It’s really nothing new. A hip underground sport embraced by a few hearty rebels suddenly becomes mainstream. What was once cool and cutting edge is now available to any loser with a few bucks in his pocket. Trendy sportswear and equipment springs forth, fashion trends develop, and corporate sponsors hop on board. Pioneers of the sport can only look on in horror as the masses embrace it and utterly destroy the hip image it once held.
Surf’s up blokes!
It seems that surfing is finally going mainstream back in the UK. After years of just a few souls braving the region’s cold waters, membership in the British Surfing Association has suddenly increase 400% in the last five years. And, not everyone is happy about it. Here is an interesting take by a somewhat bitter surfer (it seems) as the sport begins to explode in England and lose its hip cachet.
Sound a bit familiar, dudes?