LOCAL ONLY White

Story

There are many legends in the world of surfing, going all the way back to its origins. From there comes a way of life deeply tied to the idea of freedom — but also to a set of “unwritten rules.”

The concept of being a Local is broad, but it definitely has some unshakable pillars. To explain what a Local means in the surfing world, we could give an example — even though these few lines will barely scratch the surface of a lifestyle built on its own moral code.

Imagine grabbing your board and heading out to a remote spot, following some vague tip about amazing waves in a little-known stretch of ocean. At that point, two things really matter:

First — are you arriving there as a stranger, or were you brought by a Local (a surfer who’s from that area and part of the community)?

Well, if you show up on your own and the Locals don’t accept you, your best move is to leave. It might not end well. Their fear — and it’s often justified — is that with tourists comes the crowd, the disrespect, the trash, the big brands, the uncontrolled chaos that pollutes not only the environment but the soul of that hidden paradise. And by pollution, we don’t just mean plastic — we mean all the ways humans ruin what they touch.

Second — if you’re invited there by a Local, it’s a whole different story. In that case, respect is key. Respect the Locals already in the water — they’ve got priority on the good waves. You’ve got to know when it’s your turn. No arrogance, no entitlement. You’re there to share a passion, not to dominate.

And if your friend from the area brought you along, it means he’s sure you already understand the three golden rules — though he’ll probably remind you anyway:

“You can surf with us as long as you take no photos, drop no names, and tell no stories.”

This mindset — like it or not — is very Johnny Rapina.
So it became one of our T-shirts:

LOCAL ONLY – NO PHOTOS, NO NAMES, NO STORIES.