All Articles

The Menace Beneath: Why Mavericks’ Reef Makes It the World’s Most Dangerous Wave

The Art of the Board Bag: A Traveler’s Guide to Getting Your Quiver to the Waves

The Trade-Wind Pulse of Sumba’s Remote Lefts

The Soul of the Shaped Foam: Why Your Custom Board Is a Piece of Your Lineage

Flow State and the Soul of the Ripper

The Endless Summer: The Documentary That Chased the Sun and Redefined a Lifestyle

Finding Your Own Rhythm: The Stoke of the Solo Surf Safari

The Quiver Conundrum and the Lost Art of the Carry-On

The Soul of Supertubes: Navigating Localism at Jeffreys Bay

Thick, Hollow, and Critical: The Holy Trinity of a Gnarly Wave

C-Street: The Soul of California’s Quiet Point

The Superbank: Where the Gold Coast’s Perfect Wave Was Born

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…?

Surfboard Evolution

It’s all about the vibe you want. Traditional polyurethane foam and fiberglass with polyester resin (PU/PE) is the classic feel—flexy and responsive. EPS foam with epoxy resin is lighter, stronger, and floats better, which is awesome for smaller waves or if you’re just getting your feet wet. Epoxy boards can feel a bit stiffer, but they’re crazy durable. Then you’ve got soft-tops (foamies) for total beginners. Each combo changes how the board paddles, turns, and feels under your feet.

The shortboard revolution was a total game-changer! In the late ’60s, shapers started chopping off feet, adding rocker, and slapping on fins. This created lighter, more maneuverable sticks that could rip turns, cut back, and tube ride like never before. It shifted surfing from a graceful cross-step to high-performance vertical attack. This era birthed modern surfing, allowing surfers to attack the wave face, not just cruise along it.

For your first mission, stick to the friendly vibes of Guanacaste. Tamarindo and Playa Grande offer mellow beach breaks perfect for finding your feet. Nosara is a bit more of a trek but has super consistent waves and a killer yoga-surf scene. These spots have plenty of board rentals, surf schools, and other kooks to share the lineup with. You’ll get heaps of waves, improve your technique, and soak up that easygoing Tico culture without getting in over your head.

Surf Icons & Heroes

It’s not just paddling, bro. His regimen is next-level. He mixes intense water sessions with dry-land training: think yoga for flexibility, breath-hold exercises for big hold-downs, and functional strength workouts. He’s big on cardio and endurance, often using a VersaClimber. Diet is key too—mostly plant-based, clean fuel. But his biggest secret? He’s just in the ocean constantly. That muscle memory and wave knowledge from a lifetime of surfing is the ultimate training. His discipline is as sharp as his surfing, which is why he’s still competing with the young guns.

Respect. Pure and simple. Start small and work your way up gradually. Visualize your lines and breathe. Paddle with commitment—hesitation gets you hurt. Know your limits and don’t let ego push you into something you’re not ready for. It’s okay to watch from the channel. When you’re ready, having a few trusted buddies out there with you makes all the difference. It’s about calculated confidence, not blind charging.

A goofy footer is a surfer who naturally rides with their right foot forward on the board. It’s the opposite of “regular foot,“ which is left foot forward. There’s no advantage to either; it’s just your natural stance, like being right or left-handed. The term is said to come from the old cartoon “Goofy” surfing right foot forward!