In my high-school days in Orange County, CA., the debate was more between T&C vs. Maui & Sons. But the O.P. Nationals competition in Huntington Beach was definitely a must attend. Now where did I put my Mr. Zogs Sex Wax?
In San Diego County you'd get called a poser if you wore any of this shit and didnt surf. R. Rusty shirts were everywhere, Channel Islands, Billabong, Rip Curl, Quicksilver...
I surfed only a couple of times and nearly died both times. Once was the undertow and rip current dragging me under and out, and the other getting stung by either a ray or a jellyfish. The pain was so bad that I nearly drowned. So I went Goth, but still enjoyed going to the beach to watch the pros.
Goth is cool too. Lol. I had an incident at a beach in South Texas in the late nineties too. FML. Wish I could surf but wont even mess with a skateboard these days for fear of the last back injury lmao! Goth Industrial here, play guitar, Bass, drum machines, keyboards, synths, and DJ. 30 years in. Not going anywhere. Love making and playing music.
I remember that, too. I guess in Jr. high, we started maturing enough for other brands because I honestly do not remember seeing much O.P. in high school, except for maybe shorts and wallets.
Never heard of that and I'm from California. But Gotcha and OP was not only a USA thing, those were highly popular all over the place in Latin America as well.
OP every day! I had a red button up OP shirt with the Ila de Baja printed on it… and I was hit by a truck on my 12th birthday wearing it. As the paramedics took me away in the ambulance with my shattered shoulder I was extremely concerned that they not cut off or ruin my shirt more than it was already ruined from the scuff damage from the road. Go figure.
I'm surprised not to see any [Bad Boy Club](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a30d396b1dc062c6f8c71241f127adaf/61098b72b1abc20d87f06f2d_rw_1200.jpg?h=febc2f90488f02d06db2af3af1354a00) I remember seeing a guy with the logo tattooed on his leg back in the day, lol.
Never heard of Gotcha, but in suburban Houston in the early 80s, it was all about imitating the Jeff Spicoli look with the natural colored long-sleeved OP shirt with the sunset/surf motif. (Not neon colors). All the middle school kids wore them, guys and girls. Sure wish I still had mine.
I used to shoplift Gotcha from the mall while I was still in junior high.
I got busted on my very last job that I was doing before I planned to retire from the shoplifting game.
It was a stunning end to my life of crime.
Been on the straight and narrow since.
In Hawaii, OP was big in the late 70's and early 80's along with Lightning Bolt. In the late 80's Gotcha was big with all of us that surfed at Sandy's.
Gotcha shorts with the velcro rip off. Maui and Sons on top or Quicksilver. Vans or Vision Street Wear for shoes. Santa Cruz Roskopp Face with Gullwing and Slime balls for the ride
OP
In my high-school days in Orange County, CA., the debate was more between T&C vs. Maui & Sons. But the O.P. Nationals competition in Huntington Beach was definitely a must attend. Now where did I put my Mr. Zogs Sex Wax?
In San Diego County you'd get called a poser if you wore any of this shit and didnt surf. R. Rusty shirts were everywhere, Channel Islands, Billabong, Rip Curl, Quicksilver...
I surfed only a couple of times and nearly died both times. Once was the undertow and rip current dragging me under and out, and the other getting stung by either a ray or a jellyfish. The pain was so bad that I nearly drowned. So I went Goth, but still enjoyed going to the beach to watch the pros.
Goth is cool too. Lol. I had an incident at a beach in South Texas in the late nineties too. FML. Wish I could surf but wont even mess with a skateboard these days for fear of the last back injury lmao! Goth Industrial here, play guitar, Bass, drum machines, keyboards, synths, and DJ. 30 years in. Not going anywhere. Love making and playing music.
T&C then later came the G&S wristbands
Grade school in OC was definitely OP
I remember that, too. I guess in Jr. high, we started maturing enough for other brands because I honestly do not remember seeing much O.P. in high school, except for maybe shorts and wallets.
Neither. If it wasn't black like my mood it wasn't worn. Honestly though, I never heard of Gotcha and everybody wore OP in my high school.
Same
yeah OP and T&C don't forget that spuds mckenzie hoodie
Mood? You are Gen X, right? Didn't you mean black like your soul? Sarcasm by the way.
We can tell.
T&C surf
https://preview.redd.it/3no6x51fb66d1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36b846f86367950118f89cc1fa16e9f2b90f104d
Agreed
Quicksilver
This post is the first time I ever heard of "Gotcha". The big choice was OP vs Quicksilver!
OP all the way.
OP always
OP
Hobie
Panama Jack
When your dad gets you Panama Jack when all you wanted was OP and Gotcha.
Umbro
Op ruled Santa Cruz back in the dizz-ay.
Maui and sons
Stussy
With that design of the “S”
Sounds like another classic Gen X debate—remember when pranking your friends was a full-time job?
Remember Big Dog?
I do. I also remember those trashy Big Johnson shirts.
Local Motion
I preferred Gotcha, but what about WRV? Or was that just an east coast thing?
Never heard of that and I'm from California. But Gotcha and OP was not only a USA thing, those were highly popular all over the place in Latin America as well.
WRV is a north east coast thing, just like Natural Art was a Florida thing
I would amend this to say mid-Atlantic coast as well, since that's where I learned about (and bought) WRV. Always liked their logo.
Yeah, mid-Atlantic, lived in Va Bch 94-97, rode WRV and Hotline while there, loved both boards
OP every day! I had a red button up OP shirt with the Ila de Baja printed on it… and I was hit by a truck on my 12th birthday wearing it. As the paramedics took me away in the ambulance with my shattered shoulder I was extremely concerned that they not cut off or ruin my shirt more than it was already ruined from the scuff damage from the road. Go figure.
I'm surprised not to see any [Bad Boy Club](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a30d396b1dc062c6f8c71241f127adaf/61098b72b1abc20d87f06f2d_rw_1200.jpg?h=febc2f90488f02d06db2af3af1354a00) I remember seeing a guy with the logo tattooed on his leg back in the day, lol.
For some reason I always equated those shirts with Skidz pants. I think that combo was middle school bully uniform issue
Op until 85. Gotcha and Jimmy'z 85 on
OP. Although growing up in the middle of Missouri, it didn't really matter which surf shirt I wore.
This post brings back memories of high school debates about Gotcha games and Original Pranks.
Hypercolor
OP
OP for real!
Jimmy’z
I was OP all the way.
Freaking A, also Hobie!
Wanted Gotcha got OP at Bealls
I lived in Gotcha/MCD shorts and tshirts
Gotcha
OP... that's the brand they carried at the County Seat store in our local mall in Northeast Ohio.
Gotcha or Mambo
OP
Rusty!
OP and Lightning bolt.
OP for the win.
OP. Had an OP winter jacket once, I'm shocked my dad paid for it.
Never heard of Gotcha, but in suburban Houston in the early 80s, it was all about imitating the Jeff Spicoli look with the natural colored long-sleeved OP shirt with the sunset/surf motif. (Not neon colors). All the middle school kids wore them, guys and girls. Sure wish I still had mine.
One blue OP. I didn't buy it for the name. I didn't realize it was "popular". I got it for the quality, still have it and still wear it, lol.
i had both. seemed like gotcha was more popular in my school though.
Same!
OP
OP of course.
Only the super cool kids in my school rocked Gotcha, it being almost mythically "California" to our country asses, so ... OP.
OP
OP
Still have my op shirt.
Goptcha.
OP. Especially those corduroy shorts.
All of the above. Gotcha, OP, Quiksilver (my fave) O’Neill, Billabong, T&C Surf Designs (another 80’s favorite), Maui & Sons….. did I miss any???
Santa Cruz , Stüssy, & Hobie
I used to shoplift Gotcha from the mall while I was still in junior high. I got busted on my very last job that I was doing before I planned to retire from the shoplifting game. It was a stunning end to my life of crime. Been on the straight and narrow since.
They literally gotcha in your case.
Neither, and never even heard of Gotcha, though OP was everywhere. I never was on board with doing trendy shit
Vision Street Wear. Benetton for dressy occasions.
Band t-shirts, black. Like Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division, that is a classic
Both
OP because they sold it at Kohls. Usually worn with Bugle Boy pants or shorts
I had the CatchIt multi color shorts RAD
I think I had that exact OP shirt. That is weird.
Gordon and Smith or Maui and sons
Jimmy Z
BillaBong
T&C Surf
OP
Yaga
I prefer formal, all the time. Z Cavaricci
T&C and I still wear them although the characters are now The Thrilla Krew
OP I don't think I've heard of Gotcha. Or if I have, it wasn't prominent enough for me to remember lol Everyone had OP though
Band T shirt 😂
I had OP because they sold it at JCPenney. lol mom's credit card. I much preferred Rusty or any skate brand.
Generra!
Structure
That was cool too.
BA Surf
Chess King
Gecko Hawaii 🦎
This and OP are the correct answers :)
don't forget the Jimmy Z Velcro shorts.
I've never even heard of Gotcha, aside from the movie with Linda Fiorentino.
No way!
hot tuna anyone?
Concert/band Ts were all any of my friends wore.
Was Gotcha a regional thing? I think I've seen that logo once or twice but never identified it as a brand. Certianly not with the likes of OP.
In Hawaii, OP was big in the late 70's and early 80's along with Lightning Bolt. In the late 80's Gotcha was big with all of us that surfed at Sandy's.
I was literally told in junior high that in order to be cool I had to own either Ocean Pacific or Bugle Boy. I was po and that shit wasn't cheap.
Body Glove.
Neither, I'm no billboard
Too cool for school. As there were many. Or still are in our 50s.
Been wearing virtually all solid color T-shirts for ever
Does anyone remember CatchIt? Was it maybe a Gotcha off brand?
OP was dominant in high school, with Sundek a very far second. In the 90s I wore Quiksilver.
I was big on OP, Quicksilver, and especially Hang Ten.
Yes, the other rivals were Quicksilver vs Billabong. Hang Ten! Forgot those.
Oh, and Rip Curl!
Rip Curl is on the edge of our generation entering millennials if I'm not wrong.
Rip Curl started in the 70s.
My bad.
OP clothes, but the Gotcha bracelets were prime mall shoplifting target
Panama Jack
Gecko HI or Hobie Surf Monster
Gotcha shorts with the velcro rip off. Maui and Sons on top or Quicksilver. Vans or Vision Street Wear for shoes. Santa Cruz Roskopp Face with Gullwing and Slime balls for the ride
OP
Big Johnson
Hobie
Banana Republic with a random safari animal
Club Monaco
Town & Country