Wind, sea, sand

February 21, 2012 12:58 AM

Surfing took a baby step or the first dip at the first India Surf Festival in Puri this month. Indian surfers, from states along India's long coastline, came together for the first time, in one place. From fishermen's sons to professional surfing instructors, they do not fit the classic, global image of surfers we have. They are uniquely Indian.

Meet the first generation of Indian Surfers.
posted by timshel (26 comments total)

What are the costumes (?) in the last photo?
posted by arcticseal at 1:06 AM on February 21, 2012

the 'Almost Indian Surfer' made me laugh.
posted by mannequito at 1:18 AM on February 21, 2012

Standing around with surfboards doesn't make you a surfer. I would really have liked to have seen some wave riding in a post about surfers.
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 1:19 AM on February 21, 2012

I would really have liked to have seen some wave riding in a post about surfers.

That would require waves.
posted by three blind mice at 1:23 AM on February 21, 2012

Obviously time for a Beach Boys/bhangra/Ravi Shankar mashup.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:29 AM on February 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

I liked this.

Puri's waves and undertow are the worst.
posted by infini at 2:20 AM on February 21, 2012

they do not fit the classic, global image of surfers we have

What does he mean? They look like surfers to me.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:46 AM on February 21, 2012 [4 favorites]

...they do not fit the classic, global image of surfers we have

Most of them fit the the global image of surfers perfectly, right down to the unkempt hair and inexplicably garish t-shirts. The only thing missing is really expensive sunglasses.
posted by jack_mo at 3:47 AM on February 21, 2012

That would require waves.

That comment reminds me of this film about a surfer in not-particularly-wavy Mediterranean Nice. (Yes, that's Jean Dujardin in a wig).

What does he mean? They look like surfers to me.

Yup, that too.
posted by Skeptic at 3:49 AM on February 21, 2012

Aw, man. I was getting ready to objectify some beach boys and they're all...literally boys. 16? 14? Feh.
posted by psoas at 4:17 AM on February 21, 2012

psoas: That never stopped Germaine Greer.
posted by public at 4:31 AM on February 21, 2012

Let's see:

Retro-looking font splashed over every picture at a jaunty angle? CHECK!
Photoshop filters applied to reduce saturation, increase contrast, and put a magenta wash over everything to make it look it aged, vintage film? CHECK!

Hey everyone, they must have unearthed that long-lost print of GIJJIT!
posted by kcds at 4:38 AM on February 21, 2012

flapjax at midnite: Obviously time for a Beach Boys/bhangra/Ravi Shankar mashup.

Am I the only one hearing a Dick Dale/bhangra mashup in my head instead?
posted by knile at 4:40 AM on February 21, 2012 [6 favorites]

Uniquely Indian, but of a common tribe: gnarly bros.
posted by basicchannel at 4:44 AM on February 21, 2012

Also, I mean "bros" in the gender-neutral sense, bro.
posted by basicchannel at 4:44 AM on February 21, 2012

That would require waves.

When I was in Hong Kong (over a decade ago now), there was a handful of surfers - mostly expats in denial. They poured over weather reports, lusted over mentions of possible storms. But Hong Kong is famed for its calm waters - it's part of why HK is was and is such a successful port. Ultimately, they would only be able to get some tasty waves just before HK got hit by a typhoon - this happened maybe two or three times a year. Even then, it would have to be a big typhoon, a Level 8. They would run out just before a storm, surf, and then run for cover before they got smashed up or swept away.

Surfers are nuts.

Also, I once saw a few whitewater rafters out in a storm, trying to raft down open concrete storm drains on a hillside (HK's few rivers are flat, sluggish and polluted). I always wondered what they did when they got to the bottom of the hill.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:48 AM on February 21, 2012

they do not fit the classic, global image of surfers we have

What does he mean? They look like surfers to me.

I guess it's because they're mostly brownish.
posted by cmoj at 5:10 AM on February 21, 2012

Am I the only one hearing a Dick Dale/bhangra mashup in my head instead?

Followed by Ustad Ali Akhbar Khan/Bollywood/Ventures.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:13 AM on February 21, 2012

Also, I mean "bros" in the gender-neutral sense, bro.

Metafilter: something something
posted by timshel at 5:23 AM on February 21, 2012

Wrong Indian music.

Better.
posted by blob at 5:28 AM on February 21, 2012

They actually do surf on flat water, apparently.

I would have liked to learn more about the surfers, too. The post intrigued me, and the photos were fine, but fleshing it out a bit would have been appreciated.
posted by misha at 5:57 AM on February 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Ever wonder where the word juggernaut comes from?
posted by infini at 6:42 AM on February 21, 2012

blob.

I need a hat that says Sitar Power.
posted by Fizz at 10:16 AM on February 21, 2012

not-particularly-wavy Mediterranean Nice

Ahh yes but this is because the french surfers come over to my home town of Sanremo for a surf. There is no surf in Nice.

And not only le frenc even Kelly Slater came over once.
http://www.easyriding.it/foto/?album=kelly

And the indian guys rocks.
posted by elcapitano at 11:19 AM on February 21, 2012

What are the costumes (?) in the last photo?

They look a little like those "horseman" costumes, where you stick your legs through & you look a bit like a rider on a two-legged horse.

But I'd be guessing they're portable wicker statues of Nandi, lord Shiva's bull..
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:30 PM on February 21, 2012

Thanks UbuRoivas!
posted by arcticseal at 11:14 PM on February 21, 2012