Waves Aren't Everything

Perfect waves. That is what most surfers have in the back of their minds before embarking on a surf trip. There is always a chance of not getting any surf at all, but we don't think like that. Once the boards, wetsuits, food and accessories are all packed up and in their place, all that's left to think about is the surf. In our minds we envision long, walled-up point breaks, steep hollow barrels, blinding offshore winds and empty, uncrowded lineups. Perfection. But, as a recent trip clearly illustrated, it's rarely the fairy tale we expect.

When all else fails and you are stuck with mediocre surf, onshore winds and no amenities, just remember that things could be much worse. Sometimes just being with a great friend in a new environment is enough to make all the hard work worth while. After all, waves aren't everything.