But silver lining?
Climate change is, apparently, here to stay and really throwing wrenches into the works, or spanners, depending on whether your climate speaks the Queen’s English or in American vernacular. While violent wave-causing storms are said to be on the increase, iconic surf breaks will also be threatened due sea level rise and Surfrider Foundation just released a troubling list of the ten most vulnerable in the United States or United States-ish.
In order from worst to bad:
HAWAIʻI—THE NORTH SHORE, OʻAHU
CALIFORNIA—SURFERS POINT
CALIFORNIA—TRESTLES
FLORIDA—COCOA BEACH
NORTH CAROLINA—CAROLINA BEACH
PUERTO RICO—TRES PALMAS
NEW YORK—THE ROCKAWAYS
TEXAS—CORPUS CHRISTI
MAINE–HIGGINS BEACH
WASHINGTON–WESTPORT
As it happens, the world’s greatest surfer Kelly Slater makes his home in three of the top four (North Shore, San Clemente and Cocoa Beach) though has released a luxury watch with Swiss manufacturer Breitling that may help stem the tide, as it were, or at least take some plastics out of the hurting oceans and transforming them into sleek bands.
Every thorn has its rose, though, and forward-thinking surfers may be thinking about which breaks might benefit from a little extra water. I’d like to think my childhood hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon might benefit. There was a cove, there, that had a nice setup with shallow rock reef tapering impressively from point to sand. It was often too shallow but maybe in a decade could host the World Surf League’s championship day.
There is currently an oceanfront home on the market for $599,000.
A new next gen Volcom House all your own?
Fortune favors the bold.