Why you should be in the water now

Surfing has been around for… God only knows how long! If you never thought it was “your thing” maybe you should reconsider! Here are 10 reasons you should go surfing:

1. Its great exercise! Surfing uses muscles in your body that you probably didn’t know existed! Who doesn’t love having an 8-pack?
2. Its low impact for your body. Rather than lifting, sprinting, squatting, and doing all those other exercises that gym people do, grab a long board and hang ten!
3. Surfing is unlike any sport out there! When you’re standing in the wave, the experience is unreal!
4. When your stressed, try paddling out and separating your self from land. Have you looked to land from the water? Its a completely different perspective and your thoughts will become so much more clear.
5. Even if you aren’t stressed, being out in the water is good for you mentally. Just like  Yoga, surfing is used for meditation. There is nothing to focus on but the wave.
6. People go to the beach because its hot! So what better way to cool yourself off on a hot day than to go surf!
7. Yes, you need a board but once you have your gear, its free! The ocean doesn’t charge you a cover and you don’t have to buy a lift ticket!
8. No two waves are the same! The experience is different every time you go!
9. Have you smelled surf wax before?! Its amazing! Enough said.
10. One word: Babes.

What’s your top reason to get out in the water?

A Little History Lesson of South Coast Surf Shop

If you stopped into any of our stores lately, you’ve probably seen some changes! Our new girls shop in OB is looking great and our men’s store 4 doors up has undergone a facelift with a new wetsuit and surfboard section, as well as new vendor and footwear sections. In light of all these great changes, we wanted to give you a little history lesson of good ol’ South Coast!

Keep reading and you could win a South Coast hoodie!

At age 21, Rob Ard had a vision of expanding a local surf shop, Ocean Beach Surf Shop (no affiliation with today’s Ocean Beach Surf and Skate). In 1974, Rob took the name South Coast Surf Shop and opened his first location in Ocean Beach. 13 years later, Rob saw an opportunity to reach a new market: inland communities. With Rancho Peñasquitos identified as a booming area, South Coast’s second location was born. At the same, the Ocean Beach location needed expansion as well. Rob took the business to 5023 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach and that location still exists today. The Inland community wasn’t producing the business Rob hoped for but he had his eyes on another location- Pacific Beach.

In 1993, he partnered with Eric “Bird” Huffman to create South Coast WindanSea, a bigger location from the original South Coast and 1/2 a block away from the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. Erich “ET” Tramonti joined the partnership at that time as well. Rob thought all his angles were covered in the San Diego beach communities but 1 year later, when a new location opened up in OB, Rob jumped at the opportunity. South Coast Longboards honored surfing’s history and catered to longboard enthusiasts. Something was still missing though. Women’s fashion was quickly evolving and a standalone store was the ultimate solution. In 1999, South Coast Wahines entered the Pacific Beach community and was fully stocked with women’s clothing and footwear. 11 years after the opening of Wahines, longtime employees Heather Shields and Steve Cowan stepped into partnership roles after Bird stepped down to pursue his owns dreams. The success of Wahines was unimaginable and with two men’s-focused shops in Ocean Beach, the owners felt it was necessary to convert Longboards into another women’s location. In April 2012, South Coast Wahines Ocean Beach opened its doors. Today, South Coast Surf Shops boasts 5 locations including South Coast Closeouts (a discount surf shop) and men’s and women’s locations in Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach, as well as an online store.

Test your South Coast knowledge…

First person to get this question right wins a South Coast hoody!

Here is the question:

Where was the original South Coast location back in 1974?

Hint: It was NOT mentioned above! Good Luck!

Answer in the comment section below!

Quick Tips for Traveling Surfers

Sunscreen? Check! Wax? Check! Surfboard? Check! Packing for your epic surf trip is only half the battle! The other half? Dealing with the airlines and luggage! I asked our expert travelers for helpful hints on traveling with your boards!

1. When packing, you want your boards extra padded so use clothing, wetsuits, and towels around your board in your board bag to ensure no breakage.
2. Pack your wax, sunscreen, solarez, and other accessories in your travel bag. You can’t carry it on based on regulations. Make sure to put it separate baggies just in case there’s a leak!
3. Check with your airline on bag limits, boards per bag and bag fees- if you’re planning on using a certain travel bag, it may prohibit that.
4. Buddy up with your board bags. They don’t usually charge you for how heavy your bag is- just a flat fee- so you will save money in the end.
5. Prepay for your luggage before you get to the airport- you may pay less money.
6. One of South Coast’s owners, Steve, stresses this last tip: Always buy a bag with wheels! Nothing is worse than navigating through an airport carrying board bags.

Stop into any of our South Coast locations for your surf traveling needs!

Does anyone have good travel tips I missed?

Ryland recently traveled down to Nicaragua and scored some great waves with great people and here are the clips to prove it.

Nicaragua with Ryland Rubens from Ryland Rubens on Vimeo.

Deep Water: Mavericks

After a double-session day in Hawai’i, Kohl Christensen chases a swell to the cold waters of Northern California. In this third part of the Deep Water series, Kohl speaks about Mavericks, remembering Sion Milosky and the toll big wave surfing can take on the body.

Deep Water, Pt.3: Mavericks from Patagonia on Vimeo.

Check back to our blog for more updates on Kohl Christensen and his big wave adventures!

Deep Water: Jaws

Maui in the morning and the North Shore in the afternoon. In the second part of the Deep Water series, Patagonia ambassadors Kohl Christensen and Ramon Navarro double-session one of the first swells of 2011 at Peahi and an Oahu outer reef.

Stay tuned for the next Deep Water feature from Christensen as he chases a swell to Mavericks