WITH NEAR PERFECT WEATHER, THE BEACH WAS MORE THAN SAND. IT WAS A HEDONISTIC DESTINATION AND THE ENVY OF A NATION WHOSE IDENTITY WAS UNDERGOING CATACLYSMIC CHANGE.

FEW UNDERSTOOD BEACH CULTURE NOR CARED TO. NAYSAYERS DUBBED THE BEACH THE “GRAVEYARD OF AMBITION.” THEN AGAIN, MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS WASN’T WHAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN WERE ABOUT. IT WASN’T A MATTER OF REFUSING TO GROW UP. IT WAS A MATTER OF LIVING LIFE ON YOUR OWN TERMS. F!@# CONVENTION…

BEACH VOLLEYBALL AND ITS DISTINCTIVE CALIFORNIA CULTURE REPRESENTED AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE LIKE NO OTHER, A FUSE THAT, IF LIT AT ANOTHER TIME, PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE BLOWN UP AS IT HAD.

AND IT’S THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LIGHTING THAT FUSE…

(Photos courtesy of Kevin Goff - www.kevincgoff.com)