"The Beach Cruiser Story"

   Since the advent of the automobile age a century ago, the beach cruiser has become a nostalgic presence found along ocean shorelines worldwide. Usually old, and always rusted, the beach cruiser is an integral part of the beach and surfing culture.  To those who cast only a cursory glance, the cruiser is often seen as no more than an unwelcome eyesore.  But to those who look beyond its rusty and faded skin, the cruiser is truly the embodiment of a unique lifestyle marked by sun, sand, salt and surf.

   Oh if the cruiser could only speak, what a story it could tell. Decades ago it rolled off a far away assembly line with the shine and new car smell that made it a prized possession. Somewhere a lucky person became the proud first owner of the latest in style and advanced mechanical features. Perhaps our young cruiser drove along a beach highway and thought to itself,  "When I get old I never want to look like that!" And in the naïveté of youth our cruiser simply turned its head and continued down the roadway -- probably headed for the pleasure of a pleasant car wash and the protected comfort of its own garage.

   But with time change is inevitable. And in the automobile industry styling and mechanical advances lead the way.  In the span of a few short years our state of art cruiser was no longer the newest and latest.  Indeed before long it's likely our cruiser found itself in the hands of a second or third owner where utility rather than the latest look became the priority.  Our cruiser undoubtedly experienced a less pampered existence as the harsh realities of life now took center stage.  Fast-forward a decade or two and for most cruisers life has evolved from a world burdened with few concerns to one focused on day-to-day survival.  Routine maintenance and regular washing, let alone an occasional polishing, are a thing of the past.  Minor dings and emerging rust spots are ignored. The ethos becomes "keep running and deal with this new, harsher life -- or else".  Or else the junkyard or the car crusher may be just one breakdown away.

   Where do these classic beach cruisers come from?  Cruisers come from Illinois, Tennessee and Arizona. They come from Vermont, Missouri and Idaho, as well as California and Florida.  Some live their entire pre-cruiser existence without ever having ever inhaled a breath of salt air. What nearly all cruisers have in common, however, is the good fortune to have been spotted by someone (probably a young surfer) who cared little about looks.  The job description is simple. "Can this cruiser carry my board and myself faithfully to the beach everyday? Will it wait patiently in the warm sun without complaint and then faithfully carry us home again?  If the answer is yes, then another beach cruiser is born.

   Cruisers come in all shapes and sizes. There is of course the classic Woody station wagon. Seen much less frequently than in decades past, the Woody's heir-apparent has been the Volkswagen Bus.  In fact VW's of all styles as well as old Fords and old Chevies and practically every other make imaginable and found on the world's beaches.  Jeeps, pickup trucks and homemade campers are becoming increasingly popular.  The ability to access remote beaches as well as a vehicle that facilitates “staying over” at the beach is highly desirable. Certainly the latter is a factor in the popularity of the VW Bus.

   Some cruisers have had incredible life experiences that would make many of us feel our lives have been quite mundane.  We know of a Woody, for example, that carried a President and later toured with the Beach Boys.  We know of an old Chevy cruiser that once was Elvis' favorite getaway car and another that came within a hair’s breadth of becoming a movie star. Still another, whose owner worked at a recording studio, inspired a hit record.  But accomplishments and past life experiences don’t really matter very much on the world's beaches.

   What defines a cruiser?  The obvious things are a surfboard rack, a generous dose of rust, duct tape (and occasionally baling wire), tires and body parts that don't match, and of course lots of dings. But it is what lies beneath the cracked and faded paint that really matters. It is the character and wisdom that comes with age as well as appreciation for life that defines a beach cruiser. It's not about the past or good looks.  It's about a spirit and a special way of life that is focused on now. The past doesn't matter and the future lies no further ahead than the next breaking wave.

   We see character etched in the leathery face of an elderly person or in the facade of an old building.  That same character and wisdom are found in the rusted and wrinkled sheet metal of the beach cruiser, most of whom have lived longer and seen far more of life than their current owners. It's not about looks and status. The young and beautiful have their time and place. But to have survived and to be able to live one's Golden Years parked on the sands of a tropical sun-drenched beach is the ultimate reward. Leisurely passing time with fellow cruisers while your owner endlessly searches out that perfect wave is truly Paradise – the Paradise of being a beach cruiser.

(Copyright 1999-2008)
     

Matted Laser Art Print	Tropical Wood Framed Print