
Hey Dibi… I have two kids in their twenties. My daughter, who is the eldest, had a few tough years, but now has a good job and we speak comfortably about everything a couple of times a week. My son, who’s 24 is another story. We used to surf together and have some great times, he quit surfing in his late teens and now we rarely talk on the phone, and it seems like he can’t wait to hang up. I spoke to my ex, and she said she rarely hears from him either. I’ve got some vacation time coming up, do you think I should try and plan a surf trip with him? - Indo Dad
Hey Indo Dad… Sounds like he may have other interests if he hasn’t surfed in more than a handful of years. Perhaps finding out what those interests are is a good place to start recreating a new relationship. Twenties can be a difficult time figuring out who you are as an adult and pushing you away may be a way for him to feel independent. A surf trip may sound fun to you but the idea of spending that much time together for him where’s he’s presently at maybe too much. Why don’t you plan a day trip doing something you both enjoy but he can go home when it’s over and not feel like it’s a forced “good time”. Give him some space to grow and be willing to learn about his interests so you can share a common language and get reacquainted with the man your son is becoming.
Hey Dibi… What happens to surf identity when everyone becomes a “surf influencer” - Asking For A Friend
Hey Asking For A Friend… I didn’t know surf had an “identity” … Individual surfers do and that’s changed over the decades like everything else. If you go back to the early days of 100+ pound wood boards and no leashes the physical requirements of surfing were completely different and the field of people who could enjoy it were a very select group of watermen. As we’ve marched through time and people pay for an hour’s session in a wave pool where paddling and even swimming are optional you have a different type of surf enthusiast. I think one of the coolest things about surfing is people can enjoy it for what it is to them, a completely unique personal experience. As far as a surf influencer, I’m not clear on what you’re referring to, there’s been movies, magazines, contests, books, music all promoting the glory of surfing and now with modern technology individuals are sharing their own stories, it’s all part of the progression. Can we be nostalgic for what seemed like a simpler time, of course, but it seems to be full speed ahead, so enjoy the Ride!
Hey Dibi… Has surf culture lost its rebellion, or just evolved? - Surf Punk
Hey Surf Punk… Kinda’ hard to see the rebellion when there’s a million Ebikes parked at every break, with every kid shooting content on thousand dollar I Phones, custom made boards and the latest 3 mil winter flexible suits. The parking lots are filled with Sprinters, Land Rovers, Tesla’s and a smattering of other expensive drives. It doesn’t quite give off that punk vibe that was prevalent in the early days when surfing was in its infancy. But nothing stays static and certainly with the huge growth in the last three decades surfing has changed from a lifestyle to a sport and lost some of the grit that was part of its growing pains.
Hey Dibi… When does style become more important than substance in surfing? - Play It Smooth
Hey Play It Smooth… I’m a bit unclear on your use of the word “substance” … I’m assuming you are referring to “technical expertise” … if not you can DM me again. Here’s what I have to say. When we think back to the images from the archives of surf media that have captivated the publics attention and grown the surfing population to what it is globally today, they are all of people who were beyond technically proficient they were the few who had that something nebulous that can’t be taught, copied, or adequately explained by themselves or anyone else. It’s STYLE, it comes from within them as effortlessly as breathing and makes the images timeless. There are only a few in every generation, but they are the ones that stay in the mind’s eye to remind why surfing will always be more than a just a sport.