Perspective
What Surfers Understand About Gentrification
When it comes to waves, newcomers are not wanted.
When I go surfing below the Golden Gate Bridge, my worries include shark attacks, hidden underwater boulders, and strong currents that could pull me into a shipping lane. But as long as I have my wits about me, I can reduce my odds of having to deal with those threats. There’s something way uglier there that scares me more: surf localism.
Fort Point—just “Fort” to locals—is a novelty wave located underneath the south end of the world’s most famous bridge. It’s a beautiful setting, so the demand for waves can quickly outpace the supply Mother Nature offers. And when that happens, the regulars at Fort get territorial, fast.