surfing and tiki - General Tiki

I ikitnrev Tiki Socialite D.C. / Virginia Joined: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1325	I ikitnrev Posted posted on Wed, Oct 22, 2003 4:59 PM I thought I would share a few thoughts on surfing and tiki, the catylyst being some thoughts Tiki Bong shared in the 'What's Changed' thread. Although I realize that for many on this list there is a strong connection between surfing and tiki, I find myself somehow separating them into two different camps. I grew up associating surfing with the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley movies, and soft drink commercials. I was well aware of at least the main surf bands from an early date (Surfaris, 'Surfin' Bird, Jan & Dean, etc) As long as I can remember, there were some references to surfing going on in pop culture. Growing up in Wisconsin, where lakes and beaches regularly freeze each year, most of these images were only obtained through television. As for tiki, I didn't really discover this subculture until the mid-90's, when Tiki News first appeared as a totally fresh way of looking at our culture. I loved the idea of creating a Polynesian paradise to retreat to, and the drinks associated with this sub-culture are pretty good too. Tiki is something that everyone could get into, without having to relocate to California or Hawaii or some other tropical locale. Because I have two sets of personal and cultural mindviews with surfing and tiki, I find myself drawing somewhat of a dividing line between the two. I noticed this when I immediately liked Kooche's new 'Tiki Ti' print, but didn't enjoy as much his tapa print. I love the overall style of both, but I found myself a bit turned off with the corner surfer scene, which somehow placed it more into my 'surfing' category than my 'tiki' category - enough so that I did not consider buying the latter. I guess that I was intrigued by Tiki Bong's comments on how he had long been associated with surfing. I never really consider anyone discovering tiki through surfing. Although I am aware of some linkage between the two, and am appreciative of the linkage, I had never associated this as being a real strong link. So some questions..... Are surfing and tiki more closely connected in California and Hawaii, and less so in other parts of the country? Which is stronger, the pull of the perfect wave, or the pull of the perfect mai-tai? How much overlap is there between the tiki and surfing crowd? 3a) Will an average joe-surfer feel comfortable in a midwestern tiki bar in the middle of winter? 3b) Will a midwesterner, (especially one who can't swim), fit in at a surfer beach party? 3c) Isn't it nice to have tiki as a possible link between the two groups? Anyway, I do want to thank Tiki Bong for helping me to look at things in a new way. This post isn't meant to be a slam at surfers at all, as I do admire the surfing subculture, and how it represents for many an American ideal. VErn

I thought I would share a few thoughts on surfing and tiki, the catylyst being some thoughts Tiki Bong shared in the 'What's Changed' thread.

Although I realize that for many on this list there is a strong connection between surfing and tiki, I find myself somehow separating them into two different camps.

I grew up associating surfing with the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley movies, and soft drink commercials. I was well aware of at least the main surf bands from an early date (Surfaris, 'Surfin' Bird, Jan & Dean, etc)
As long as I can remember, there were some references to surfing going on in pop culture. Growing up in Wisconsin, where lakes and beaches regularly freeze each year, most of these images were only obtained through television.

As for tiki, I didn't really discover this subculture until the mid-90's, when Tiki News first appeared as a totally fresh way of looking at our culture. I loved the idea of creating a Polynesian paradise to retreat to, and the drinks associated with this sub-culture are pretty good too. Tiki is something that everyone could get into, without having to relocate to California or Hawaii or some other tropical locale.

Because I have two sets of personal and cultural mindviews with surfing and tiki, I find myself drawing somewhat of a dividing line between the two. I noticed this when I immediately liked Kooche's new 'Tiki Ti' print, but didn't enjoy as much his tapa print. I love the overall style of both, but I found myself a bit turned off with the corner surfer scene, which somehow placed it more into my 'surfing' category than my 'tiki' category - enough so that I did not consider buying the latter.

I guess that I was intrigued by Tiki Bong's comments on how he had long been associated with surfing. I never really consider anyone discovering tiki through surfing. Although I am aware of some linkage between the two, and am appreciative of the linkage, I had never associated this as being a real strong link.

So some questions.....

Are surfing and tiki more closely connected in California and Hawaii, and less so in other parts of the country?
Which is stronger, the pull of the perfect wave, or the pull of the perfect mai-tai?
How much overlap is there between the tiki and surfing crowd?

3a) Will an average joe-surfer feel comfortable in a midwestern tiki bar in the middle of winter?

3b) Will a midwesterner, (especially one who can't swim), fit in at a surfer beach party?

3c) Isn't it nice to have tiki as a possible link between the two groups?

Anyway, I do want to thank Tiki Bong for helping me to look at things in a new way. This post isn't meant to be a slam at surfers at all, as I do admire the surfing subculture, and how it represents for many an American ideal.

VErn

Post #56340 by ikitnrev on Wed, Oct 22, 2003 4:59 PM