Feb 12

Feb 12 The Pride of Oceanside: Caity Simmers

We knew it would be a great match. Pairing our favorite filmmaker with our favorite surfer in the core surf town of Oceanside, California. Michael Cukr and Caity Simmers were destined to make this video and we’re pretty psyched it finally happened.

The day I drove down to see them they were in the Prince Park parking lot eating sandwiches and watching Milton Martinez, the reigning Thrasher Magazine Skater of the Year skate laps around the park chasing his dog through the bowl, so I knew it was just another day in Oceanside. North jetty surf by morning and Prince Park skate for lunch. Urban weirdo watching in between. Oceanside formula.

Oceanside is probably the last bastion of the blue collar in coastal Southern California and even it’s on the way to unaffordability and falling victim to refinement culture. Take a look at how many craft breweries and hot yoga studios are popping up per square mile and you’ll see what we mean. But it’s always maintained a little rougher and a little weirder reputation than its coastal San Diego siblings. Hopefully that comes through when you see Caity do her now infamous post-heat interviews. Quirky, offbeat and sarcastic but humble and appreciative at the same time. Oceanside style.

Tomorrow is going to be finals day at the Lexus Pipe Pro and before Caity Simmers we were probably just gonna watch, but now we have reason to cheer.—Travis Ferré

UPDATE Monday 2/12/24: Caity went out and put on a historic performance for Women’s surfing at the Pipe Pro, winning in dramatic fashion against sure-to-be long-time sparring partners Molly Picklum from Australia and Hawaii’s Bettylou Sakura Johnson. A lot for surfing to be hyped about. And did we ever cheer.—Travis