They're Gay, They Surf, Get Used to It
It’s one of those stories that just make sense when you know Rick Klotz.
Klotz, founder of the streetwear brand Fresh Jive and edgy beach/surf brand Warriors of Radness, enjoys pushing all sorts of envelopes. A lifelong surfer, he rebelled against what he perceived to be the insular, often conservative and corporate mentality of the surf industry by launching a handful of in-your-face street and beach lifestyle brands. Now, he and friends, including Malibu-based pro longboarder Chad Marshall, are launching the Gay and Lesbian Surf Association.
“It started as a joke, really,” Klotz said. “So many other sports have gay associations, but not surfing. We made these great stickers and came up with a slogan – ’Come on out… the water’s fine.’” In particular, Klotz enjoys the wordplay that surf’s lingo affords the GLSA. “I mean, ’wax’? There’s so much you can do with just that one word,” he said. We’ll let your imagination do the work and assure you he’s got some real gems all lined up.
But the idea caught on with Klotz’s gay and straight friends, surfers or not, and the joke is now becoming a reality. Klotz has registered the web address for the GLSA and is in the process of recruiting members. For Spring/Summer 2010 Klotz has put the GLSA logo with its rainbow-colored wave on boardshorts, T-shirts and hoodies in his Warriors line. You can check out the association’s MySpace page, where the comments range from supportive to sardonic.
