A Huntington Beach Core Lord's Take on Surfing: What He Loves and Hates
We all know the type: the gatekeeper of our favorite beaches, rarely smiling, always vocalizing their opinions in the parking lot. Because in surfing, their opinions are the final word. They are the CORE LORD. And so, on this Valentine's Day Eve, we thought it fitting to ask a real core lord what he loves and hates about surfing. Because there's a lot to love and a lot to hate about the Sport of Kings.
Our core lord for the day is the talented John West, a Huntington Beach native. He's as core as they come, but he doesn't need to tell you that. Instead, he's made the core lord character his own.
West, also known as That Surf Guy (https://www.instagram.com/thatsurfguy_/?hl=en), is a modern surfpreneur. You might have seen his content on Instagram, a tongue-in-cheek satire of surf culture. He dances the line between angry local and non-core surf influencer. But he's more than just a content creator. West tuned out of his normal existence to chase the dream of a surfing life.
He tried real estate, and it didn't feel authentic. He thought about a surf-lesson business, but that didn't fit either. West got creative and came up with something new: CityPro (https://www.instagram.com/citypro.app/?hl=en). West's brainchild is a mobile application that connects surfers with surf videographers and photographers in coastal California. "Whether you're surfing in San Diego or up to Santa Cruz, you can schedule a booking and have a videographer or photographer capture your best surfing moments," he says. The idea came to him when an injury sidelined him from the lineup. "After tearing my meniscus and getting knee surgery, I thought about what was missing in the surf industry. I felt that all the hype, love, and attention have been focused on pro surfers, while everyday surfers, who make up 99 percent of the surfing population, were left out," West says.
Every surfer knows the feeling of catching waves and wondering if someone on the beach got a shot. West's application aims to fill that gap. "We can easily film birthdays, weddings, vacations, and every important moment on our smartphones. Surfers don't have that same level of accessibility being in the water," he says. It's also a way for people to improve their wave riding. "Progress can be slow and hard to notice without video feedback," West laments. "For new or experienced surfers, they can actually see what they're doing."
West isn't really a core lord at all; he's more of an everyman shredder. But he can sure play the part. Find more from John West, also known as That Surf Guy, here (https://www.instagram.com/thatsurfguy_/?hl=en).
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