Style Matters: Episode 4
“Don’t try.” That’s written next to a pair of boxing gloves on controversial and misunderstood poet, writer and drunkard Charles Bukowski’s Palos Verdes grave stone.
I think a lot of people misunderstand what he meant by that. They look at the debaucherous writer’s track record and assume he means be a lazy piece of shit forever and give up, life’s a mess etc. That’s not exactly right.
Like most sentences Buk wrote, there’s a tender blue bird hiding in plain sight and in this case it’s something we as surfers can use to our advantage.
Trying implies you’re forcing something that’s not coming naturally. Whether you’re writing a sentence or carving on the face of a wave: if it’s forced, it’s going to look forced and that’s not going to look right.
As we wrap up the final installment of Vissla’s “Style Matters” series, we’re going to begin diving into all the submissions from you and the pros and everyone who’s contributed to find what our panel thinks is the most stylish wave ridden. Watch all four episodes and really start to think about what Gerr means when he says “Don’t try to throw spray” and when Buk says “Don’t try.” It’s the key to unlocking a whole new world of style and our surf culture needs a lot more of it.—Travis Ferré
