Surfistas Travelogue

Photography by Jon Furlong.See ya next year! 

While the West Coast has had one of it’s best summers in years, it still doesn’t compare to what you could find if you journeyed down beyond the border and deep into Mexico. If you’re based on the East Coast, well, then fuhgeddaboutit — the summer doldrums were in full effect.Whenever a big ol’ blob starts forming in the Southern Hemisphere, with the capacity for generating swell for hundreds of miles of coastline, the collective gears start turning in the minds of the stoke-hungry. Flights get checked, calls get made, and, if everything lines up, triggers get pulled.Boom. Strike mission, commenced.  That’s exactly how it went for four surfers from Dark Seas Division: Duran Barr, Chauncey Robinson, Nils Schweizer, and Walker Hawes.Nils — who spends a healthy portion of the year posted up in Pascuales — had the easiest commute of the bunch. He dusted off some old-faithful foam, rolled out of bed, got properly tubed, and was back home before lunch.Like a good uncle, Duran took the young gun Walker down to Puerto Escondido to test boards (and bones) in the gladiator pit that is Zicatela. Turns out the grom is a phenom when it comes to shooting heavy tubes. Check out his wave around the 2:20 mark, I mean, seriously. Look close at how he stalls to set up his backside barrel ride and flawless grab-rail technique. The kid is batting way above his age. There’s two words that come to mind when you see a young’n rip so hard on an epic surf trip, thanks unks.Meanwhile, Chauncey traded a dead-flat Florida summer for the long, spinning right-hand points farther down the coast. On one of those points, the set up itself is the kind you would dream about and, if you were artistically inclined, draw in your notebook. I’m not sure if Chauncey’s the type to sketch dreamy waves but he sure knows how to draw a sick line when the canvas is a pointbreak.Check out the edit to get hyped and then take a look at the charts, there’s plenty developing on both coasts and further afield. So, you know, check the flights, make the calls, pull the trigger and do the damn thing.

 Dark Seas Division is proud to introduce a collaboration with the creative mind of Nathan Kostechko.Raised on tattoo ink and punk rock, Nathan's influences bleed through into his artwork. The imagery disrupts paradise by combining vintage tattoo flash and grim reapers among idyllic coastal landscapes. The result is a feeling of impermanence that encourages us to be present in the moment.The product features 4 of Nathan’s original designs incorporated into a variety of tops and headwear. 3 t-shirts, a sweatshirt, and a collared shirt all boldly display Nathan’s signature style artwork, while 3 classic corduroy pieces: a bucket hat, cap, and jacket, subtly incorporate his illustrations on the inside lining. Completing the collection is a classic waffle knit beanie with embroidered logo - Nathan’s go-to for late nights in the studio or early morning surf checks.Our collaboration is a celebration of Nathan’s art and his various forms of creative expression. Whether it's a tattoo gun, paintbrush, or board, Nathan’s unmistakable style shines through.Experience the collection and dive into the imagination of Nathan Kostechko. INSTAGRAM:@nathan_kostechko@nathans_loungeWEBSITE:NATHAN_KOSTECHKO_STUDIO 

AFTCO HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF SUMMARIZING THE IMPORTANCE AND GOAL OF OPPOSING THE WE ARE ONE OCEAN INITIATIVE. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THEIR OPEN LETTER TO THE WSL. World Surf League,As members of the fishing, surfing, diving, and paddle sports communities, we greatly appreciate We Are One Ocean’s dedication to protecting our global oceans and commend you for including a few participants from the scuba and sailing worlds in this effort. We are writing to request that the voice of one of the largest utilizers of the ocean resource—the fishing community—is included as well.We all agree that the ocean is in desperate need of our help. A campaign focusing on plastic pollution, ocean acidification, biodiversity, freshwater runoff, and regulation of global fishing fleets is of critical importance. Effectively addressing these threats to biodiversity must however come with a stakeholder-driven process. Specifically, that means a conversation around protected areas allowing for well-managed and sustainable wildlife-dependent activities.Our community has demonstrated proven strategies (seasonal closures, bag and size limits, elimination of destructive gear, etc.) that have restored many inshore saltwater fisheries and certainly earned us a key voice in this conversation. We look forward to engaging in a dialog around your definition of “low impact fishing,” along with the roles and authorities for those charged with carrying out any potential 30x30 initiatives that you support.Like surfers, our community requires access to pursue our passion. We know that the WSL does not intend to inadvertently ban fishing access. However, without representation in the process, we have no assurance that our access will not be negatively impacted. Many of the emotion-based arguments made for recreational fishing closures could one day be applied to beach and surfing access. As a final note of caution, we encourage the WSL to only support practically applied science-based conservation efforts.The companies below are but a few who make a living on and from the ocean, each interacting with the resource in a unique and personal way. Our industries require a healthy ocean to survive. As a collective group, we encourage the WSL to suspend the promotion of their petition and sit down with these companies along with organizations that can speak for fishing interests like Keep America Fishing and the Coastal Conservation Association. We look forward to discussing how We Are One Ocean can best be molded into something that works to enhance both the marine resource and the use of that resource.