I Thought Surfers Were a Stereotype. Then I Became One.

In this episode of Tom Across America, I travel from the Midwest to Southern California to investigate surf culture. With help from locals, board shapers, surf shops, and a few humbling wipeouts, I try to understand what makes surfing such a powerful part of California’s identity. Is it just a fun hobby… or does life next to the ocean actually change the way people see the world? Watch as I become the thing I thought I understood: a surfer.