365 Days... on the road

365 days ago I hopped on a flight with a one way ticket to New Zealand, some surfboards, a backpack and a plan to create a lifestyle that revolves purely around surfing the best waves I can find while still being able to make a living from my art and design. I'd say the plan was/is a success. It has since taken me to 2 additional countries, shown me the joys of sailing and living on boats, logging over 1000 miles on yachts in the South Pacific. The plan has brought me a dream setup on a tropical island, my discovery of the sport of spear fishing, a new favorite breakfast... Muslie(with milk, yogurt and a sliced banana on top!), the opportunities to swim with whales and sharks, lots of mindblowing scenery, amazing waves, many wonderful new friends from all corners of the globe, and much, much more.

But most importantly, this last year has given me a broader perspective on life and has opened my eyes to the infinite possiblities for alternative ways it can be lived. There are so many people living lifestyles that are so different from the typical scenario of: work 9-5, get married, buy house, have kids, live in one place. Several people on my travels have inspired me with their uncommon and exciting lifestyle choices. And now, I might be more lost than when I started on this voyage, because the more I see and learn, the more options seem to present themselves... it's beginning to get a bit overwhelming! There are so many roads in life but so little time to go run off and explore them all...

Words of Wisdom

"Stripped of your ordinary surroundings, your friends, your daily routines, your refrigerator full of food, your closet full of clothes - with all this taken away, you are forced into direct experience. Such direct experience inevitably makes you aware of who it is that is having the experience. That's not always comfortable, but it is always invigorating."
- Michael Crichton

New Billabong Shirt

A new shirt I designed for Billabong is in stores... get you one. For some reason I'm not as happy about how this one came out, I like this one better.

OZ: Sydney

Gday mates! After just a day in Sydney, I'm convinced that this has got to be one of the most beautiful cites in the world... giant white Cockatoo's flying around, harbor coves, botanical gardens, parks, amazing buildings, and gorgeous women on every corner. And right now the weather is as good as it gets I think; sunny, hot, humid, leave the doors wide open all night and sleep with nothing but a sheet. Currently staying with a culturally eclectic mix of nice lady friends (2 Brazilians, 1 Argentinian, 1 Kiwi and 1 Brit) in a high rise condo overlooking downtown, Hyde Park, the Opera House and the harbor, what a view!!! (And of course, a hot tub and pool on the top of the place!) I must have been a good boy last year.

No plans, just gonna slowly make my way up the East coast until I find a place that has quality surf and a good vibe. Most signs have been pointing me to the Byron Bay area so we'll have to see what it's all about. Deciding not to buy a car this time... just a board bag and a backpack. Should make for good times!

10 Page Spread in TIDE Magazine

Check out this interview/article I did with German surf magazine TIDE (Yes, I said GERMAN surf magazine) for their Nov 2009 issue.

Sorry, I don't have the translation.... interesting questions though. And I thought they did a pretty good job laying it out...

>> DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE (690 KB) <<

NZ: So long Betsy

"Betsy- Living the beach bum lifestyle in Kaikoura"

Geeeez... I didn't think it was gonna be this hard. I sold her this morning, just like that.... Betsy -The Van, The Vart Studio, Home Away From Home, Friend, trusty travel companion... and now she's gone. Sad sad day. I'll be the first to admit, I had an emotional attachment to my vehicle... but who doesn't really? Hope she treats her new owners as well as she treated me... no drama, no talking back, she didn't get jealous when I slept somewhere else, didn't whine when it was too hot or too cold, loved long drives on the beach and dusty mountain roads.... she was a trooper. But maybe she's got a younger sister in Oz... : )

My god, just listen to me, I'm almost 30 and have been living out of a van on the beach for the last year, and was an emotional wreck when I sold it... what the hell is happening to me? The journey of life is a weird, weird thing.

Words of Wisdom:

"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can." - Danny Kaye

Dear New Zealand...

Dear New Zealand,

Thank you for such a wonderful time! Really. You've given me so many wonderful experiences over the last year... so many good memories that have all added to the richness of my life. And something has been calling me to come here for over 10 years. I'm glad I finally came to enjoy your beautiful islands and great waves. Life is all about turning the things you really want to do into the things you've done right?

You've raised a good kind of people too. There's a camaraderie between Kiwi's that you don't find in the states or anywhere else I've been. Just listening to two strangers talk would make anybody think they go waaaay back. There's an instant rapport.

And they're even nice to asshole foreigners like me. It's like they all know they've got this killer little paradise in the South Pacific and they get to stay but eventually we all have to go back home. They're generally happy with just a sprinkle of dingy which adds to their great character. They're hilarious. They like to help you and bullshit with you and they smile a lot. Maybe it's because there's only 4 million of them, they don't have pollution or 8 lane freeways, they have more coast line than the US and pumping surf all the way around it. You can't get very far from the beach if you tried (And I've always believed the farther away from the ocean, the stranger people get... after all, we all are made of 70% salt water) Or maybe because they don't have 5,000+ Illegal Mexicans jumping their borders EVERYDAY, or any borders at all for that matter, or nukes or people trying to blow up their buildings, or a crazy guy named George mucking everything up for the last 8 years. Anywho... Your Kiwi people are on my good list... and even though the girlies aren't the hottest in the world, they get big bonus points for the extra sexy accent.

As for your waves... some of the best sessions I've ever had. Lots of variety, lot's of swell... but a bit too much wind. You can't have it all I guess. Some of your barrels will stick with me until I die and put a smile on my face every time I think about them. However, I feel you were holding out on me a little on the South Island, what the hell? But you did save the best for last...

My last session in NZ... not a bad farewell eh?

Your scenery and landscape is mindblowing. I got to gaze at some of the most amazing sights I've ever seen. Mountain tops, mountain streams, snow covered volcanos, glaciers, ocean cliffs, rain forests, giant sand dunes, rock arches, alpine lakes, fern palms, oceans merging, sunsets that make you think somebody slipped a lil' LSD in your drink.... all of it jaw dropping. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for the visuals!

First sunset of the decade, Kaikoura, NZ - Jan 1st 2010

My time has come, I'm off to visit your big, fat, rowdy neighbor: AUSTRALIA. I'd like to come back someday but only in the Summer or Autumn.... you can keep your Springs and Winters... and you can also keep your Ozone hole (Burn time approx 8 minutes)... and your satanic Sandflies... and all your Mullets and Rat Tails.

I'll be recommending you to all my friends.

Stay cool. I love you.

Love, Me

To the Land of Oz:

Confirmed Date of Departure: January 12th 2010

A U S T R A L I A: It's a big place...very big! Rumored to have the longest dead-straight road on the planet, the biggest rock, beer guzzling natives, and of course... top-notch surf and beautiful women with sexy-as-hell accents lounging in the hot sand in little else but scraps of nylon and string. And I hear those "Sheila's" aren't shy either, they'll bite your head off and kick you in the beans.... I can't deny it... I like'm mean!

My New Zealand time is winding down. It's almost been a year of Beach Bumming and now it's about time to get down and dirty again, to get into a studio and make stuff, to sniff paint and sawdust, to slam out some big design projects, to be productive, to settle into a spot for a while(with good waves of course), to network, and to grow(my dwindling bank account!)... it's all part of the cycle I guess. Work - play - work - play...

If you know anybody in Oz who:

1) Surfs
2) Paints
3) Is a fit female age 18-36(Hey, you can learn some things from the older ones!)
4) Likes to pamper guests
5) Owns a gallery
6) Needs graphics designed
7) Owns a brewery/bar
8) Has a hot tub
9) Is a Paraglide instructor

...then shoot me an email, I'd appreciate the connection... it's all about who you know right?

Kangaroos and Koala Bears here I come!

NZ: Christmas Hike, Mt Fyffe, Kaikoura

Christmas was great! I didn't see one damn Christmas tree, no twinkling lights, no tacky tinsel, no paper wrapped presents or ribbons or bows, no stockings, no shitty music, no stars, no angels, no bells, no nativity scenes, no Santas, nothing... it was awsome! But I did see this...