Month of December, 2007

Here is a sermon I will be giving in Boston at First and Second Church in August. I thought it might be of some interest. Peace to all. James

Neil Baxter

I awake to hear the cracking of a wave exploding over the granite reef and rollover to open the back of the van. I look out into the darkness and cannot see the waves, just a few stars battling with the predawn, only shapes and different shades of grey. Last nights showing of the northern lights still in my mind. The horizon line between water and sky is moving and I know, just by the feel that there are mountains of water marching toward the shore.

Tow-in surfing involves using (normally) a jet ski to tow a surfer into a wave. The wave surfers target with this sort of method are monsters of the surfing world and prove very popular with film crews. Which is a good thing as these giant waves are normally only found way out to sea over distant reefs so it is hard for spectators to view the spectacular… unless the have a boat, helicopter or are a VERY good swimmer.

In certain surfing sets, in certain areas, you can expect to be welcomed to a beautiful, warm ocean with verbal abuse and physical threats. My beach, My girl, My waves so F*** off. Is an attitude taken by those known as ‘Nazi Surfers’… or locals. Travelling surfers in these parts are about as welcome as bung bag wearing tourists taking pictures as they eat their cheese and onion sandwiches on the London Underground.

Australian Journal of Anthropology, The , Dec, 2002 by David Lanagan

Notes

(1.) The three principal producers of Surf Wear have Australian parent companies, and two of these are owned and operated by four people, while the third became a publicly listed company in 2000.

(2.) A single event competition to decide who would be World Champion.

(3.) These businesses I include as part of surfing capital, but remaining peripheral to the core group of three.

Australian Journal of Anthropology, The , Dec, 2002 by David Lanagan

Australian Journal of Anthropology, The , Dec, 2002 by David Lanagan

Australian Journal of Anthropology, The , Dec, 2002 by David Lanagan

Australian Journal of Anthropology, The , Dec, 2002 by David Lanagan

Surf Wear: a visible style of surfing

Australian Journal of Anthropology, The , Dec, 2002 by David Lanagan

In the third millennium, mention the word 'surfing' and many things spring to mind: surfing the net, windsurfing, sky surfing, channel surfing, surfing as a commodified form and, lastly, the act of skimming across the face of a wave on a 'surfboard'. Here I limit the manifold understandings of surfing to the last activity that I have just described and its commodified form, Surf Wear.

Surf clothing has developed from the tatty shorts and vest tops of the 70’s retro surfer to a huge industry with powerful brands competing for market share. However, the life style influences are still as true today as they were in yesteryears. The ocean still rolls to shore great waves of the mysterious deep, the sand still sifts softly between our toes and we still sit at the back away from all the hype of the beach, peacefully waiting for that perfect swell.

Billabong Surfwear was founded in 1973 by Gordan and Rene Merchant in Australia. Billabong created Surf Wear brands such as the Palmers Surf, Honolua Surf and Von Zipper surfing companies. Billabong also extended its reach beyond surfing to create Nixon Watches and Element Skate Clothing. Billabongs Surf Wear clothes are available globally with a current turn over in excess of $1.billion AUS and over 1000 employees world wide.

Surfing is perhaps one of the most popular water sports today. Tracing its roots way back in the early 1900s, surfing was originally a Hawaiin sport. This is perhaps due to the circumstances in the natural environment. Today, surfing is considered to be an international sport, with people from all over the world engaging in this activity. It has undergone a lot of changes, including the apparel used when surfing. When before, surfers used to be associated with people who couldn’t care less what they wore while surfing, surfers today have their own type of gear.

Surf clothing is a lot more than old hand me down clothes that are useful to sling on after a days surfing. Surf clothes have developed into highly fashionable garments, surf fashion is a huge industry with huge brands. It’s not exclusive to surfers either, for many surf wear is a symbolic statement of ones attitude towards fashion, culture and life in general. Adopting surf clothing trends is like adopting surfing and its culture, just without getting you hair wet or breaking a nail. The culture that surrounds surfing is recognised as a bohemian, carefree, naturist means of existence.

Below are some great surf articles that we have collated:
Surf Clothing
Surf Shop
Surf Clothing and its Sub-Culture
Summer Surf Wear
Billabong Surf Wear
Changes in Surf Wear Clothing
Surfing in the third millennium: commodifying the visual argot

Our surf clothing shop is on its way! We are hunting down great styles and prices of Surf Wear clothing and will be updating SurfWearclothing.co.uk with the fruits of our labour. In the mean time if you have a suggestion for our new range of Surf Wear clothing then please contact us and we will bug our suppliers for it.

Our new surf shop is truly going to be the Mecca of surf clothing, we have hunted high and low for great styles so you can rely on SurfWearclothing.co.uk to find the latest and best surf clothing all in one shop.

Surfing is one favorite summer sport in the U.S. and in many Western countries as well. This sport and recreation activity has become so popular it is now considered a multi-billion dollar industry. Since it was first recorded in Hawaii, surfing has taken a variety of forms from windsurfing, body surfing to kitesurfing. But of course, nothing can beat the original wave surfing that remains to be very popular in many parts of the U.S. where coastlines are exposed to the ocean. Surfers love the thrill of riding on and inside huge and tall waves.

Surf Wear has become increasingly popular in recent years yet still hard to find high quality fashionable styles. The main brands of surfware do a great job in bringing out new lines and styles. However most surfware cannot be found in the UK with it mainly being sold in Austrailia.

This is why Surf Wear Clothing was created. We find the great styles and high quality that you rightfully demand and list them all on one site. Better still we can offer Surf Wear at great prices, normally much cheaper that high street Surf Wear shops.

Why we Started

Surf Wear was born for the same reason that you are on this site. The desire to buy high quality brands with great styles and designs. Anybody that loves surfing and Surf Wear will understand how hard it can be to find the clothes that they are looking for. That’s why Surf Wear Clothing is so great, we only stock great items!

Great news!

Our new Surf Wear collection is here and ready for you. We have hunted high and low for the very best Surf Wear from designer makes such as Billibong, Quicksilver, Volcom and many more.

Visit our Surf Wear shop here.