Life since learning this ancient Hawaiian art has been confusing. Not confusing in a bad way; it’s opened my mind to LSD-like alternate ways of thinking that have changed my ambitions. In simple terms, my family thinks I’m NUTZ. I had a relatively normal inland existence. Here’s a quick VHS fast-forwarded sequence of my path and how surfing altered it: being a kid, climbing trees, playing soccer, more soccer, going to school, skating, snowboarding, more soccer, 20-pound homemade Italian family meals, occasional sandcastles during beach visits, college, job, money, surfing, no job, no money, more school, parttime jobs, little money, lots of surfing, confusion. Get it?
Anyway, the ocean requires full commitment and it’s been a hard pill to swallow — for those around me. In order to fuel my surfing addiction, I sometimes have to make sacrifices that maybe my girlfriend — and family members — don’t truly understand. Where was the barn during lunch this Sunday? Why doesn’t he get a real job? Why is he always barefoot? Why does water flow like Niagara from his nose when he bends over to tie his shoes (oh wait, I’m barefoot; I mean, to scratch me toes)?
Well, I almost got a full-time, office, 9-5 life sentence recently. Career-wise it makes sense. I won’t go into the specifics of the job (well click here if you do want to hear about it) but it would certainly enhance my resume and put me in a room with people that I should probably know — all of whom would be wearing suits. Actual suits, not wetsuits.
A couple weeks ago, I went down to the great San Diego to go to a two-day meet-and-greet/ training with this company. Two days that I didn’t surf. The owner of the company — my potential soon-to-be boss asked me where I would like to be in five years. A standard question of course. I said, “That’s none of your business good sir!” Just joking, that’s rude. Well, his company sells sponsorships and I told him maybe I would like to continue selling sponsorships, but for surfing events. “That would be cool,” I said feeling uncomfortable in my “fancy shoes” while getting choked out by my poorly tied tie.
He started riffing. I mean, he was trying to display his knowledge of sponsorships and even surfing; he just went pure freestyle. He started surf name-dropping. He referred to the 11-time World Champion, the GOAT of surfing Kelly Slater, as “she.” “She could work with surf shops and brands to utilize sponsorships during surfing events. I’m not sure if she still surfs but I’m sure a big brand would love to make her surfboards,” he told me with pure confidence and conviction. I listened intently and nodded along reassuringly while slowly dying inside. It was funny. I understand, he thought Kelly was a woman because “Kelly.” He lost me right at that moment, however. Kelly is a 49-year-old who surfs like he’s a spring chicken; focused and determined never to quit the Championship Tour of surfing. He’s a bald magician, defying the natural laws of body deterioration and will probably surf until he’s 100. Come on boss! He was on Baywatch, you don’t know Kelly?
Bathing Suit? Or Fine Italian Suit? (Art by Kookalita)
What are some surf-enabling jobs?
I compiled a small list of potential jobs that would allow you to surf and make money. You could be some kind of mutated version of the person in the above picture. It doesn’t have to be either-or. Some work, some surf. This list is not in any specific order and maybe you could do other jobs and surf too, but remember, you need those glassy wave windows in the morning. Or you need the freedom to work around the tide, wind and swell charts.
- Freelance Writer/ Freelancing Any Service
- Contractual Employee
- Firefighter
- General Contractor
- Pilot
- Surf Tour Guide
- Hostel/ Hotel Worker
- Food Industry Worker
- Real Estate Agent
- Author
Really, there are soooo many options! I hope this tiny, tiny list will help you to start looking into these professions so you can feed yourself (that reminds me, I’m hungry) while also surfing regularly and more importantly so that you can buy more surfboards. I am truly interested in this topic — for obvious personal reasons — and will do a deep dive in the coming months. I will try to spend some time (post-surf) with the people I see surfing daily and ask them what they do professionally. I know this would be a very geographically biased sample, specific to my area, but it would be interesting and could give us some ideas on how to surf every day.
— Barney Beadette
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