When St. Petersburg was announced as one of the four locations for the inaugural Hometown Hype series it may have caught some by surprise. After all, the Gulf Coast isn’t widely known as a surf hot spot or destination. The waves are ephemeral. To get good surf, the stars must align. But when it happens – and it does happen – those who know flock to the beach to find their favorite sandbar and get after it.
“On any given day, if you go out to our beaches, it’s flat as a lake,” said Dustin Howard, surfer and owner of local brand, Yaint Local. “But when it does happen, everything goes out the window.”
So gathering the tight-knit surf community for the world premiere of HOMETOWN HYPE: St. Petersburg was a special occasion. A night of meeting new, smiling faces. A night of toasting White Claws and connecting over a shared passion for the sea.
St. Petersburg came out to support the local scene and Director, Mo Lelii. The night was a testament to the city’s passion for surfing and kiting. Tickets were sold out – marking a fully sold out HOMETOWN HYPE East Coast tour. Hundreds of stoked locals packed into the historic Floridian Social Club to celebrate local athletes, creatives, and musicians.
Lelii’s film was a hit. The hoots, hollers, and ear-to-ear smiles on most everyone in the audience was a reminder of why we do this – why we love this sport and its culture. The glide sometimes only lasts a couple of seconds, but the personal connections and memories that surfing provides last a lifetime.
As the premiere came to a close, I watched old friends, new friends, colleagues, neighbors and family members embrace, celebrating each other and the evening. It felt like a high school reunion in the best possible way.
My trip to St. Petersburg was short, but the warm welcome of the people there made me feel like part of the community. I’ll be back. A lot of surfers may write off the Gulf Coast as a surf destination, but watch Lelii’s film. You won’t be one of them.
