Mountain Man's Global News Archive The Magic Coat Another alt.surfing Article by Foondoggy
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia - Southern Summer 1997

Date: Sat, 22 Feb 1997 11:11:04 -0600
From: Foondoggy
Organization: Deja News Usenet Posting Service
Newsgroups: alt.surfing
Subject: The Magic Coat
It hangs from a nail in my basement surf shrine and its been many years since I wore it anywhere. The cuffs are frayed, one pocket is shredded, and the brass-looking metal buttons that once bore the Levi Straus emblem are mostly worn smooth.

In the summer of 1965 I bought it for $12 at an Army Surplus store in Newark, New Jersey. I needed a coat to wear on surf trips and the three-quarter length, dark blue denim carpenter's coat seemed to fill that need. Little did I know then it would become a constant companion and protector for the next 20 years. Next to my surfboard, it became the most important accessory I would take on nearly every surfari.

The lining was an ugly gray and red flannel fabric that looked, felt and some would say smelled like and old horse blanket. During many cold nights camping or sleeping under overpasses during rainstorms it was the only thing which kept me warm and prevented me from leaving, possibly to miss some great dawn patrol conditions.

If it could tell you all the places its seen it would include hundreds of beaches on the Right Coast like Cape Cod, Pt.Judith, Block Island, Montauk Point, virtually every South facing beach on Long Island, many in New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia, most of the Carolinas and several in Florida. On the Left Coast it would recall popular spots in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara including epic sessions, at Sunset Cliffs, Blacks, Trestles, Huntington Beach, Malibu, Rincon and (shhhh) Hollister Ranch. Unfortunately the coat never went to Hawaii. The coat had in fact become like a second skin on surfing trips and I wore it at times when it wasn't even needed. Some of the best sessions I've ever had were after wearing that coat. It became sort of my surfing charm.

Yesterday while working in the basement I came upon it, still hanging on the wall. Many years of wear in all kinds of conditions have left it faded and soiled. The blue corduroy collar is discolored and threadbare. I remembered how I used to turn it up to protect my neck from cold wind and rain. The shredded pocket is a result of the thousands of times I put my car keys in it. The other pocket was used to store many things, and I'm not sure I want to put my hand in it for fear of what I'll find.

The coat has absorbed and been stained with all kinds of fluids; saltwater, rainwater, resin, coffee, ink, wax, beer, acetone, gasoline, blood (don't ask), bourbon, soda, tequila, orange juice, snot, motor oil, cooking oil, and hash oil (don't tell). I fear if it ever got near to an open flame, it would explode. To my knowledge it's never been cleaned except by the endless soakings in the ocean it received as a result of various pranks by my friends.

I took the old coat down from its nail and slowly slipped it on. When I weighed 180 lbs it was huge and could easily cover a couple shirts or sweaters. Now, it fits a bit tighter, but there is still ample room for an old sweatshirt. As I buttoned it up, I was immediately transported to a universe of fond memories. The mind is a wonderful vehicle and memories are the engine which power your ability to go anywhere you want to. I spent a long time thinking of all the good times and great trips I shared wearing that coat. The memories flooded me with good feelings and I smiled at the thoughts of wonderful waves and exciting experiences.

As I finally removed the coat I was certain I would never get rid of it. It had become a touchstone of my experience as a surfer and I could never give up the thoughts and stoke it represented. It is the one garment I've owned that has been with me throughout the entire time.

Mrs.Foon hates the coat, not for what it represents, but because it looks so damn crummy. But like an old mutt of a dog, I can't help but love it. In these days of hightech sportswear the coat looks like a dinosaur, a relic, something a homeless person would gladly trade in for a warm down coat or windbreaker. To me it is a diary, one only I can read.

I suggest, if you ever become attached to something; a shirt, hat, or coat which accompanies you on your surfing adventures, keep it, preserve it and cherish it. Some day when you're older, and you slip it on, your memories will take you to your favorite breaks for your favorite sessions.

It's magic!

"Nostalgia isn't what it used to be." - Simone Signoret

Foondoggy

Mountain Man's Global News Archive The Magic Coat Another alt.surfing Article by Foondoggy
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia - Southern Summer 1997