As a 35 year old who has been surfing for most of his life, and sure as sh*t wants to be surfing for most of the rest of it, I often think about how to age–and surf–with grace. As surfers, we’re blessed to have something that we can enjoy for most of our lives. Let’s be real, we’re lucky that something involves water, you know, that soft and forgiving surface that goes easy on us when the waves are nice and tame. Much unlike the concrete that skaters deal with, or the rocky terrain that mountain bikers explore, or the snow (often ice) that snowboarders ride. While the ocean can certainly be v ..read more

A wise friend once said, “Surfing is more than just something you do. It fuels your soul and being.” That friend is none other than Selema Masekela, a 52 year old who very much embodies the benefits of staying fit and surfing and snowboarding as much as possible. Let’s be real, our passion (surfing) isn't like pickleball–it is far more all consuming once you get hooked. But you don’t need to be a pro, or surf all the time, to be in love with the waves.  Regardless of where you are in your surfing journey, it’s important to remember that it’s ok to ask for help. If that means help with ch ..read more

When it comes to work, finding the right job–you know, one that you don’t hate–it can be quite the tricky endeavor. Beyond earning a living wage, a challenge all in itself, you have to factor in all sorts of things like commute time  (ideally, none), workplace environment, and work/life balance. Does the job leave you fulfilled? Do you feel respected and valued? Do you, I daresay, ever have any fun? Yeah, we have fun. On the surface, being a surf guide seems like the ultimate gig but there is certainly more than meets the eye. For a deep dive on some of the less-than-stellar details chec ..read more

Every surfer can relate to that nasty feeling, the merciless phenomenon that plagues you for weeks, or even months, on end. The symptoms include depression, restlessness, irritability, spasms, weight gain, weight loss, and in some severe cases, death. (Wait, really?) I’m talking, of course, about the terrible, awful, no good, very, very bad phenomenon known as a flat spell. Be it unfavorable weather patterns, or perhaps the unsavory wrath of Neptune, sometimes our favorite pleasure machine just shuts down. The simple pleasure of checking the waves becomes an exercise in depression that is bes ..read more

As the winds blow offshore at Playa Colorados, as it does some 330 days a year, the waves march in from the depths and begin to take shape along the sandbars. Their tops feather and spray off as their bodies continue their growth until they reach that spot that makes them start to bend, pitch, and break. If you watched long enough you would realize that most of the waves that come through Playa Colorados barrel as they break. Not all are big enough to tuck into, let alone make. Some are too fast, others too small. Yet, sure enough, you find yourself mind-surfing your way into them. If you wer ..read more

In honor of Earth Day, I want to share the story of a recent trip to Southern Baja with our newest impact partners, SeaTrees and WILDCOAST. It all began over one week in February when I was serendipitously connected with people from both organizations, which I had been following for years. While they are two distinct entities, they are both founded by surfers and collaborate on several projects across California and Mexico. The opportunity to join the trip to visit a mangrove restoration project in El Dátil, just two hours north of Scorpion Bay, was too good to pass up. I met Michael Stewart ..read more

I remember my first wave like it was yesterday… It was a hot summer day at Arpoador Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I was 10 years old and my mom had enrolled me and my cousin in a surf school that offered group lessons on the weekends. The instructors gave us some on-land training before they took us out into the water. Since it was our very first time, and there were about 20 of us, we had to wait until some of the more advanced students got their waves. I was so eager to get out there that it felt like it was ages before they finally called our names. We were guided into the water and tol ..read more

It wasn't that long ago that El Salvador was a destination reserved for the most intrepid of surfers. In the 1970s the first wave of surf explorers rejoiced for their discovery of famous right-hand point breaks, like Punta Roca and Punta Mango, but the development of the country as a tourist destination was severely impacted by the Salvadoran Civil War from 1979-1992. As any country that experiences a civil war the road to recovery is long and far from guaranteed. Luckily for all, in recent years El Salvador has made great strides in providing safety. The coastal area around La Libertad has ..read more

Years before Thermal was born, I made a friendship in Mexico that would go on to change the course of our lives.  At the time I was the photographer and creative director for a small-batch mezcal brand, Maguey Melate, and traveled all around the state of Oaxaca to visit farms and meet the mezcaleros. When on these trips, I would plan an extra couple of days to explore the coast and surf. I had taken a few great trips to Puerto Escondido but eventually wanted to branch out and head further south so I started doing some research... Dawn Patrol, somewhere in Oaxaca. Life is Amazing I awoke ..read more

Let’s be real, whether it's in your everyday life or seen on your Instagram feed, there’s a lot of heaviness in the world. Even if you are far from danger, it can be hard to handle and you don’t need to be an expert to realize how it can be detrimental to people’s mental health. While on the one hand, there are so many things to be thankful for, the other hand is holding a grip of bad, bad news…and it seems like all too often the latter is getting all the attention. In journalism, this practice is known as sensationalism and has been around long before algorithms started powering your social ..read more