Please help me and my family. We're desperately seeking information on the death of my brother James Doone who I believe passed away on either Tuesday12/31/24 or Wednesday 01/01/25. He was an American from Southern California who was on a two-week surf trip down to Puerto Escondido. He was staying at the Casa Losideli for the duration of his trip and was riding an Infinity surfboard. Through communication with him, we know that he befriended several international surfers who he had surfed with and taken several day trips out of town to a local break. From what little info the local authorities gave us it is said that he drowned while surfing on one of these day trips. Other than that, there is nothing else that we know. I hope you can understand our heartbreak and frustration as we try to cope with this huge loss and bring his body home.

As a lifetime surfer, I know that word travels fast in the surf community, especially with those in a small locale like Puerto. I'm sure somebody knows somebody or something about my brother's tragedy. I ask for your help, please... Contact me please!

I’m a shit surfer (learned in my 30s) but usually pretty good about etiquette in the water. Today at Tourmo I ran into an aggro POS. I’m getting my ass kicked on the water today and finally paddling to shore out of breath when a turquoise board rides solo in the whitewater probably 20’ to my left. I think about paddling to it before it hits some rocks on the beach but honestly didn’t have it in me so decided if they felt they were too good for a leash I guess they’ll learn a hard lesson. So I hear from behind me “you’re a piece of shit” and turn around caught off guard. This dude paddles after what I assume is his friends board and proceeds to talk shit, telling me to “go inside” and this is why I’m “not a part of the community”. So after my shock wears off I start jawing back at the guy calling him an asshole, flipping him the bird, and telling him to go fuck himself. Honesty thought we were going to fight for a sec but he paddled back into the water, acting like I was the one walking away. I’m already in my head about a shit sesh and this guy berates me for not using my last energy to save someone’s board from a small ding they honestly probably deserved. If protecting a stranger’s property from their own bad decisions is part of the surfing community then I don’t want to be a part of it anyway. So AITA? Even if I am, and this dude with the yellow board sees this post, DM me so we can have words and settle it.

Found an old folder in my Drive with some pics and wanted to share it!

The photos were taken at Playa Blanca, Lima. The beach break was fun but the point break, La Isla, was my favorite wave in Lima!

I definitely recommend Peru for a surf trip. People are nice, world class waves and the food is just otherworldly!

Thick rubber. Mould from storage. Any tips on how I can rid the wetsuit of mould would be appreciated!

I’ve read through all the old threads and could not find anyone in my similar range. I am 5’11 and move between 183-188 lbs for a weight range. This pinpoints me in both their L and XLS sizes. I got a large and after 2 surfs this mf is tighter than anything I’ve ever put on. It feels like I’m putting on suit for the first time again trying to wiggle into it. I have always been a large (Vissla, Xcel, matuse, billabong) and never had a problem.

For anyone else who had feral suits, does it get easier to get in after a while and loosen up a tad. Once im actually in it feels pretty good, it’s just that I feel like I’m tearing the neck every time I put my arms through and pull it over my shoulders.

Thanks in advance

I'm from Australia and getting on a bit (50) and not sure if I'll ever be able to afford a place to live in this country near to a decent surf spot. Has anyone taken the leap and bought a home or retired permanently overseas or is thinking about it, and if so where? I'm thinking I would go South East Asia, Indian Ocean or South Pacific.

About a month ago, after seeing some videos about the surf in El Salvador and Guatemala, I impulse booked a flight to Guatemala. I’ve done some sightseeing around here but my itinerary ends mid January and as I’m already itching to surf, I wonder what my best plan of action is. I have thereafter researched properly and learned that the surf is mediocre (or even bad by many accounts) in El Salvador and Guatemala during the period of January February and a bit of March.

I’m looking for consistent (4-7ft ideally) waves, warm water and some sort of night life. I am willing to fly, but preferably not to another continent. My budget is not super tight but I would like to have as long of a trip as possible so cheap options are welcome.

I would appreciate it so much if anyone could give me some advice on where may be best to go next! Thanks😁

Looking to book our first couple trip in March. I’ve only done surf trips for the past several years. I don’t really care for sightseeing but SO enjoys hiking, other non-surfing typical travel activities.

I’ve been to ST a handful of times and I love its long sandy beaches with warm water. But also I feel like I should explore new places! SO is looking to learn how to surf.

Any thoughts/recs appreciated!

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Pulled into an inside bar barrel at 6-8 ft OBSF on a shallow sandbar, hood on, then came up with my hood ripped (literally) off. The visor bit also got torn on the ends. Had marks on my neck from it so I guess it was a pretty violent (albeit short) wipeout. I got this suit about a month before, using it a couple times a week leading up to this. Is this an issue with the oniell hyperfreaks 4/3mm? Or did I just get unlucky

Thick rubber. Mould from storage. Any tips on how I can rid the wetsuit of mould would be appreciated!

For those who have traveled with a board bag with Air Canada and United recently, got a question for y'all...

I'm heading to Nicaragua tomorrow (Air Canada + United) and apparently we have to call 3 days in advance to "register" a surfboard bag? What the hell? I called today and they said no that I can't bring my boards because I didn't call with at least 72 hours notice. I already checked it in today and paid for the extra baggage fee. Nowhere does it say on their site that it needs 72 hours notice. I only heard about this 72hr thing on the call. I would have never known if I didn't take the time to go deeper into their site out of curiosity, and found a line saying I need to call them for more info.

Haven't done a surf trip on a flight in a really long time so this is all completely new to me...

If I show up at the airport tomorrow with my surfboard bag, are they going to flat out just tell me no?? What the actual ****??

Drove by this gem: overhead, cooking and not a soul out.

Looking for :

• beginner friendly (SO does not surf)
• warm, clear water with sandy beach

• <12 hour flight from CA

  SO has veto'ed Nicaragua and Mexico due to safety concerns...

I have been to Santa Teresa handful of times. I love ST and part of me wants to go back. Part of me wants to explore to new places (but is it worth the hassle if I know what I like?) Also ST seems to be getting more and more hate every year.

We considered El Salvador but it looks so rocky! Also considering maybe Barbados?

Swaylocks special of PU resin and Sugar, was thinking of putting a layer of resin in the recessed bits, is this necessary?

I know there are a million surf camp threads already but as usual "I think my question is unique"...for my 30th bday my bf and I would love to spend a few days at a beginner/intermediate surf camp, both to improve and to meet people. However we can't take too much time off, so the 7+ day surf camps are out of the question. We also live near SF and want to minimize travel time (again because we can't take that much time off). I'm curious if there are any good 4-5 day beginner/intermediate surf camps that can be easily reached from SF (e.g. Baja?). Costa Rica seems like the most obvious option right now, there seem to be no direct flights from SF to Nicaragua. Any options would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I bought one of these for surf trip marathon sessions in the tropics, so lots of intense sun and paddling....Anyone surf with one who can comment on sizing and armpit chaffing? I just ordered and received an extra small (I'm 5'7" and 135 pounds). I've tried it on and it fits, but it's skin tight...couldn't be any tighter. Haven't worn it in the water yet, and trying to decide if I should exchange for a small. In some ways it could be good that it's so tight because there won't be extra fabric to move around and chaff, but it's so tight that I kind of feel like it might rub no matter what. Thoughts?

Looking to pay a bloke for some snaps 📸 he was just swimming all around south peak this morning taking photos. Anybody know who he was?

Anyone have experience with these? Tempted to try one but don’t wanna spend the money if it’s not a nice one?

I made the mistake of purchasing the Ripcurl Flashbomb Pro 3/2 as a Christmas present. I have worn Ripcurl for decades along with O’Neill. The stretch of the rubber is unmatched and it almost feels like surfing in a rash guard. The problem is that one of the arm panels is misaligned and leaks pretty bad. I didn’t notice the misalignment, but after my first surf I knew something was wrong. It leaked a lot more than my 2 year old O’Neill Nonja wetsuit that is supposed to be a couple of steps down in quality and performance.

I purchased it from a licensed dealer so they can see that I bought it on Christmas sent in my complaint a few days later. It took over a week for them to respond and there is no way to call. I was told that I would have to send in the suit to be fixed even though I only wore it once. All they had to do was look at the date I bought it to verify my story. Instead of standing behind their product, I would be required to send the suit in to get fixed which would take 3 weeks. With shipping time, I would be out of a suit for another month. By the time I get it back the winter season will be pretty much over here because we have a short winter. I don’t know what happened to Ripcurl, but it seems like their products are now garbage that they do not stand behind. This is not the same Ripcurl that I have purchased from for decades. Do yourself a favor and go with another brand that takes quality control and customer service seriously. They ruined my winter surf season, don’t let them ruin yours.

Edit: I went back to the surf shop they I purchased it from and they were great. In looking at other chest zip and zip free Ripcurl wetsuits, they also had the left arm panel misaligned. I am pretty sure that this is the culprit since I decreased the leakage by contorting the left arm panel so that the badging lines up properly. The bomb on the left arm and the lettering on the left wrist cuff where misaligned so that the bomb was on the back of my shoulder and back area and the lettering on the outside of the wrist cuff was actually under my wrist. I didn’t notice it until a buddy paddle up and asked if my suit was misaligned. The wetsuit still leaks more than it should, but with 5 minutes of contorting and adjusting the left arm panel it is serviceable. That should not be an issue with their top of the line product.

I’ve never surged before but am eager to try it out. However I live in Vermont so I have no access to the ocean. There’s a surfing community on lake Champlain. So, was wondering if anyone had experience there and what it was like.

Does board length effect how easy a board is to duck dive or is it all about volume?

I’ve got a 7’6” that’s around 45L. I can kind of duck dive it but I’m still working on my technique. I’m looking at picking up a 6’6” board that is the same volume. Will this shorter board be easier to duck dive or about the same?