California housing bubble caused by yuppie surfers?

User Forum Topic
Submitted by eikoph on February 11, 2007 - 9:25am

Interesting article in today's New York Times [1]...

"Surfing, once the sport of Hawaiian kings, has come full circle. After becoming a counterculture activity for beach bums and bohemians, it has emerged as a status sport, like skiing and golf."

Good grief!

"This new species of surfer contributes to a booming market for vacation packages, instruction, equipment and real estate near some of the world’s best surf breaks."

Damn those yuppie surfers!

"Todd Juneau, a real estate consultant in San Diego and a longtime surfer, trolls for business in local lineups. 'I’ll sit in the water and listen to conversations, and if someone says something about real estate, I’ll find a way to interject,' he said. 'And it pays off.'"

Huh??? If Todd "interjected" with a RE pitch while I was waiting for a wave, they'd be a serious smackdown.

Back in the late 1970s, my brother and I would get off work on a Friday, stock the "fridge" in his old VW camper van with a block of ice, beer, Lambrusco, cold cuts, and a loaf of bread, drive to Mission Beach or La Jolla, and literally spend the whole weekend at the beach. We slept in the van in the beach parking lot (not in La Jolla, natch, but at Mission or Pacific beach). We used the beach showers to clean up every morning and would then run yelling into the cold surf (we didn't have wet suits). We would body surf and boogie board all day (we didn't have surf boards, either) taking breaks only to eat and drink and chat up the girls. There used to be a little food place (I forget at which beach) where you could get a fantastic veggie omelet -- besides the gas and beer, that was usually one of our biggest expenditures. We would head home on Sunday evening, worn out and happy. My brother and I were not sophisticated enough to be bohemians, so we must have been beach bums. Things have certainly changed.

[1] Surf's Up, and Upscale, as Sport Reverses Its Beach Bum Image

‹ Where did the inventory go? Scrupulous or Unscrupulous ? ›
The Times in
Submitted by eikoph on February 11, 2007 - 10:20am.

The Times in Texas!

"Interesting article in today's New York Times"

As a sidebar, I just wanted to comment that yes, some people in Texas regularly read the New York Times, despite the fact that the Times doesn't include any coverage of rodeos, high school football, or monster truck rallies. ;-)

Here in Arlington, it's even possible to get home delivery. Not sure how the papers get here -- maybe they throw a bundle off the plane as it's flying over at 30,000 feet on its way from New York to the west coast.

I'm just funnin' here, in response to some stereotyping of Texas residents as yokels from a previous post -- don't anybody get your panties in a knot. I've lived in 9 states and 4 countries and traveled in many more -- when I see such sweeping (and erroneous) generalizations about people, I can't help poking gentle fun.

There is surf in Texas, but
Submitted by Bugs on February 11, 2007 - 3:27pm.

There is surf in Texas, but Oregon or the Carolinas are a little more attractive to me than Texas. No offense intended.

There are way too many RE/surfer dude maggots out in the line-up. They're somewhat related to the soccermom surf-divas, only more obnoxious and not quite as dangerous and unpredictable to be around. Take it from me, that guy isn't a surfer, he's just another a golfer on a longboard. I guarantee there's something in his Land Rover with a Nike swoosh on it. I have to put up with those guys when I go grocery shopping; it kills me a little every time I run into them out in the water too. I surf to get away from people like that.

As I said, if I wasn't connected to this area by family and lifestyle I'd consider leaving. I might leave anyway.

If some idiot realtor tried
Submitted by LookoutBelow on February 11, 2007 - 5:47pm.

If some idiot realtor tried to solicit me in the line up I would knock him off his board.

Business is NOT conducted in the surf. Nor is it tolerated by anybody I know. 

I agree, anyone pitching
Submitted by privatebanker on February 12, 2007 - 9:02am.

I agree, anyone pitching business in the line up is out there for the wrong reasons. They deserve to be dropped in on.

I just have to say that the
Submitted by PD on February 12, 2007 - 9:25am.

I just have to say that the last three posts have proved that surfing is no longer the province of the VW van crowd and may now be dominated by the BMW crowd. :)

I think the surfing crowd is
Submitted by Bugs on February 12, 2007 - 10:00am.

I think the surfing crowd is probably a lot like the hiking crowd, the offroad crowd, the sailing crowd and the horse crowd. Each of these subcultures include a prevailing mainstream with its own established ideas of what is and isn't acceptable; as well as the people who are coming in from the outside who do not assimilate, whether by ignorance or by arrogance.

Try blasting a boombox on a hiking trail or tacking the wrong way on the bay or sporting an all-new set of Nike boots, chaps, hat and saddle down at the stables and see if you don't generate the equivalent of the surfers' stinkeye from those hikers or sailors or riders who comprise their respective mainstreams. Unlike football and basketball and even soccer, these other activities are not considered sports by most people who regularly participate in them, but are lifestyles.