surf bum
Disdainful phrase when used by non-surfers to describe surfers; usually humorous, affectionate, or ironic when used by surfers to describe themselves. "I'm a surf bum," Kahuna (Cliff Robertson) says in the 1959 movie Gidget. "You know, ride the waves, eat, sleep, not a care in the world." In "How to be a Surf Bum!," a 1967 cartoon panel SurfToons magazine, hodads are advised to step into a pair of...
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"I'm a Surf Bum!" Gidget meets KahunaSubscribe to view
Accused surf bum Mark Foo, Backdoor, late '70sSubscribe to view
North Shore surf bum, 2006. Photo: Scott AichnerSubscribe to view
Surf bum vanSubscribe to view
Hungover surf bum Pat Curren, late '50sSubscribe to view
Surf bum in the tropics, 2014Subscribe to view
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/79d8e9f5bde6645731d5bbac80bd201407808139-960x540.jpg?w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
"I'm a Surf Bum!" Gidget meets Kahuna
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/1ee969047275b790e9a192d4bdca05a7385b4561-600x433.jpg?rect=0,76,600,338&w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
Accused surf bum Mark Foo, Backdoor, late '70s
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/b0a4c5ddab0c2487cafcf1c441a885b740c2ee40-700x411.jpg?rect=0,9,700,394&w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
North Shore surf bum, 2006. Photo: Scott Aichner
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/3f749ee9c8299c072acc350b02a0a5cbf85d92b0-900x506.jpg?w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
Surf bum van
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/43b69714cb5e286026d8bb7e0358354e4e6db5da-700x394.jpg?w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
Hungover surf bum Pat Curren, late '50s
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/1c7d0b068552bd5cc96e8a5dc5bc317ebc76c8f8-900x506.jpg?w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
Surf bum in the tropics, 2014