Surf Advice from Dan Mann, Alex Novoa, and Moose Huerta

This month's podcast conversations spanned the full spectrum of surfing, from the craft of board design to overcoming fear in the water to staying stoked across decades. First, Dan Mann, shaper for Kelly Slater and Stab in the Dark (SITD) X winner, discussed behind the scenes moments of SITD, and broke down the evolution of his new designs. Second, Alex Novoa of Surfing Your Fears brought a deeply personal and holistic perspective on helping surfers overcome fear and trauma, build ocean knowledge, and finally, catch waves independently — drawing on nearly 4 decades in the water and his own near-drowning experience. Third, Moose Huerta, an East coast longboarder, shared how he used the Basis Paddle Trainer to prepare for a ten-day boat trip in the Mentawais after being out of the water for 4 months. Here's a quick recap of our podcasts this month.

• Dan Mann Tells All on Kelly Slater, Stab in the Dark, and the DRK Surfboard 
• From Nearly Drowning to Helping Surfers Overcome their Fears w/ Alex Novoa of Surfing Your Fears 
• How a 4-Month Surf Break Led to 7-Hour Sessions in the Mentawais w/ Moose Huerta

Check out the podcast video below along with some of our favorite tips from our guest.

“He was saying it from the very first episode that I was the one that's in the most awkward position, and I appreciated him saying that. Then I would say, "Yeah, you know what though? Kelly's in a more sticky spot." And he's a target for so many people. The weight of the industry has been on his shoulders for so long. I can't even imagine how exhausted he is.”

“I can tell you for sure, on the level that he is with competitiveness, he's going, "Man, I hope I haven't been blowing it this whole time and sticking with Dan."

- Dan Mann

“One time I drowned basically, I made it, but it was super scary and I promised myself I'm not going to surf anymore. But then to get over this traumatic experience,I had to step back a few weeks, do this process about understanding my mistake. When I finally went back to surf big waves, that was scary.”

“You want to surf and you paddle out and the first set on the head, they kill your arms and then you go back to the beach and sit down. This is not fun. So I always tell people, you need to work out, you need to prepare yourself, you need to be strong, to get yourself in the impact zone and hold three, four, five waves on the head, because we always end in the impact zone.”

- Alex Novoa

“I kind of thought it can't be that easy. But then as I got into the product, I was like, oh, it's something that I didn't anticipate, I quickly figured out that it was a value.”

“When you can identify what you hope to be an older version of yourself, both by approach and style, I think that helps to show you how to age and how to age with grace and enjoy what you want to enjoy.”

- Moose Huerta

Enter the Basis Paddle Trainer.

I've gone months without surfing and rolled up to pumping swell and surfed 3 hr sessions, multiple times a day, day after day after day, by using the Basis Paddle Trainer.

Train anytime, anywhere, so you can catch more waves and have more fun.

Unlike elastic resistance bands, swimming in the pool, or funky gym workouts these things actually work.

Shipping globally now! www.surfbasis.com

For a deep dive customer testimonial from one of our early beta testers check out: