Sugar-Booger

Remember Sugar-Booger stuff?

Like wallpaper, he was always there.

State Beach was not my hang, but I did some time at lighthouse. Plus, the State guys, although fixtures there, seemed to get around.   Marty is more social than some. He'd appear in Oxnard or Malibu or Diego when it was least likely, most unexpected.

His style was then, as it probably is now, conservatively outrageous.  By that I mean, he would often make highly provocative observations, but serve them up as a behind-the- hand comment.  Or he'd leave you, drifting away with that special, almost mincing walk, that Miki had passed on.  (Everyone was affected by Miki-all of us from POP to Malibu. He cast a long shadow.)  Or he'd go out and rip but in a tightly casual, anti-flamboyant way. THAT was a standout feature of his surfing.

I know guys, ex lifeguards from Zuma, who tell stories of Santa Ana days that he was ruling the place, completely alone. 

And his book: H2O? If that wasn't conservative and outrageous at the same time, nothing ever will be.

"Why Jews don't surf." Yeah, like you'd find THAT article in ANY other magazine, ever.

Marty didn't seem to fear the backlash. Maybe 'cause he was a club member, I don't know. But I admire that about him.

He knew that magazines weren't reality, simply amusement. And very occasionally, they could be educational.

Best to you from OZ Marty.

You sounded quite good when I rang and I'm hopeful that your peers from State will come out from under their collective rocks and tell their

Sugarman stories. 

It's been quite a while since we've all had a good read.

Cheers,

Mike Perry/

Australia