20 Quotes That Perfectly Capture the Essence of Surf Travel
The idea of surf travel evokes dreamy images of palm trees swaying in a tropical breeze. Waist-high waves peeling down an empty point break. A surf adventure south of the border where life moves slowly.
Naturally, we’re massive fans of the surf trip – both for its skill-boosting potential and the fact you can relax, unwind in luxury and forget about life’s daily stressors. And we’re not alone.
Average Joe and Jane surfers, iconic pioneers, fringe free surfers and world tour pros all agree. Surf travel and surf trips are an essential part of being a surfer. And here at Rise Up surf resorts, they’re our specialty.
What is surf travel?
Traveling to surf is based around the philosophy that there’s always breaking waves somewhere around the planet. You just need to know where to find them.
The surf trip encompasses visiting both far-flung surf regions like Nicaragua or Costa Rica and nearby destinations, like the next beach over or down the coast.
From well thought out strike missions (a.k.a. surf trips planned for a specific swell event) to long weekends dedicated to surfing. A surf trip to a surf camp, surf resort, surf boat or surf charter to seek out the perfect wave is part of being a surfer.
Surf trips can also be solo surf adventures or group surf experiences too.
If your best friend surfs, your next surf trip could be traveling together to find the perfect wave. However, if you want to make the pilgrimage to discover epic waves alone, that’s also perfectly acceptable.
The history of surf travel
Ever since the first modern surfboard was shaped and ridden in Hawaii, surfers have been drawn to explore new and distant waves.
Duke Kahanamoku, known as the father of modern surfing, traveled to California and Australia in the early 1900s, introducing the sport to new regions.
In the 1960s and 1970s, surfers such as Greg Noll and Gerry Lopez ventured to remote locations like G-Land and the Mentawai Islands, paving the way for future generations of surf travelers and the now ubiquitous surf travel company.
The allure of Costa Rica and Central America were encapsulated in the seminal dream surf trip movie, Endless Summer II.
Since then Torren Martyn’s unique and aesthetic approach to surfing has been captured during multiple surf trips to Europe, New Zealand, Morocco and Indonesia.
We also like to think that we promote traveling for surfing (sustainably, of course). With surf resorts throughout Central America and the Caribbean, you can score pumping waves in a tropical paradise while supporting local communities and preserving the environment.
Win-win-win, right?
What surf trips mean to Rise Up Surf
That brings us to our next point. What do surf trips and traveling for surf mean to us at Rise Up?
Well, for starters, it’s our bread and butter. We live and breathe surf travel. Our team is made up of passionate surfers who have traveled the world in search of perfect waves. Our founder, Phil, brought Rise Up to life on (you guessed it) a surf trip.
Connecting you with the best waves in an exotic destination is a big part of what we do, but it’s not just about the waves. Surf trips are about authentic experiences, creating unforgettable memories and forging connections with likeminded individuals.
Our surf resorts are also built around giving back to the communities they exist in.
That means your next adventure with Rise Up is not only a dream surf trip, but also a chance to make a positive impact on the local environment and culture.
Our 20 favorite surf travel quotes
That said, we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the inspiration and wisdom of those who’ve traveled before us.
Here are some of our favorite quotes that’ll perfectly encapsulate the feel of your next surf adventure.
1. “Some people travel to surf, but lots of times I feel like I surf so I can travel.” – Chris Malloy
2. “Surfing is simultaneously challenging, calming, healing and humbling. It both magnifies and microscopically sharpens your focus. It reveals a strength from within that otherwise might remain hidden. And it offers a space for meditation and perspective.” – Lara Einzig
3. “I never travel solo to be by myself. I travel solo to find new people.” – Kepa Acero
4. “There are so many opportunities to choose kindness, gratitude and compassion in life, and I find good things tend to happen when you lead with these traits.” – Torren Martyn
5. “For a surfer, it’s never ending. There’s always some wave you want to surf.” – Kelly Slater
6. “You know it’s not a cultural thing, we all have the sensation and when I saw the faces of those kids it reminded me what surfing can do, and that all the hardships are worth it.” – Kepa Acero
7. “I had wanted to be useful, somehow, to work, to write, to teach, to accomplish great things – what had happened to that? Yes, I had felt compelled, almost required, to take a big surf trip. But did it really need to last this long?” – William Finnegan (Barbarian Days)
8. “One cannot discover new oceans unless they have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide
9. “Surfing, alone among sports, generates laughter at its very suggestion, and this is because it turns not a skill into an art, but an inexplicable and useless urge into a vital way of life.” – Matt Warshaw
10. “Never drive away from good surf.” – Roger Sharp
11. “Surfing is the most blissful experience you can have on this planet, a taste of heaven.” – John McCarthy
12. “I’d rather not surf for a couple weeks, then save up my energy to go surf somewhere that’s either empty or pumping. Ideally both.” – Timmy Reyes
13. “The power of the ocean is humbling and exhilarating. It’s a constant reminder of our insignificance and our strength.” – Keala Kennelly
14. “Without enough time and enough money, you could spend the rest of your life following the sun around the world.” – Bruce Brown (Endless Summer)
15. “The idea was to travel slowly and take our time to really get to explore Australia. We wanted to find some waves, do a bunch of fishing and just spend some good quality time together as a family.” – Laurie Towner
16. “There is so much to learn from the people you meet while traveling, and being in the fortunate position to have the time and the means to be able to get to know these people is such a gift.” – Torren Martyn
17. “Just take your time, another comes. Let the other guys go, take another one.” – Duke Kahanamoku
18. “The newly emerging ideal was solitude, purity, perfect waves far from civilization.” – William Finnegan (Barbarian Days)
19. “The ocean is a vast playground, waiting to be explored.” – Rob Machado
20. “There was once a man who became unstuck in the world – he realized that he was not his car, he realized that he was not his job, he was not his phone, his desk or his shoes. Like a boat cut from its anchor, he’d begin to drift.” – Taylor Steele (Castles in the Sky)
Wrapping up
If you have the means and the passion, there’s no better way to experience the world and all it has to offer than through surf travel.
We hope we can make that experience even more fulfilling for you. Book your next surf trip by hitting the button below. Because nobody ever regretted an epic day of surfing in an exotic location.
