A History Of Surf Gangs, According To Complex

Surf gangs! They’re the most savage, hard carving, gun riding, barn burning, car waxing breed of social menace! They make MS-13, the Bloods, Crips, La Eme and the Yakuza look like child’s play… and don’t even get me started on the one percenters. “Locals only bra,” — does it get more intimidating than that? The Bay Boys will throw rocks at drones and hassle you at Lunada. Ever heard a Wolfpak whistle? It’s surely more startling than a drive-by shooting down Death Alley in Los Angeles…

Complex Mag’s just done a brief history of surf gangs in response to TNT’s newest show: Animal Kingdom. They say it’s kind of like the Sons of Anarchy of surf. Watch the trailer above; it’s filmed at San Onofre and the tensions are high. “Junk ass rookies like you should go find a beginners break bitch, move on!” If there’s one Orange County break under direct threat of malicious surfers, it’s the marijuana fragranced, van life driven car park of San-O: bongs, hair, single fins, volleyball and eggy vibes! But all sarcasm aside, indulge in this brief history of surf gangs; everyone from La Jolla’s affluent Bird Rock Bandits – who in 2007 – beat pro surfer Emery Kauanui to death in front of his mother’s house, to Da Hui, The Wolfpak and The Lunada Bay Boys’ run-ins with the law are included.

Being labeled a gang however, is quite easy. According to the New York Times, “The California penal code defines a gang as a group of three or more people with a common name, an identifying symbol and a primary activity of committing crime.”

“Surf gangs might be intimidating,” states the article in Complex. “But don’t let this information keep you from heading out into the waves. Compared with the very real risks of drowning and spinal injuries, surf gangs are harmless. Even sharks—a statistic often compared to being struck by lightning or winning the lottery—are infinitely more threatening than your fellow humans. In the ocean, the real danger always comes from nature. That said, you should still probably think twice before cutting off a local.” Back off Warchild!

Read the whole story here.