Surfing Resolutions for 2012

The New Year has started off with a bang, with the best run of swell all season and a week of big northwest swell forecast to slam the coast.

For surfers, it is easy to do the same old thing everyday, week after week, year after year. That means we reach a plateau and never spruce up our surf game.

Here are some suggestions on how to make the best of 2012, which I assure you won’t mean the end of the world, but at least hopefully the end of this horrible La Nina condition that has plagued the Eastern Pacific for the past two or so years.

Surf more: That’s right. Get out in the water more. When the conditions are blown-out and small, hit the best spots on the coast. They won’t be crowded, you’ll score more waves than you ever imagined and you’ll be pleasantly surprised—all essential elements for a fun session.

Order a new board: Find a local shaper who knows how you surf and order a new board. Make that a new quiver. You can’t afford not to. The worst thing for your surfing is to stick with the same board for too long. Think about going shorter, wider and thicker if you are like me and need a little bit extra.

Travel: Explore cool countries and emerging surf destinations such as Iceland, Norway, Scotland, Canada, or Spain. Or hit up countries that combine beautiful landscapes and great surf such as Peru and Chile. Or better yet take the best surf trip of your life and explore the beauty and friendly surf land of Australia. Or just take a surf safri around our own amazing coast in California.

Give back: Organize a beach cleanup. Save Trestles. Join your local surf and beach protection organization. The most content and fulfilled surfers know that giving back is the key to a happy and health life.

Work out more: All of us can increase our fitness levels. Combine cardio with core and strength workouts. Yoga, biking, running, swimming, SUP, free-weights, and paddling all make a difference. Get fit and get moving.

Improve your diet: Cut out the white flour and sugars and cut down on the beer, chips and Cheetos. Increase your intake veggies and healthy foods. The more weight you lose, the more you improve your surfing (believe me).

Surf with your children: You won’t rediscover the awesomeness of surfing until you teach your own children to surf.  Surfing, traveling and having adventures with your children, friends and family are as good as it gets.

Spread the joy:I’ve never understood why so many surfers are so angry. Unhappy silverbacks populate our lineups and try to ruin everyone’s fun. It is a privilege to enjoy the everyday power of the ocean and share it with our children, friends, and family. Let’s teach our children that surfing is about joy, friendship and giving back.

Happy New Year!

Serge Dedina is the Executive Director of WiLDCOAST and the author of Wild Sea: Eco-Wars and Surf Stories from the Coast of the Californias.