Summer is here. I’ve already shared with you the Golden Rule to follow for this “surf season”, if you will. Since that writing, however, it has come to my attention that there are a lot more rules and regulations that need to be mentioned.
I’m attempting to write an unwritten rule book; things you should know without being told. Things that seem obvious, but, as they say, common sense is not so common.
So with that, this is Rule Number Seventeen. I don’t know how many rules there are. It’s like the government, we’ll keep adding them as we see fit. Following this protocol will ensure you a Stoked Summer. Here’s your law for this week:
Do not use your phone while in your wetsuit.
As soon as your first foot gets into the neoprene, no more phone usage. And not until you are completely out of your suit can you pick up that soul sucking device. Look, I don’t make the rules, I’m just passing them along to you. This is just like an advertising sign, a billboard, a road sign, the guidelines.
Why, you might ask. Why can’t I use my phone while in my wetsuit? Well, for one, did you get your wetsuit on to be on your phone, or to surf? It’s pretty straight forward. Surfing is the time to log off – of everything. The first step in doing so is to remove yourself from that radioactive, carcinogenic, addictive technological device.
Secondly, you don’t want to be that person who’s dripping wet, standing on your phone for 15 minutes after your surf. It’s a bad look. Can’t your phone wait? You should take this time to mentally review your session, your waves and highlights, your triumphs and tribulations. Why jump right back into the matrix of regular life at the first beckoning? Again, surfing is the time to get away and enjoy nature. Don’t treat it as anything other than that. You can find your waves on the Surfline camera later.
There is one exception to be noted – that is if you have a partner or loved one in a potential emergency situation. Maybe a pregnant spouse, a family member going through a medical procedure, something of this manner. A quick check of the phone before locking up and running out, and another look as soon as you get out of the water are completely acceptable. It does not need to be a board meeting in the parking lot though. No FaceTime or checking the socials. It’s a brief scan, and barring anything extreme, the phone is put right back away.
Most people will do all the phone stuff sitting in the car before starting the preparation routine, so this post could likely be superfluous for some of you. Look around though, the next time you get down to the parking lot. You’ll find a couple groms specifically, standing around in the suit and grinding away at their phone like a dog digging a hole. Don’t do that. It’s the rule.
Cheers,
hwilsin
Drew Stanfield