All Articles

Riding the Wave of Resilience: Bethany Hamilton’s Return to Competition

The Waxed-Up Truth About Reef-Safe Sunscreen for Surfers

The Clashing Sets: How the Surfing Life Can Find Harmony with Sustainability

The Art of Reading the Peak: Why Your Wave Selection Matters More Than Your Paddle Power

Duke Kahanamoku: The Ambassador of Aloha Who Carried Surfing Across Oceans

The Eternal Point: Rincon and the Soul of California Surfing

The Foam Revolution: How Polyurethane Changed Surfing Forever

Foiled for Flow: The Secret Language of Your Custom Surfboard’s Rails

The Single Fin: The Unsung Anchor of the Shortboard Revolution

Riding the Desert Pulse: The Lone Wolf Spirit of Los Cerritos, Baja

The Sacred Trees of Ancient Surfing: Koa, Wiliwili, and the First Logs

The Subtle Art of the Bottom Turn

Live Surf Cams

Surfline Live is a 24/7 glimpse into the world’s surf.

This stream moves through Surfline’s global camera network, showing spots where it’s daylight and rated Fair or better.

What’s The Deal With…?

Surf History & Legends

Totally true and utterly epic. In 1925, a fishing vessel capsized in huge surf off Newport Beach, California. Duke grabbed his trusty surfboard and made multiple trips through the massive breakers, single-handedly rescuing eight people. He used pure paddle power and wave knowledge that nobody else had. This legendary event is one of the main reasons lifeguards worldwide now use rescue boards. It perfectly showed how the surfboard isn’t just for fun—it’s a powerful tool for ocean heroism.

Your quiver tells a story. For small or mushy waves, go for volume—a funboard or fish to help you glide. Your daily driver, a performance shortboard, works for most chest-high to head-high conditions. When it gets overhead and hollow, you need a step-up: narrower and longer with pulled-in rails for control. For real juice, a gun gets you in early. And always have a log for those small-day noseriding soul sessions. Demo boards when you travel to feel what works.

A kook is a beginner who, often unknowingly, breaks surf etiquette and looks awkward in the water. A ripper is a skilled surfer who makes advanced maneuvers look easy, respects the lineup, and truly understands the ocean. It’s not just about skill level; it’s about attitude and respect. Everyone starts as a kook, but the goal is to progress towards being a competent, respectful surfer—whether you ever become a full-blown ripper or not.

Surf Technique Deep Dive

It’s a feeling you learn, but start by watching the horizon line. As the wave approaches, the horizon gets “blocked” by the crest. Start paddling before you think you need to. Feel the board get steep and light as the wave picks you up. The magic moment is that split-second of weightlessness before the drop. Too early and you’ll miss it; too late and you’ll go over the falls. It’s about matching the wave’s speed with committed, powerful strokes. Trust your gut—when in doubt, paddle harder and go!

These groups are the guardians of the lineup. They fight against pollution by testing water quality and rallying against offshore drilling. They protect coastal access and fight poor development that ruins waves. Through advocacy, beach clean-ups, and legal action, they keep our spots healthy and accessible. By backing them, you’re helping defend the integrity of coastlines worldwide, ensuring future generations can still score uncrowded, pristine waves.

Surf camps can be a rad value, especially for beginners or solo travelers. The price usually bundles lodging, meals, coaching, and sometimes transport—simplifying everything. For the independent surfer, they might feel pricey. Do the math: compare the camp cost to arranging everything yourself. Off-season or last-minute deals can make camps a steal. They’re awesome for instant community and local knowledge, which is priceless.