surfrider

I spent last week down in San Clemente, California's 'Mecca' to the surf industry, and home to many legendary surf spots and countless professional surfers. Surfing culture runs deep in the community of San Clemente, making it difficult to go anywhere without seeing surf brands on t-shirts, boards on cars, and wetsuits drying on almost every balcony.

After my morning session, I went to the Bagel Shack on El Camino Real, which is a local institution known for great post-surf breakfast satisfaction. The locals have voted, and this place is PACKED with folks, both young and old. Most of whom show up with wet hair having just come from the water.

I noticed immediately that the Bagel Shack proudly sports a large Surfrider Foundation booster sticker both their front and back doors, which made me feel proud that I was part of a tightly knit surfing community, where surfers support local businesses, and businesses support local politics and policies in alignment with their community. However, when my name was called, I stepped up the counter to pick up my order, and the grom behind the counter handed me a STACK of styrofoam containers to carry my food away in. I was mortified, since the City of San Francisco passed legislation banning restaurants from using styrofoam two years ago.