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My Local Lineup
Summary On Who We Are
More on Who We Really Are
Founded in 2007, My Local Lineup emerged to capture an explosive era of surfing history. Surfboard building, now free of the monolithic clutch of previous decades, is bursting with innovations, combining past and present into a broad swath of designs, ranging from fish and alaias to longboards and stand-ups. This unleashed creativity is flooding our lineups with different board designs, each claiming a different feel and thrill to the ride. And while surf breaks fill with variegated shapes, surfing organizations are seeing an exponential growth to their rosters, as dudes and divas seek out new crews and causes to join. Surf spots that in years past would have been lost are now protected by a new army of activists, evidenced by the droves of enthusiasts marching in support of the Save Trestles Coalition.
Thoughts on Who We Are Not My Local Lineup intends to highlight the 'local' in local surfing. Unfortunately, local surfing hasn't received the attention that we think it deserves. It's usually either the victim of hasty generalizations or blatant indifference. On TV, local surfing tends to be equated with a band of marginals who seek to wring havoc upon anyone who dares to venture into their territory. Two movies come to mind: Point Break and Lords of Dogtown. These movies have either captured or helped to generate a stereotype of local surfing where a bevy of deviants engage in lifestyles that endanger either or both their lives and the life of others. This hasty generalization has unfortunately been the lens through which many look at the slightest hint of local surfing. And if it's not seen in this light, local surfing is likely to be ignored altogether. For instance, many of today's surf websites present surf primarily in terms of conditions and forecast. What are the good conditions for the surf spot? How are the waves now? What’s the swell forecast? And so it goes with surfing being presented as a data sheet. In this industry of surf reports and swell forecast, the 'local' in local surfing is lost in a sea of numbers, which purport to reveal the present and future conditions of the waves. So rather than being misrepresented, local surfing becomes the object of blatant indifference by its very own. But for many of us, local surfing is neither equivalent to gang-like activity nor something so insignificant to be lost amidst surf reports. Rather, it's a cherished point of convergence, where beach, surf, and sunshine become the stage of an atmosphere of good cheer among children, friends, and family. In this spirit, we present you 'MYLOCALLINEUP'. By delivering various materials about the local surf community, we intend to counter the hasty generalization and blatant indifference of which local surfing has long been a victim. And consequently, we hope to bring to light the priceless and cherished facets of a lifestyle that motivates many of us to look forward to the next morning, when we will see our dear friends once again and hopefully join them in the lineup for a good old session.
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