Surfer dudes test the Tel Aviv waves
The Gudauskas brothers declare TA, Hilton Beach 'as close to a fantasy land as you could think of'
“Tel Aviv is one of the ‘sickest’ places in the world,” declared surfer brothers Tanner, Patrick and Dane Gudauskas, about five minutes into “Down Days Israel,” a TV series sponsored by Vans — a shoe and apparel company popular among the surfer set — that takes the siblings to explore exotic surfing spots worldwide.
The 29-minute episode follows the tall, rangy, bleached blonde G-Bros, as they’re often called, to the surf and turf of Tel Aviv, then into the religious intensity of Jerusalem, the politics of the West Bank and back to Jaffa for some more wave time.
The San Clemente, California siblings — younger brother Tanner and twins Dane and Patrick — grew up in the heart of Southern California surf culture and are all surfing pros.
In the episode, they’re duly impressed by Tel Aviv’s surfing culture, calling it the “Middle Eastern version of South Beach,” and by the wind-generated surf at Hilton Beach, a favored Tel Aviv spot.
“Tel Aviv is as close to a fantasy land as you could dream of,” they commented, “and there’s a rad local crew in Tel Aviv.”
They also have a good handle on the local scene, having assembled the appropriate tools for time at the beach: A so-called “smash paddle,” their term for matkot, the local version of paddle ball; sunscreen, sunflower seeds, pita and hummus and arak, the anise-flavored liquor that works so well in summer drinks.
And the Israeli women? “A+,” said the G-Bros.