Initially you might think that the layout of the site is really messed up. But this is really intentional. The main purpose of these pages are for you to help you get information you need the most quickly. I use my own site several times a day to get vital surfing information I need. The page opens up with lots of surf prediction information. This is because once you start surfing that is the information you need to get most frequently. All other information is linked with a set of menu buttons on the left. The buttons will stay up because I have designed this site with frames. I know some people do not like frames, but I also want to put a minimum effort on my end to accomplish the functionality I want.
If you type in "surfing" on any search engine, there are just hundreds of surfing related web sites. So how did this page come to an existence?
About in the April or May of 2002, I have seriously start taking up surfing as a sport. This was mainly because I was gaining weight and did not do anything coming close to exercise. I was traveling a lot on business and also entertaining visitors to our company, so that did not help very much. So I needed to something, and the idea of going to a gym nor jogging several miles a day did not appeal to me.
Having lived in the San Mateo coast for over 10 years, I was always curious about surfing because it seemed to be challenging and also in general this is something people seemed to do all year around. So I have started to do some research on the Internet and as I find out more information, I have started to create a simple web page that had links to the resources and some explanations of what the sites were, and why I have picked these sites. The main purpose of doing this is to share the resources and stokes of finding out with other people who might benefit from the efforts I have made, and also get to the information from anywhere I go to (from work to being on a trip).
I also feel that the best way to create information about learning surfing, is when I am actually learning ant not "after the facts." I often ask experts about surfing and a lot of times, they cannot remember what they actually went through when they were learning. So I capture as much information as I can as I learn every day about this fantastic sport.
To this effect, I have started to Blog (Web Log) my experience as a one-way communication. However, in the summer of 2003, I have started to receive more questions, encouragements and also desire to meet surf together, so I have changed from Blogger to the Yahoo Group so this exchange is possible. Due to the origin of this site, however, I will continue to write more articles that share whatever I take in as new knowledge. I will try to write almost daily StokeCAST which encourage people to learn more about the ocean, waves, and weather so that they can learn to make good judgments about when and where to go out; when it is safe/fun and when it is unsafe. But my original goal stays the same, to share the information, therefore, I do not plan to grow the message board any bigger than what it servers the purpose.
Initially I was very doubtful if I have chosen the right sport to get into, as it turns out, it is one of the most difficult things I have ever done, and I will probably never master the sport like local top recreational surfers attain, but along the way, I have had a blast. I am really hooked into the sport.
You will often see me use the word Stoke or Stoked. I am really careful and deliberate about the use of this term. Stoke is something that unite all of the surfers... it goes beyond the words like; enthusiastic, excited, interested or attracted. When you surf, you are seriously stoked and there simply is no other words. If you do not understand the stoke today, you will by just hang around other surfers anywhere in the world.
So here is to your stoke!
The following individuals had made a significant difference in my surfing experience, so thank you.
Wendy, my wife, even though she does not surf, she totally understand the surfing culture, the lingo, lefts, rights, peeling etc., now anywhere we drive where these is a beach she can spot a good spot from bad in just a few breaks.
Bud: of WaveLust.COM who have surfed with Sunny Garica and other famous Hawaiian surfers and also a host of a great Oahu surfing web site!
Ward: Of Polkacide "Rock band" who has been my enormous mentor in terms of culture, the thought, the approach to surfing and also a great supporter of my site.
Nick and Annette Aylward is very responsible for getting me started in surfing, even though you made me buy a 7.0, I do appreciate you getting me into this sport. Someday, you are going to freak out that I gotten better than you thought I would.
Erick Beresford has been a subdued dude teaching me the most of what you read in the Beginner's surfing section. He has been a great inspiration to surfing.
Clio Lee of Santa Cruz, whom I met in Baja at Club Ed camp has been a big inspiration and also my sister/bra for surfing.
Ed Shelden has shot many good footages of my surfing. He has an extremely keen video eyes for telling the story through videos. I also wish him a good luck on his future production efforts.
Also the following individuals have provided me with valuable comments to improve my site and surfing experience.
Budd of WaveLust.COM, a "Surf Everyday" since a kid from Oahu providing much necessary encouragement from a long-time surfer viewpoint, he even surfed with Sunny Garcia!
Wardo who is a great Jazz musician and also also one of the long time best surfer for providing real tips.
Gioni Pasquinelli of Pacific Wave Rider and SC Surfing provided a good comment this web site.
Carol-Ann Towe and other members of The Surfrider Foundations San Mateo County Chapter for valuable comments about this web site.
The the 80 plus members (as of May 2004) of the StokeMasters Yahoo Group members who are now providing the main source of drive to these pages!