Summer in Northern California is one of the slowest seasons. The fog rolls in, swells rarely live up to forecast hype, crowds increase, and the doldrums invariably kick in. Don’t let the inevitable keep you from staying psyched though. Get proactive, and turn it around. Below are three ways to stay inspired when the ocean is not cooperating.
1. Dust Off The Skateboard
Skating was invented for this purpose, literally. The crossbreed between skateboarding and surfing is no coincidence. It was originally conceived as a way to surf on side walks and driveways when the waves were flat – and it still has the potential to carry you through unsurfable times. Watch Jared Mell skate and surf in the throwback video below for proof.
2. Shape Your Own Board
This one sounds a little farfetched but isn’t. Creating your own surfboard will not be easy, but it’s also not rocket science. Perfection should not be your goal. Lower your expectations, get ahold of a blank, and pull out a hand planer. Simply going through all the steps to complete the task will help you appreciate what goes into making the boards you ride and depend on. Watch footage from the self shape surf contest below for inspiration.
3. Revert To A Low Performance Board
Forget high performance – pull out the oddest, crusiest contraption you can find. Vintage, odd sized, beat up, asymmetrical, or any other strange wave riding contraption will do the trick. Sometimes a ridiculous shape will be better suited for the conditions. Check out Ryan Burch surfing an oversized glider as an example.
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