Good People Surf

2011-08-30T08:37:00.000+02:00

Good People Surf Blog /// El Salvador: A Regular’s Heaven

In my mind’s eye, I can still see Jimmy getting barreled twice at Punta Roca, threading the frothing wave like a needle. I remember the stagnant heat and noise of a local bus rumbling along and then halting to a stop, and the thrill of being launched into a spitting tube in El Zonte. I can still even taste the delicious, fresh pupusas that satisfied my craving after hours of surfing.
After hearing tale after tale of Punta Roca, one of the longest, reeling right-hand point breaks in the world, El Salvador never escaped my thoughts. Surfers relayed stories of a regular foot’s front-side paradise that left me drooling and my heart aching to go. One summer, that dream evolved into reality, and I surfed more than just Punta Roca, but also K-59, El Zonte, Sunzal, La Bocana, and an area known as San Blas with some locals.

In El Tunco, where I stayed, I could walk to three different waves. But within a twenty mile radius of El Tunco, were multiple right points just waiting to be ridden, so we took advantage of the local bus system that charged only 25 cents to ride. The coolest bus was the one with a mounted flat screen television that featured hip-hop videos. Next to the rear-view mirror was a sticker with a bus in a huge blue barrel. Paved roads hugged the coast, and coupled with an efficient bus system made this region simple to navigate. The curvy coast offered stunning views of a mountainous rainforest, and from the bus windows, I caught glimpses of the surf peeking through clearings in the green canopy.

Our first bus ride we ventured to El Zonte, a small and raw surfing village. There was a powerful rip current on the inside because of a drastic contrast from deep water to a shallow shelf. There the wave sucked up, barreled, and broke with authority. The outside was super fun and involved a jacked up, fast drop, and then allowed some turns and cutbacks before it walled up and threw me into the green room. K59 was a similar wave, and I loved them both. I even scored some decent surf at Punta Roca, and came away with only a few scrapes and cuts from getting slammed on rocks in the shallows.

I also feel in love with pupusas; thin tortillas that were delicately filled with beans and cheese, beef and cheese, or all three. They went for 35 cents each, and were served with a little plastic bag of cabbage salad and salsa. I got stuffed eating three! The chicken soup I ordered at a local restaurant on the beach in La Paz had four feet floating in the light broth, because the feet of the chicken held the most flavor. I remember holding one in my hand and touching the random, wiry, hairs on it, and even though I never ate one, I loved it. I drank fresh squeezed juice, and laughed with my new found friends in a mixture of English and Spanish, different accents and dialects; the variety I lived for.

One of my last days in El Salvador, a massive swell arrived just in time for the contest. The competition was to determine who would represent El Salvador in the Central American circuit. The buzz on the day of the contest revolved around Jimmy. Jimmy Rotherham was a legend, a local pro surfer who stole everyone’s attention when he danced with the giant rights. I didn’t meet one person who was not jealous of the fact that his father, an expat from California, bought the property in front of Punta Roca back in the 70’s. Jimmy grew up with one of the best point breaks on the earth in his back yard, and it was apparent in his surfing. He tucked into the barrel with a relaxed ease and then emerged with a swift spit from the wave just to race the steep wall and disappear into another barrel. That was the first time I witnessed such extraordinary surfing on big waves in person. I was overwhelmed by the fact that just watching him surf could effect me so much; I was transfixed and inspired.

By Melissa Diamond

Nicaragua & Cocoa Beach: The Importance of Shit

2011-08-17T11:09:00.000+02:00

A pen rested in my hand, and my journal was open to a fresh page, but I didn’t write. My mind was consumed with thoughts about one lady at the surf camp who I couldn’t connect with. I was frustrated, because usually I was able to get along with anyone. She countered every comment I made with an argument, and her negative remarks left me feeling stupid and small.
Maite, the other instructor, and I went for a walk around the farm. The surf camp was located on an organic farm in the hills overlooking San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. We rested under a tree that offered shade and framed an incredible view. I fidgeted with a twig as I rambled on about how I wished that I didn’t read into things so much, and how I’m not used to clashing with people.
Maite answered my ramblings with wisdom, “Mire, (look) one time I was surfing at Popoyo and I was sitting on the right.” I nodded because I knew the right that she referred to. It came in by the rock-reef that produced the left, creating a sweet A-frame wave. Because of the rock-reef, the wave came in the same place each day, and there was always a current on either side of the A-frame.
“You know the current that comes in by the right? Well, I saw this guy swim out toward me. Then he swam back to the beach. A few seconds later, I noticed a piece of shit floating up the current towards me.”
“What?!” I shouted and laughed.
“I started to get really grossed out,” Maite scrunched up her nose and pretended to gag a few times. She continued, “I even thought I would have to get out of the water, or maybe puke. But then I realized that it is only shit, and that the shit only had the power I gave it. So I just kept surfing after that.”
I laughed again and realized how smart Maite was. She was trying to tell me not to sweat the small things; that they only carried the importance I gave them. She could have allowed the shit to ruin a good session, but she ignored it and carried on catching wave after wave.
About a year later, I was home in Cocoa Beach. My friend, Chad, bought old sailboats other people deemed as junk and fixed them up. One afternoon, as we relaxed and bobbed between waves on the sailboat, he told me how he was building wooden surfboards in old-school, retro shapes. He had written an instruction manual on building these boards and sold it online. I was not surprised, because Chad was a gifted craftsman; he made or fixed anything with his hands. He told me I had to ride one of his longboards.
As hunger lured us back to shore, we noticed the wind died off. We ate some sushi, and then carried two immaculate wooden long boards down to the beach. Chad lived next to the pier, and because the boards were heavy we decided this spot would be best.
There were warnings on the news about the water being especially dirty at the pier. We didn’t know if it was from the cruise ships dumping their waste in the ocean, or from the sewer system in the old pier malfunctioning. What was for sure, was that there was shit in the ocean. We paddled out in waist-high surf ideal for longboarding. The waves were peeling and clean in form, although a murky film covered the water. Fuzzy and furry chunks floated around, and everyone else at the beach was too grossed out to even think about getting into the water. I remembered Maite’s story, so Chad and I surfed anyways, not minding the shit any attention. Waves consistently rolled in as we each crossed-stepped and nose rode. I hung five for the first time that evening. The wooden boards were built to nose ride, and presented a stability I never experienced before. I became addicted to the way they glided so smoothly across the faces of water. We enjoyed the fact that there was no competition for waves, as the pier was a popular surf spot and often hosted aggressive crowds. The sun set and we paddled in, surrendering finally only to the dark.

The longer I surfed, the more parallels I drew from the water to life on land. Maite, Chad, and I all agreed there would always be shit in life, but what mattered was the importance we gave it.

Check out two of my surf buddies and inspirations from my story:

Maite de la Torre- artist and ripper…www.popoyodingrepair.com

Chad Stone- craftsman and wooden surfboard creator… www.timelesssurfcompany.com

By Melissa Diamond

Next story: El Salvador: A Regular’s Heaven

Cocoa Beach: Transforming Lives with Surfing

2011-08-04T13:27:00.000+02:00

How often do we get a chance to change the lives of others by doing something that we love? To wake up one morning just knowing that this would happen is an incredible sensation, and Surfer’s for Autism is an organization that makes this a reality. They use surfing as therapy for autistic children, and I have witnessed the benefits. SFA has been in existence for four years, and organizes around ten events a year at various beaches in Florida. This year, they are going global with their first event in Australia. Volunteers unite on the beach to provide food, tents, surfboards, and instruction along with anything else that is needed for the all-day occasion.

Brian was the first child that I worked with at a Surfer’s for Autism event. He was six years old, and when I put him on the big foam board he was kicking and hitting me. “I don’t want to surf,” he screamed. His mom and dad motioned for me to keep trying. So I held him on the board and walked him out into the surf. “NOOO,” Brian wailed. I was torn; I didn’t want to force him to do something he was uncomfortable with, but I was warned that this would be typical behavior.

“Everything is gonna be alright, don’t worry, I have you,” I shouted over his cries in a soothing tone trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible. “Now look, there is mommy and daddy and some helpers waiting for you, so I am just going to push you into this fun wave and then you can go see them, okay?” As I spoke, I walked further out and lifted the board up and over white-water waves. I turned the surfboard so it was facing Brian’s fans in the shallows and on the beach.

“Okay, one, two, three, blastoff!” I pushed Brian into a crumbling wave that he rode on his stomach all the way to the shore. His family was cheering wildly.

“Yah! Way to go Brian!” I yelled. When I saw his smile, I was immediately covered from head to toe in goose bumps. The rush I got from seeing his pure joy was even better than getting barreled by a green, glassy over-head wave. I couldn’t get back to him fast enough to give him a high five.

“I am so proud of you!”

“Again! I want to go again!” Even though Brian never stood up, he was a different kid. He was no longer reluctant and scared, but excited and fearless. His mom was crying tears of happiness, and that powerful moment still resonates intense feelings within my heart. For those children, surfing broke through a threshold, and they became more comfortable in social settings, some even speaking to their parents for the first time after riding a wave.

I was blessed to have the opportunity to use my passion to help other people. I felt convicted at times because surfing could be such a selfish sport, so to be able to use it as therapy for others was absolute magic. Surfing is a tremendous gift that I never want to take for granted. It is even better to be able to pass it on to others, because the thrill lasts so much longer when you can share it. The smile on Brian’s face after he first dropped in to that wave is forever seared into my memory.

By Melissa Diamond

Next Blog story: Nicaragua & Cocoa Beach, The Importance of Shit!

Mexico: Shark Attacks and Point Breaks

2011-07-14T14:13:00.000+02:00

The odds of getting attacked by a shark in mainland Mexico are very rare. There is a much better chance of getting food poisoning or even chased out of the water by a crocodile. In fact, it is far more dangerous driving to the beach than getting in the water. Craig Carroll, the owner of the surf school I worked for, averaged three trips a year there and knew all of these facts firsthand. He brought me and other surf instructors to Mexico before, and I loved it so much I traveled back with him less than a year later. Two days before our departure, there was a story on the news about a guy from San Francisco who was fatally attacked by a shark in Troncones; a beach break centrally located to the point breaks that we frequented. Because an attack in that area was such a freak thing, I figured that the odds were totally against me. The first half of our trip, we stayed in cabanas on a remote beach that offered a stellar view of a world-class left point. While there, the subliminal calming repetition of the ocean’s pulse never left our heads.

My first surf session of the trip, I was not prepared to chat in the line-up with two guys from California who had just lost their friend to a great white shark. We were talking about the various surf spots in the area when they told me why I should not surf Troncones. Thought after thought circled through my mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak them. Those guys had surfed with their friend a few days ago, and now he was gone. Finally, I told them that I had so much respect for them for getting in back in the ocean. I wasn’t sure if I would be brave enough to do the same. I said I was sorry.

“He would have wanted us to finish out the trip. We are surfing for him.” They were the first ones in the water and the last ones out.

I woke up early one grey morning to peek at the waves. Craig was already awake and filming. I waved to the camera and gazed to the horizon… it was going off and only two other people were out! I remembered it was the California boys’ last morning and knew that it was them in the water.

When I got to the outside, I realized we were still the only ones out. The waves were thundering in bigger than they had during this trip.
    “WHEWWWW!” I shrilled as I watched them take turns on the set waves. These waves were the biggest I’d surfed so far in my life, being easily double overhead. I kept holding back. I watched the boys in awe as they disappeared into the wave and then reappeared twenty seconds later way down the beach. At one point, I was in the perfect spot to ride the approaching mountain of water, and they both yelled for me. I knew I couldn’t think about it, no hesitation allowed; I had to go for it.
    “GOOO!” One of the boys cried.
    “Yah, yah, yah, get it!” The other one screamed.
     Their encouragement gave me the confidence I lacked. I paddled boldly, and in full force threw my body into the wedge of the wave, and made the drop. My heart was speeding as I flew down the seamless, peeling left.
I carved up and down the face, faster than I had ever gone. I cut back to the pitching mouth of the wave and continued sailing down the line. The biggest rush of adrenaline I’d ever experienced pulsed through my veins as I paddled back out, yearning for another wave just like that. Even though I caught more waves that day, I knew they called me into the best wave I ever rode in Mexico. It was one of the best waves of my life, and I will never forget that drop.

A few weeks after I returned to Florida, a newspaper story reported three other shark attacks that occurred days after I left. For some unexplainable reason, a cold water current came down from California bringing many giant squid. The great whites and tiger sharks were in hot pursuit of their prey, making mainland Mexico dining grounds for countless hefty predators. I am glad that we did not learn this information until we were home!

By Melissa Diamond
Next Story: Cocoa Beach, Transforming Lives with Surfing

Kuta Reef: Up Close and Personal

2011-06-28T16:29:00.000+02:00

The wave was bigger and there were only two guys out at the second reef, so I told the boat driver to drop me off there. I made a habit of chatting with people when I first entered the water to bring a chill vibe to the line-up. I found this especially crucial when traveling solo, because just by exchanging a few words, I was not alone anymore.

The two guys I joined in the water charged. They dropped in late and deep on translucent, solid six foot set waves. Both their surfing and bodies displayed art and style, as they were adorned in colorful tattoos. I noticed that one of the guys had a series of numbers tattooed over his muscular abdomen, and the other had Maroubra tattooed over his shoulders. I told them I was from Cocoa Beach, Florida, and they said they were from a beach outside of Sydney. That statement cemented my suspicions; I was surfing with Bra Boys. I remembered their motto that I always thought was so hard core, ‘Blood is thicker than water.’ We shared waves and in between the sets we talked about different spots that I surfed in Australia.

As we discussed the last ground swell in OZ, after a longer lull than usual, I noticed a freak set approaching and shouted, “Outside!” We all paddled hard for the horizon. I duck dived two waves, and the last one tore the board out from under me. I gripped the board tight and held it above my head. I knew never to let go of my board, because my board would float and eventually bring me to the surface. I felt something under me.

When I got air, I realized that I landed right on top of Paul, one of the guys, and I was straddling his back like he was a horse! He reached the surface and gasped for a breath. My first thought was that I was going to get beat- I had messed with a Bra Boy! I asked him if my board hit him and if he was alright. He was laughing and said he just felt something soft on top of him, and that he hoped to get to the surface soon. Then we both started laughing, and he joked, “Well, that is a different way to mount a man!”

I could not have done that if I tried! We laughed and continued to dominate the solid, fast waves, and every time a set came I would yell “Spread out!” I knew I would never forget dropping in on that session at Kuta reef two.

By: Melissa Diamond

Next Surf Story: Mexico, Shark Attacks and Point Breaks

Cloudbreak: Look before you Leap

2011-06-13T11:07:00.000+02:00

It was an eighteen second period swell and three guys severed their surfboards in half at Cloudbreak that day. We didn't learn this information until after the fact.

To say I was anxious to get into the water was an understatement. I had arrived in Nadi, Fiji from the Gold Coast of Australia in time to see the sun set. I slept Nadi that night because the Mololo Cat, the boat I had to take to the island of the Funky Fish, only ran twice a day. The following day I arrived at low tide, which meant I had to wait another day to surf. The reef breaks were too shallow at low tide, and I learned this reality as soon as I got off the boat and stepped onto the island when I was enthusiastically greeted by an amber-skinned surfer. Dave was one of the three people staying at the resort and the only surfer, so he was stoked to see my board bag.

We got straight into surf talk and he drew a map of the waves in the area and described each one in detail. He pointed to the white water breaking on the reefs on the horizon showing me which wave was which.

"That looks like dribble," Dave said the next day as we passed Wilke's Pass, a right-hander. So our boat captain took us to check Nomotu Left, the next wave. "That looks like dribble," Dave said again. Both the waves looked pumping to me, but I had nothing to go by because it was my first time seeing them, and since he seemed legit, I just took Dave's word for it. We passed another right, Swimming Pools, and a left called Restaurants because Dave said that they needed pretty massive swells to break properly. We decided to continue further out to sea to check Cloudbreak. My mind began to race; I was going to surf Cloudbreak, the wave I had seen in countless surf videos and heard people rave about. A real, world class wave, and I was as ready as I ever would be to charge it.

From the boat I saw one wave reel in at Cloudbreak and it looked way overhead and freight train fast. Dave said, "Oh, yah, it looks super mellow."

It was my first session in Fiji, and without a moments hesitation I threw my board into the water and dove off the boat. The tropical, warm water felt so good on my skin. There were only about five other guys out, and I couldn't figure out why they were sitting so far from the peak. I paddled right past them and straight to the peak as a wave was building towards me. Not missing a beat, I turned, committed, and paddled parallel for the monster jacking up behind me.

The moment of being thrown into a sick drop passed me by as the wave sped past me and broke further ahead of me. Immediately I looked back to see if I had a second chance coming. I discovered something coming; the next massive wave pounding down. It closed out on top of me, and I was pulled under and held down. I held onto my board, praying that I would reach the surface soon. When I did, I had just enough time to take a gulp of air before the next set wave came crashing down throwing me into three full somersaults. I got washed around and worked in the shallows, but somehow I kept barely missing the reef. I kept calm, but that was the longest I was ever held under, and I thought I was going to die. Finally, I was able to paddle out of that hell, and as I was choking on saltwater and catching my breath on the outside I watched my friend, Anna, paddle into a giant.

I watched for her, but she disappeared with the wave. I kept looking for her, but she did not appear. After a few minutes, I started to worry, and every second felt like eternity. I saw one guy emerge from the inside looking exhausted, and I asked him if he had seen a girl with a hot pink rashguard on. When he said no, I paddled as fast as I could to our boat. Just as I reached the boat, I saw a pink rashguard paddling towards me in the distance. When she got closer, I saw blood gushing from her face. She got thrown off the wave and then took a hit from the nose of her board to the corner of her right eye. One centimeter more and her eye would have been gouged out. Super mellow.

"I don't want to surf here anymore," Anna said. "Okay," I agreed.

Being hard core as she is, Anna wanted to continue surfing for now and deal with the injury later. So we surfed Wilke's Pass and then Nomotu Left, and it was not 'dribble,' but good, clean, overhead fun. We were the only ones surfing at Nomotu Left, and I got so many turns on each ride that my legs got tired. While we surfed, I realized the magic and beauty of the world I had thrust myself into. The water was clear and glassy, and I saw the coral reef and fluorescent blue fish while I flew down the line.

Later on, Dave said the reason he surfed was to have fun, and that he didn't even think that Cloudbreak was that fun of a wave. It was fast, heavy, and hollow, but he would rather surf waves that he could shred; get speed and do turns on. He thought about what drove us to surf certain waves. He said that when he surfed Pipeline it wasn't even fun. The whole time he was terrified, and he was actually relieved when he got out of the water. He was a good surfer as well, and had twenty years of experience. I knew exactly what he meant. I just craved fun, and I wanted to get as many rides per session as possible. I didn't really need to be scared and just catch one or two for the sake of impressing anyone. What did we have to prove anyways?

Anna had to get two stitches and now has a scar in the corner of her right eye that serves as a reminder to never underestimate a wave. I learned many life lessons from surfing, and this was no different. A seasoned surfer knew the importance of being patient and assessing any situation before dropping into it.

By Melissa Diamond

Next Surf Story: Kuta Reef: Up Close and Personal

Local Love

2011-05-30T08:18:00.000+02:00

Any surfer that has ever left their home break knows the value of making friends with the locals. Their priceless knowledge could drastically alter a surf adventure from good to epic. It’s also true people from New Zealand, Kiwi's, have a reputation for being some of the friendliest people on the planet, and my experience proved that valid.
Because of this, I found myself in my own heaven one evening as I sat in the glassy Tasman sea watching the sun gradually disappear creating a dreamy, metallic glow across the face of the water. When sets pulsed through, there were more than enough of waves for us. There were five of us out. Myself and four local rippers who invited me to their sunset session. The waves at Mussell Rock broke in shallow water as wedgey, walled-up A-frames. Toward the end of the session, after a fast left, my leash snapped and broke when I paddled against a massive set. We were stoked because no one expected the conditions to be as flawless as they were, and I felt like the luckiest girl alive.

When the guys asked me if I was down to surf Mussell Rock they called it a mish (mission). They said this location was sheltered from the wind, and they always surfed it alone. We loaded two cars and parked at a boat ramp. Next, we paddled for 20 minutes across a channel, and then hiked 30 minutes down the beach. As promised, it was totally secluded aside from a herd of cattle we passed.
We met at Sunday Sessions, a reggae show on my second night in Rags (Raglan). From the start they were friendly, and said they remembered me from surfing earlier and wanted to know where I was from. I was traveling alone, so I was happy to have local surf buddies. They also invited me to their places to hang out, for barbeques, and dinners.
I even went on a surf trip with one, to Taranaki, a southern region of the north island. Taranaki offered numerous consistent surf spots that faced different directions, giving us an option for any wind direction. We camped on the beach with a beachy and point break in front of our tent and a waterfall behind it. We surfed many remote spots, and most I would never have found alone. One called Kumera Patch, we had to maneuver through cow pastures that were divided by electric fences and walked 45 minutes down a black sand beach to access. I got shocked only a few times each way and sand the 'Electric Feel' the whole way. On more than one occasion, at these new breaks, locals chatted to me and gave me helpful tips about where to sit so that I could catch as many waves as possible. It was too good to be true; I couldn't believe locals were actually showing me where to line up!
I spent my first days in NZ in Auckalnd, visiting a friend. Rachael hooked me up with her surf hungry friend, Stacey. Stacey and I surfed together at Piha my first day, and then she took me to a lesser known beach called Tawharanui. From the headland I saw waves breaking at three beaches next to each other with a few people the peaks. Stacey and I surfed all three, and I scored a few fast, head high barrels.

At the third spot, the sun descended from the sky spilling a pink hue over the green, hilly horizon and the volcano island in the distance. A guy in the lineup said, "That is my valentine," as he stared at the intense colors. I forgot it was Valentine's Day. Suddenly, a peeling right came straight to us. I wanted it, but he was closer to the peak. "You go for it," he said. I took off and rode it to the beach. That was my Valentine's gift.
As we struggled to pull off our wetsuit tops, that guy walked by. "Thanks for the wave," I said. He talked about the surf and checked out my board. When I told him I was heading to Rags, he said that he had a house there, and offered to drive me there and to even let me stay at his place. Once he was gone, I told Stacey there was no way I would go away with a stranger. I didn't want to end up like girls on the news that vanished while traveling. I asked her if it was creepy that some guy I barely knew invited me to stay with him, and she looked at me like I was crazy. She reckoned it wasn't creepy or strange at all; it was a very Kiwi thing to do.
My last surf in NZ took place at Manu Bay. I surfed with the boys whom I surfed with at Mussell Rock. The world class break didn't work when I was there before, so it was the first and last time I surfed it. The boys led me across the giant black boulders that we jumped off to land in the ocean, next to the peak. The wave reeled on and on in point break perfection, and we caught more than our share of rides.
I wasn’t a tourist as we joked and bantered in between sets; it was like we'd known each other our whole lives.
It felt good to have friends to say goodbye to. A friend I met traveling once shared a quote, "I have friends I hardly know, but the moments we shared I'll never forget." Moments like those spent surfing Mussell Rock, Manu Bay, and Tawharanui beach, doing the limbo with electric fences, and jiving to reggae beats I’ll always remember, along with the people I shared them with. I'll never forget dropping into so much local love.

By Melissa Diamond
Next Surf Story: Cloudbreak....Look before you Leap

Surfing for the Thrill of It!

2011-05-18T09:45:00.000+02:00

I am sitting at a secret break in the middle of Indonesia on the island of Sumbawa, my arms surfed out and my nose dripping saltwater. I am satisfied with the fatigue from a three hour surf, and I am seconds away from drifting into a siesta with hopes that I will wake up to find the wind still so that I can indulge in a sunset session. Moments like this were what I was always searching for, and for the moment I was a predator content with having caught my prey.

Surfing didn’t fall into my lap, as I grew up in the landlocked Midwest of the United States. A region known for growing corn, basketball, Indy car races, and deer hunting. My eyes first witnessed the wonder of an endless blue horizon, the ocean, at 12 on family vaction to Florida. The love affair commenced then, though I didn't learn how to surf until much later, at 19, and living in Florida.

Learning to surf threw my life into another realm, and I was consumed by it. Nothing compared to the ecstasy of dropping into a glassy wall of water, my gut shrilling with excitement like thousands of hummingbirds flitting in mad circles inside my stomach. I craved nothing more than waves. My obsession was more intense than a bad crush because it didn't just go away one day. My love for the art of surfing grew stronger the longer I surfed. Most people in my life did not understand my affinity for surfing, and saw it as a phase. Once graduated from college, questions directed at me often encompassed what I was going to do with my degree, and the time came to place my loyalties. The thought of joining the world of Monday through Friday 9-5ers depressed me. I opted to continue working as a waitress and moved to the beach so that I could surf every day.

My goal was to travel the world in pursuit of waves. In between travels, if there was surf in Florida, I got my shifts covered. Over time I became a surf instructor and a substitute teacher. These jobs also enabled me to work as much as I wanted when it was flat, but still offered the flexibility to take off whenever I needed. Surfing was more than just a hobby, it became an addiction I based life decisions on.

And so my life began, and the cycle of working and traveling was what drove me. I surfed all up the East Coast of the United States, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, California, Spain, France, Nicaragua, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Indonesia in the past six years. I even spent a year and a half living in Nicaragua where I worked at a surf camp.

My next destination was J-Bay in South Africa. These twists, turns, and detours are my life, and I will never forget the waves I caught, the lessons I learned, or most importantly, the people I met. The journey never ends, because one always led to another. Drop into my world of soul surfing soley for the thrill of it.

By Melissa Diamond

Next Surf Story; Local Love

Behind the scenes take 4

2011-04-19T08:32:00.000+02:00

And we’re back with our monthly “behind the scenes” report.

The sun is out and the waters are warming up down here in Europe. Time to swop to a 3.2 wetsuit and get down the store for a new pair of funky flip flops…summer is on his way.

At first we would like to thank everybody who came down to the Good People Surf party in Amsterdam. Fully dressed, in ridiculous outfits to match the theme at the party location, cafe WESTER, in Amsterdam. The night was filled with cold beers, crazy dance moves and a lot of good people to talk too.

Last week, Jay travelled back to Spain to settle down for upcoming summer. With our Good People Surf van completely filled up with new Quiksilver wetsuits, flyers, banners, Sector 9 and Santa Cruz skate longboards and more. According to the Zarautz swell and weather report he will have enough waves and sunny days to try out his new classic longboard.

In our back offices in Amsterdam and Houston we’re working hard on Good People Surf’s new merchandise, marketing, sales and product development. Summer reservations start to come in and our new crew is almost complete. We will introduce them personally to you in our next behind the scenes report!

Our G-team member and Good People Surf representative in Spain, Paulo, left surfboard company Pukas for a new and more challenging position down at MOOR Surfboards. MOOR Surfboards is growing bigger and better with home shapers Chris Hunt from Australia and Glen Minami from Hawaii. This summer we will introduce our surfers to MOOR boards and we might have a whole new factory tour coming up. Moor to come…!

See ya!

Mrs Joans

2011-04-05T09:25:00.002+02:00

Behind the scenes take 3

2011-03-17T12:17:00.000+01:00

"Behind the scenes take 3"

And we’re back with our monthly “ behind the scenes ” report.

First of all… Morocco. We had an awesome time over there thanks to the great group of people that joined us on the trip and of course the Kahina crew!

The week was filled with daily bright blue skies, good morning yoga sessions, happy jambee tunes, delicious Moroccan dishes, chilled surf sessions, Moroccan style bargaining, amazing culture, some good cold beers and above all, a lot of happy moments!

Now back at the office in Amsterdam we’re working on our last details for the 3^rd stop of the Good People Surf Grand Tour. The party will take place on the 2^nd of April in Amsterdam.

Beside that we’re working hard on putting our crew together for summer, good new trips/camps and merchandise.

Jay will be off to our Good People Surf HQ in Spain to surf and see how things are going there. Paulo, our representative for Spain, just became a dad and we would like to wish him and his family the best time ever with his newborn girl. Andrew, our representative for the USA is totally getting the word across and also over there people start to get excited about our trips and camps. As you can see…there’s a lot of work to do and a lot to ENJOY!

See ya!

Mrs. Joans

Marketing

Good People Surf

jb@goodpeoplesurf.com

Behind the scenes take 2

2011-02-02T10:08:00.000+01:00

Hey everybody, hereby we present to you Good People Surf “behind the scenes” take 2.

A little monthly peek in our surf organization and minds. Here we go…

from Julian W. to Jay

Big boss Jay just came back from our Good People Surf Grand Tour USA. After the crazy G.P.S. party at Whiskey Town, NYC we organized a G.P.S. BBQ get together in Manhattan Beach, CA. It was an awesome time together with partner in crime and Good People Surf Team member Andrew. They traveled together to see friends, visit partners (Rainbow and Sector 9 among others) and of course to surf (thanx to Ray’s SUP boards they could also surf the flatter days). Because of a good friend at Quiksilver, Jay can enter the water looking fierce in a wetsuit that was personally made for Julian Wilson. Julian changed sponsors (Quiksilver to Nike 6.0).

Here at the office in Amsterdam we’re preparing everything for our trip to Morocco this month. We can’t wait to zip up our suitcases board bags and wetsuits again. Until then we’re working hard to surprise you with new trips and camps. Our meetings always end up in interesting brainstorms (we all get extremely excited about new ideas) accompanied by good amounts of food and coffee. For our May Sessions we’re on a journey to cross borders again for 2012 and a totally new location is coming up for this September. It’s gonna be an awesome year, I can tell you that much!

First is our Good People Surf party in Amsterdam. The DJ who will play his tunes this night will receive a week of free stay at our Good People Surf Camp Zarautz. Suggestions are always welcome on jb@goodpeoplesurf.com

SECTOR 9 factory

We’ll keep you posted about the exact date/time/place and theme!

NEW: GOOD PEOPLE SURF TWITTER

Old but good: GOOD PEOPLE SURF FACEBOOK

Old but almost new: GOOD PEOPLE SURF WEBSITE (new website plans are made...)

See ya!

Mrs. Joans

Marketing
Good People Surf
jb@goodpeoplesurf.com

SUP day at the beach RAINBOW factory BBQ Manhattan Beach

Videos Good People Surf week 1-7

2011-01-18T11:13:00.000+01:00

Check our videos and join us for a ride in summer 2011!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngPMCsLZuso

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxDcQP6PT-Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoaTvz9qMqw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS6YClFlK6Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1xxKNHwkiY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lB9SxR9xxs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxu6zwIpAO4

www.goodpeoplesurf.com

Good People Surf " Behind the scenes" take 1

2011-01-07T20:37:00.002+01:00

NYC & AMS

The bar is fully decorated
Good People Surf style

The first Good People Surf “ behind the scenes” report is a fact. Monthly you’ll get a little peek inside our company and minds to show you what we’re working on at that moment. Here we go….

Our big boss Jay left Holland to start our Good People Surf Tour. We came up with this plan to make good people all over the world familiar with our logo, products, trips and camps. Hereby we want to get to know and attract more international people to share our love of surfing with. The party in NYC was a great success. Good vibes, sweet people and a lot of interested (new) surfers who’d like to come to Europe to join us on our trips and camps. Upcoming weeks Jay will travel west to explore and surf the Californian waters. A Manhattan Beach Mansion will be the second location of the Good People Surf Tour…more about this next month.

Good friends, good fun

Meanwhile, Lola (our Good People Surf dog) and I are back and comfortable in Amsterdam keeping everyone up to date on our latest news and camp & trip details. Having just returned from my own amazing 8-month surf trip to Panama and Costa Rica, I’m working hard to get all preparations done for our upcoming trip to Morocco in February, so get excited!

Joan Bergmans

Marketing Good People Surf

jb@goodpeoplesurf.com

GOOD PEOPLE SURF GRAND TOUR

2010-12-22T13:18:00.001+01:00

‎* GOOD PEOPLE SURF GRAND TOUR*

NYC- December 29

MANHATTEN BEACH C.A.- January (date will follow soon)

AMSTERDAM- March 26

BARCELONA- May 28

good people, good vibes, good FUN

come and party with us..

Good People Surf goes on a trip to meet and greet great people from all over, to have a good time and to introduce ourselves and our trips/camps for those who are new to the experience.

First stop is going to be in the heart of New York City in Whiskey Town. A good bar with good people, good vibes and great drinks.

Hope to see you there!

Good People Surf | Create Your Badge

SURFING MOROCCO

2010-12-20T17:03:00.000+01:00

Please JOIN us on a very GOOD trip to Morocco (see 2009-2010 photos below)

February 19-26 FULLY BOOKED

February 26 - March 5 open to all good surf people

For more info check www.goodpeoplesurf.com or email us; j@goodpeoplesurf.com

gEt ExCiTeD, sUrF's Up

2010-11-12T14:10:00.000+01:00

SURFING MOROCCO February 19 to 26 (Further info follows soon..)

2010-11-07T19:34:00.000+01:00

2010-10-07T10:37:00.000+02:00

For more info check www.goodpeoplesurf.com and book yourself a GOOD trip!

See you in the line up

The Good People Surf crew

What a awesome GOOD summer it was

2010-09-24T15:12:00.000+02:00

Good People Surf wants to thank her crew, friends, surfers and everybody else who took part in our amazing Good People Surf summer.

THANX

October Sessions is coming up and stay tuned for our new Morocco update.

www.goodpeoplesurf.com

GOOD NEWS

2010-08-25T19:34:00.000+02:00

Panama paradise update from Mrs. Joan`s

2010-08-04T02:53:00.000+02:00

Paradise update from Mrs. Joan`s

KING of DUMPERS surf contest Bocas del Toro, Panama

A rainy small day at La Curva beach didn't stop the surfers from riding good waves and having a blast. Under a umbrella with chilled reggae tunes in the background and a cold beer in our hands we cheered for all competitors in the water. Almost got myself into the competition because two other girls bailed out. Surfing a dry reef break with somebody else`s board in jeans shorts didn't seem like a good idea, so I had to disappoint the judges by finally deciding not to compete. Juampi Caraballo, local surfer and good friend, won the competition and he gave his biggest price, a brand new board, away to one of his surfer friends who came in second in the competition.

They decided to have a small party afterwards at the best sushi bar in town `Nami Sushi` where I did compete with myself during a bikini contest. You know, one of those things that starts off as a joke and in the end you stand there in a tiny bikini in front of 30 people with two big red cheeks feeling slidely uncomfortable! I kept my promise, gave a show, made people laugh and tried to make the best out if it....which leaded to winning a brand new unique ARNETTE bikini...what a day!

Special thanks go out to Olmedo and Begoña for organizing the event, all sponsors and everybody who was there making this happen..oNe LoVe

Mrs. Joan`s

2010-07-17T20:39:00.000+02:00

GOOD PEOPLE SURF

newsletter

Let's get it started

The first busses arrived, everything is ready...so let's start the best surf summer at the Good People Surf camp. Thanks to our crew and good friends who managed to transform the grassy campground to a true surfer's playground. To complete our 2010 crew I'm very happy to introduce to you Naiara and Anna. Naiara is going to keep all surfers flexible by teaching yogilates classes during the season and Anna is going to join our surf team and she will teach you all about the main reason we're here:

surfing good waves.

Wanna read more about these lovely ladies or the rest of the summer crew....check out our blog on www.goodpeoplesurf.blogspot.com

Activities

Beside our daily fun surf lessons we also organize other activities. Always wanted to see how surfboards are made. Join us on our surf factory tour. This tour will bring you to the biggest surf factory of Europe called OLATU. Here you get the chance to see the whole surfboard making process from beginning to end. Good friend and local Zarautz surfer Paulo will guide you around telling all you want to know!

If you're ready for some culture you can join us on our San Sebastian Tour. This city is one of the most beautiful cities of Spain and with his interesting history, breath taking views, and delicious Basque food and drinks.

WQS San Miguel Pro Zarautz ******

Back this summer in Zarautz is the San Miguel Pro. The 6 star WQS (World Qualifying Series) surf event will take place from the 31^st of August till the 5^th of September. If you want to hang out with the pro's,see world class surfing and enjoy the event atmosphere and music. Come down in the week of 28/8 – 05/09 for some good fun!

Sector 9

Also this summer you can cruise around on one of the new Sector 9 long skate boards. Sector 9 is creating unique long skate boards since 1993 and were the first one doing that. They grew big and became the most popular long skate board brand worldwide because of their exciting 1970`s shapes and unique art decorations.

All our Good People Surf guests can use the newest Sector 9`s, free of charge to cruise around Zarautz!

And the winner is...

Our Good People Surf competition came to an end last week. Big thanks go out to everybody who sent in his favorite surf related photo. It was very hard to pick a winner, but finally we managed to make a good decision.

1. Fanch….you won a free week of accommodation at our camp!

2. Sylvain Fleur....you won a unique Good People Surf hooded !

3. Robin Bini Schneider....you won a unique Good People Surf shirt!

Check for the winning photo`s the Good People Surf facebook!

Congratulations!

www.goodpeoplesurf.com

www.goodpeoplesurf.blogspot.com

or check Good People Surf on Facebook

If you want to unsubscribe from this super cool newsletter please sent an email to jb@goodpeoplesurf.com

Maddy

2010-06-24T10:20:00.001+02:00

I like to welcome Maddie Taylor to our 2010 team! Maddie will be working the back office in the mornings. Whenever you send an email or you call us for whatever reason she will be answering all of your questions in English or Spanish.. We know Maddie from last year when she was a client on the camp and here to improve her surfing skills. You will see her out there in all the conditions, even the hairy ones! Now she will be working with us and we are excited to have her in our team. Welcome Maddie!

Surf Instructor from Panama/USA

2010-06-19T13:36:00.000+02:00

Our 3rd Surf Instructor to complete the team for the summer is a current Panama resident but originally from Half Moon Bay, California: Anna Pasternak. Anna is currently working as the Director of Global Environmental Brigades where she leads university students on environmental projects in the rural areas of Panama. She has been surfing with her family when growing up and still loves it! Anna will be joining us right after she finishes up with her work in July. Welcome to the 2010 Crew!!

What Our Crew Has To Say..

2010-06-17T10:29:00.000+02:00

We asked our crew to tell you a little bit more about themselves to get a better idea of who you will meet and stay with at the camp this summer. Their hobby's, likes, places they travelled, spots they have surfed and more.. Stay Tuned!

Golden Oldie

2010-06-10T10:41:00.000+02:00

I like to welcome back our Dutch friend and 3 years in a row Good People Surf Instructor, Yvo Buziau. Well known for his theory classes and his broad interest for any kind of news, he's the wikipedia of the camp (yvopedia..). Also our monday night BBQ meat master, party starter and of course a very good surf instructor! Welcome back dude!

2010-06-09T13:11:00.000+02:00

Green House Bar

2010-06-05T11:08:00.001+02:00

With pleasure I present to you our Bar Queen for this summer: Winnie! With a few years of working experience on other surf camps Winnie will shake it up behind the bar with a huge Dutch smile and entertaining stories. She will also be helping out with the surf lessons since she recently passed her exam for the BSA Surf and Lifeguard course. Congratulations and welcome to the 2010 Crew!

Surf Instructor from Oz

2010-05-21T12:09:00.003+02:00

Our first Surf Instructor to introduce for the Summer is Remy Hopgood. From Australia he's now traveling and working his way around Europe to make a solid stop at the Surf Camp Zarautz to teach you the very basics of surfing and some of the most stylish moves. Being an incredible surfer and Good People himself you will be able to enjoy Remy's company in the water as on the camp. Welcome to the 2010 Crew!

Breakfast Smile

2010-05-14T11:36:00.006+02:00

Our Sunshine Girl in the morning for the 2010 Zarautz Crew: Sophia (Soof). She will be serving you a delicious breakfast every morning with fresh fruit, cereals, yoghurt, eggs, french bread, coffee, juice and more.. You will be warmly welcomed at the buffet with her big smile and enthusiastic stories, a good way of waking up. We already enjoyed Soof's company at the camp last year when she was our happy dish wash girl. Welcome back Soof!

Surf Camp Zarautz Crew

2010-05-12T10:38:00.002+02:00

It is a pleasure to introduce you to Joaquim Bel (Quim). A Barcelona local who works as a freelance designer/videographer. He will be our Photo and Video man in Zarautz this summer. Quim will be filming your actions in and outside the water. He joined us on our Surf Trip to Morocco last March and made a short video compilation. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet: www.vimeo.com/10385071

More Crew

2010-05-08T11:38:00.000+02:00

A new face this summer at the Green House Reception. All the way from 'steaming' Iceland we have the pleasure to welcome Dunda for the 2010 Crew! With her acting studies just finished you can expect her to put up a show in the mornings and during our tours and activities.

Stay tuned for more crew to come!

Good People Surf Camp Zarautz Crew..

2010-05-05T12:16:00.001+02:00

Hi All!
Hereby I like to introduce you to Steve.
Steve has been with us for the last 6 years. He started out as a happy camper and now has been a happy crew member for the last 3 summers.
Steve is our Head Dish Wash Captain and famous for his Big Smile, his enthusiastic stories and his capability of making you feel at home on the camp.
Welcome back Steve-O!

Surf Camp Zarautz Crew

2010-04-23T11:22:00.007+02:00

I like to introduce you to our new CHEF's for this summer: Joanne and Matt from the UK

They have been providing France with their delicious meals over winter and will be cooking up the good stuff for us during summer after a great day of surfing..

Look out for more crew to follow!

2010-04-23T04:31:00.003+02:00

Hey all,
A big HI from Bocas del Toro, Panama. To escape the Dutch cold winter I travelled down to Central America and got stuck in Bocas del Toro, Panama. This group of Islands are called *PARADISE* for several reasons...perfect surf, days full of sunshine, palmtrees on white sandy beaches and good vibes all around. The REEF team just visited the islands for the well known REEF calender shoot and flipflop ads. Besides the fact that Mick Fanning is a very bad dancer and Rob Machado needs a haircut we had a GREAT time.

My surfsession, yoga class and sushi dinner made me sleepy so i`m off to bed. I wish you all sweet surf dreams and we see eachother in the well known Zarautz line-up this summer!

Love,peace,surf
Mrs. Joan`s

Good People Post

2010-04-22T11:13:00.000+02:00

Welcome to the GPS Blog!

Post your comments on the trips you have done with us or are about to do. Ask questions and basically just post on how you feel what your day looks like and what interests you.

We will be putting on information of our new 2010 Surf Camp Zarautz Crew as we will introduce them to you to get an idea on who you will be seeing on the camp, their interests and their function.

We start of with our Marketing surfer girl Joan, who at this moment is exploring waves in Panama and was sipping on some beers with the international REEF team just yesterday.

You will hear from her shortly...