We’re admittedly over-charmed by the notion of old surfers. Look around and you realize they are common, with their own blogs and their own competitions, like the San Diego Senior Olympics’ first Masters and Legends surf competition, held last week near the Oceanside Municipal Pier. Some have surfed so late in life (the late, legendary John H. “Doc” Ball was on a board well into his 90s) that a dude in his 70s seems like, well, just a dude. Unexceptional.
But still. If you grew up in the 50s and 60s, the notion of surfing is tied up your memories of youth, even if you were on a Kansas farm. It meant warmth and wetness, freedom and grace. Still does. At this point it isn’t going away for you, is it?
UPDATE: Just found out that ISA World Masters Surfing Championships will get under way this weekend in El Salvador. Competitors, who are 35 and older, are competing in five divisions: Masters (over 35), Grand Masters (over 40), Kahunas (over 45), Grand Kahunas (over 50) and Women’s Masters (over 35).
Photo by Bill Wechter, North County Times, San Diego, CA.
