
Surf's Up on Route 66
BY ANDREW PASQUELLA

Luckily, stretches of Route 66 have earned governmental preservation status and an ever-lasting place within pop-culture. From songs, like the aptly titled "Route 66" by Bobby Troup, telling us where to get our kicks, and a television series named (you guessed it) Route 66, to being featured in the hugely popular Pixar film Cars, it's safe to say this stretch of beloved American road won't be fading into the sunset any time soon.

Don't forget your board! This is the perfect opportunity to use Front Runner's new Vertical Surfboard Carrier. It mounts your board on the side of the Slimline II Rack, which leaves the top of the rack clear. Rack space is gold on this trip and now you'll be able to fit another key piece of gear, your Roof Top Tent.

So how do you get the bragging rights of "Surfing 66"? By getting creative and shredding that gnar! Santa Monica offers world-class surfing. Find lifeguard tower 28 and hop in. Normally you wouldn't bring your board to Arizona, but this is not your average surf trip. You'll pass through Tempe, where you can make a run into "Big Surf," the first wave pool in the United States. It's historic, dude.
When you pull into New Mexico, take a dip down to White Sands National Monument. These dunes are actually white from the crystal silica and they are totally surfable. We don't have an official Front Runner sand sled (yet), so pop the fins off your board for instant fun.
The Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas has ten Cadillacs buried half way nose- down. Does anyone have old Defenders to donate to our backyard? Swing by the Big Texan Motel where there's a pool in the shape of the big state. Throw your board in the pool, run, jump, surf, repeat. You've literally surfed across Texas.

Kansas has the shortest piece of Route 66, a mere 14 miles. Lucky for us Kansas City shares a state line with Missouri, so you can surf two states at one time in the Flow Rider surf simulator at The Bay Water Park. These simulators can be surprisingly challenging. If you face-plant on the foam, you'll know what we mean.
And finally, you've made it to Illinois. Chicago sits on the edge of Lake Michigan that, depending on the wind, can kick up some absolutely surfable waves. Check out the break at Montrose and 57th Street. We even hear there are good waves in winter; wetsuits required.
You've done it! Think of this surf trip as a great way to get a primer of what lies within the USA and you'll have the social media to prove it. You'll see places and sights so beautiful you won't want to leave. You'll get that familiar feeling, that sense of awe from the peace and connectedness that only hitting the road and exploring the world on your own terms can provide. Forge on. You can always go back for another adventure. We're ready. Are you?