Mick Lunasea - History of Second Life Surfing at Surf Camp Week

Submitted by special contributor, Wolf Torii

SL (Second Life) surfing legend and self-proclaimed Surf Bum, Mick Lunasea sits on the edge of a yellow garbage can at the SLSA (Second Life Surfing Association) surf camp to talk about the history of surfing in SL. Next to him was his RL (real life) photo and a photo imbedded within it, presumably of him surfing in FL back in 1975.

“He is certainly still involved with SL surfing,” Said Solsty Kismet, current SLSA Director and oe of the organizers of Surf Camp.  “Mick never misses a competition.”

Mick appears to have no pretense about him. His hat shading the gray beard of his avatar models his RL age. He didn’t appear to have a script, and his presentation was like listening to your favorite uncle on the front porch, reminiscing about the good ole days.  Several people sat around him in the sand; a good mix of new surfers as well as the SL seasoned experts.

He began with a reference to Surfwatch Vol 1. Issue 1 and talked of SL surfing in 2007, explaining that all that we have in surfing now, came from the competition of those times. The race to build the best board, the best wave. Politically, how to work with your competitors for the sake of SL surfing yet fighting to stay solvent. Back then it cost $300 US to buy a wave.  There was also the issue of SL being unpredictable, “I’d lose a surfboard a day at least. SL was unstable, all created items could disappear in SL black holes. Especially vehicles. Surfboards are vehicles and tend to go off world more than anything, due to the fact that we try out of this world maneuvers riding them," Lunasea explained. 

He said all the boards sold back then were no copy, “If they failed or got lost it was your problem.”

Mick was also involved in helping to shape surfing in SL as we know it. “Action and SSi battled it out. Action and RJ were on friendly terms meeting occasionally. I eventually brokered a deal getting RJ and SSi to meet and work out a line of RJ sculpted decks powered by SSi script. RJ discontinued his own scripted waves and boards”, he said.

He also talked about many others who were involved in the beginning and shaping the sport. Most only by their first name, “VW (Sands), Flynn (Sheridan), Thor (Bishop), and Sierra (Sugar) were tight with Heather (Goodliffe) and Sebastian (Saramago). Misfits Surf Shop featured SSI. Rob (Robin Mapp) and Thor were best friends. Thor is responsible for introducing the shortboard in SL. SSi powered, of course. Thor was the first person I knew in SL who died. I missed the paddle out. Thor set precedent of a non-contest winner getting into the SLSA HOF.”

Surfwatch asked Lunasea if he thinks surfing was more popular 8 years ago. “It seems some years ago surfing was the ‘hot’ thing in SL [But there were] 70K residents in-world in winter and 50K in the summer. Today 40K? I think the number of surfers is the same really, we just don’t notice.”

Wolf Torii: So, would it be safe to say that percentage wise by population, it’s still as popular as it ever was with SL residents?
Mick Lunasea: Yes, and there were less surf sims back then.  0 to 20 max. (There are over 70 beaches now.)

Wolf Torii: Mick, in your opinion, what can we do as regular surfers to help support and sustain the sport in SL?
Mick Lunasea: Pay 10L to every surf sim you use (or 5 or 1L).

Wolf Torii: Well, Mick, I for one am thankful for you and the other surf pioneers who brought the sport to SL for all of us to enjoy. Thanks for sharing.
Mick Lunasea: I did nothing.  From day 1, I was a surf bum.  I do know it’s been a wonderful ride. I love the surf community - the good bad and ugly.

There you have it. Mick Lunasea, he takes no credit for his involvement. But I for one, know a legend when I see one.

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