“You should’ve been here yesterday” is one of the most unpleasant things a surfer can hear from another. It’s annoying and almost offensive. Surfers can be particularly mean to each other. What is the point of making clear to someone in front of you that they’ve just barely missed an amazing event or experience? What…

Surfers and swimmers are among the groups of humans that more often face sharks, and when they do, the consequences can be severe. Australian scientists from Flinders University have now put near “shark-proof” wetsuit fabrics to the test, biting into them with live sharks, to see if new materials can cut down the damage. But…

The idea that waves do not carry matter – just energy – is quite fascinating. When we’re by the sea watching beautiful swell lines marching from infinity through the horizon line and toward the shore, our vision witnesses two things: a form and movement. In other words, and to make it even simpler, we watch…

Many people think that in navigation rules, one boat automatically gets a “right of way” over another, like cars at an intersection. That’s not actually true at sea. Instead, the rules talk about two roles: The “give-way” vessel, which must move or change course to avoid a collision; The “stand-on” vessel, which is supposed to…

In the middle of the Arizona desert, where you’d expect dust, cactus, and maybe a few roosters, a small group of builders has created something no one thought they’d find there: a private wave pool called The Wave Source. Pro surfer and YouTuber Ben Gravy was the first outsider invited to test it. “I got…

If you’re an airline manager or a corporate communications professional working at an air passenger carrier, then this article is for you. Let us introduce ourselves. We are surfers. We travel often – by foot, car, bus, metro, train, and airplane. And yes, we are aware that the airline industry is a tough business and…

Santa Cruz is famous for Steamer Lane and its cold water surf, but a new study led by Save the Waves Coalition shows just how much those waves are worth and how climate change could wipe out a big chunk of that value. Researchers found that surfing brings in at least $194.7 million a year…

When is the best time to visit Nazaré to watch the big waves? How do you know when an XXL swell is hitting Praia do Norte? Here’s a guide to Portugal’s ultimate big wave surfing break. The sound of the giant waves breaking just below the iconic lighthouse is as impressive as their size. The…

Mobile phones in the lineup. Here’s something that I had never seen in decades, but I shouldn’t be surprised at all. This is a real story of a very unusual event I witnessed just yesterday, as I paddled out at my home break for a late summer sunset surfing session. One of the reasons why…