If you read my guide on how to plan your first international trip, then you already know that minus my world travels and extended surf safaris, I’m a regular dude. If you don’t know… now you know. Here’s the surf trip packing list that was included in that post: Surf Trip Packing List In this […]
Author: TheStevens
How To Plan Your First International Surf Trip
In the spirit of being completely honest with strangers on the internet, I want you to know a few things about me right out of the gate: Despite having an embarrassingly ordinary life on paper, I have managed to pull off fifteen international surf trips and one year-long surf safari in the last twenty years. […]
Surf Guide: Miyazaki Japan by Van
Chasing waves through Miyazaki, Japan in a surf van is one of the better short-term surf adventures I’ve had. I consistently had fun waves with low crowds and saw a side of Japan most tourists don’t access. If you’re interested in taking a surf trip to Japan, my experience will help give you a better […]
How To Forecast for Japanese Typhoon Surf
Recommended Tools: High Level – Tracking Typhoon Action Use the JMA website to track when typhoons are developing and what their direction is forecasted. You can see typhoons potentially forming earlier on some other weather apps, but I wouldn’t consider it officially a typhoon. That’s going to generate swell until you see it on the […]
Surf Guide: Hainan, China
I had heard from a few sources that there were actually good waves in China, many of which were uncrowded. I took the first few accounts with a big grain of salt, as any cautious surfer who knows anything about the validity of surf reports from other surfers should. But a few credible sources peaked […]
Surf Guide: Southwest Sri Lanka
I spent a few weeks in Sri Lanka this year to see what the hype was all about. Here’s what I learned, and just about everything you need to know before you go. An Introduction to Southwest Sri Lanka Surfing Southwest Sri Lanka beckons surfers with the promise of a vibrant, tropical escape. This stretch […]
Why are the waves in Sri Lanka so much weaker than in Indonesia?
TLDR: Why are the waves in Sri Lanka so much weaker than in Indonesia? It’s a combination of a longer travel distance for swells, the steep drop-off of Sri Lanka’s continental shelf, and less direct exposure to the swells. Weaker Waves in Sri Lanka As surfers, we are students of the ocean. We have to […]
The Perfect Wave Fallacy
A fallacy is a mistaken belief or error in reasoning; something that might sound logical on the surface, but doesn’t hold up when you look deeper. One of the most common fallacies is the Appeal to Popularity, “Everyone believes X, therefore X must be true.” It’s a fallacy because popularity doesn’t equal truth: Just because […]
4 Tips To Improve Your Surf Vacation in Japan
I spent a month in Japan and managed to get some good (not amazing) waves. I could have easily been skunked if it wasn’t for a few good local contacts and the flexibility to chase down swells. Here’s what I wish I had known before I went and my quick advice on how to make […]
Forecasting for Japan’s Shoulder Season: The Winter
Thinking about a winter surf trip to Japan? While fall boasts the most consistent waves, winter offers lower crowds and still the potential for fun waves if you know where to go. Here’s what you need to know: Japan Surf Seasons Overview Winter Surf Conditions Expect to rely heavily on short-period wind swells, which can […]