Surf News & Updates

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The Eddie Lights Up Waimea Bay: A Day for the Ages at the Big Wave Invitational

Finding Solace in the Swell: The Story of Kai Manoa

The Silent Revolution: How Foiling is Rewriting the Surfing Playbook

The Secret Life of Foam: How Board Building is Changing the Lineup

The Billabong Pipe Masters: North Shore Showdown Heats Up the Winter Calendar

How One Man’s Wave of Kindness Changed a Village

The Comeback of John John Florence: Redefining Flow at Pipe

The Fight to Save a Perfect Left: Offshore Drilling and the Soul of a Wave

The Soul of Shaping: Behind the Glass with the Industry’s Unsung Heroes

Reading Buoy Data Like a Local: The Art of the Swell Angle

The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational 2024: Waiting for the Perfect Swell

The Art of the Long Period Swell: Chasing Quality over Quantity

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Surf News & Updates

Talk to a good shaper or shop guru, for real. Be honest about your ability and the waves you usually surf. As you progress, you often need less volume, not more. Focus on a board that suits your local breaks—don’t get a good-wave board if you surf mushburgers most days. Refine your quiver slowly; your next board should address a specific limitation in your current one, like needing more hold on the face or better performance in weak waves.

Respect is key, bro. Start by gradually surfing in slightly bigger conditions than you’re used to, and always go with a trusted crew. Make sure your equipment is right—a bit more volume helps with paddle power. Focus on your breathing to stay calm in the impact zone. Knowledge is power, so understand wave patterns and currents. And honestly, sometimes it’s about just getting pounded a few times to realize you can handle it. Your confidence will grow with every duck dive.

It starts before you even paddle out. Study the lineup from the beach, watch where sets are breaking and where the crowd is bunched. Position yourself smartly, not just where everyone else is. Work on your pop-up speed and paddle fitness; stronger paddling means you get to more waves. Don’t be afraid to sit a little wide or on the peak’s shoulder. Most importantly, commit fully when you go—hesitation is the number-one wave killer.

Surf News & Updates

Embrace the surf-adjacent life, amigo! Use the time to work on your mobility and surf-specific fitness—yoga, swimming, or skateboarding. Devour surf films and books to soak up the culture. Tinker with your gear: clean your boards, re-wax, maybe try a new fin setup. Connect with your crew for a beach clean-up or a BBQ. This down time builds anticipation and keeps you connected to the stoke, so you’re fully charged when the next swell hits.

For your first surfari, you want user-friendly waves and a chill scene. Bali’s Kuta Beach offers gentle rollers and tons of surf camps to get you started. In Costa Rica, Tamarindo serves up consistent beach breaks with warm water and a super laid-back pura vida attitude. If you’re in the States, Waikiki is legendary for its long, forgiving waves perfect for learning on a longboard. These spots have forgiving whitewater, plenty of board rentals, and a community that stokes out beginners—just what you need to catch that stoke without getting in over your head.

Chase the obscure, not the famous spots. That means dawn patrol before the crowd rolls in, or surfing in less-than-ideal conditions that others might skip. Explore different tides at your local break. For travel, look beyond the top-tier destinations—sometimes the wave two beaches over is just as fun and empty. A willingness to walk a bit further or surf when it’s a bit smaller or bigger than the “perfect” forecast pays off in spades with empty lineups.