Slipper Character Analysis

Slipper is an older boy whom Bruce and Loonie meet in the waves on one of their early attempts at surfing. He has a red afro hairstyle, and he aggressively peer-pressures Bruce and Loonie into surfing a big wave beyond their experience level up to that point. The boys succumb to his taunts and thereby feel initiated into real surfing, earning the grudging respect of Slipper and the other older boys at the beach. Slipper is an ambiguous presence, since his crass peer pressure seems obviously cruel and puts the boys in danger, yet their taking the bait helps grow their confidence enormously and sets them on a path to quickly surpass Slipper in surfing. Many years later, Slipper is one of the few people from the old days whom Bruce still sees when he revisits home—he’s gone bald and spends time paddling around in the wake.