NEW WAVES, NEW INSIGHTS Molly Landis sets the rail (for the first time!) at the south end of Playa Dominicalito. Dear Surf Nerd, Pura vida from rainy Costa Rica. As with most of the zines that get pushed out when I’m coaching on a trip, this one may be a little truncated. We’ve been putting in massive days of non stop surfing, stretching, and eating. We have found a nice rhythm. Pat has been remote working from the Rancho this week, and he has to log on around 930/10a. So Pat and I have been...
11 days ago • 10 min read
THIS WEEK WE GO A LITTLE DEEPER Dear Philo-surfer, I hope this finds you well today. I remain unhappy about global events and domestic politics. I am also still hopeful that humanity continues to learn valuable lessons. I enjoyed studying rail to rail surfing in greater depth this week. I made a first attempt at describing the concept to you here: You're a pro at this now. Click the pic and go to the tube. It’s all talking head except three fun waves after the outro. I recommend watching it...
18 days ago • 15 min read
NEW PHILO-SURFING TERRITORY The S-wings gave this board drive it doesn't natively have. Watch the Car Thoughts video to learn why I still need to ditch it. Good Day Surf Nerd! Last Saturday I surfed perfect baby waves at 94th St in Rockaway Beach with new-to-CSC human Laura Thompson. The day before had all the hype on it. Windswell from the south topping out at 6ft @ 7 seconds-ish. I checked everything in the 60s and 70s, but the waves just looked too weak and cold to pull the trigger....
25 days ago • 12 min read
BARBADOS II: WE PUSHED HARD All smiles for Barbados come-back warriors Peyton, Carlos, and Erik. I'm back from the second and last Barbados trip of 2026. This trip was a completely different beast. The first half was smaller waves at Cobblers, Maycocks, and Freights with some medium, messy days at Drill Hall and Soup Bowl mixed in for Kelly and Krishna. John got clean baby waves the whole time. He ended his trip with an incredible unfilmed session at Batt's Rock before I dropped him off at...
about 1 month ago • 14 min read
Meaningful Work With Kelly, Krishna, John, and Gil Hello dear surf nerd. You know how these ones go. I have been cooking, coaching, and driving for almost ten straight days now, which means it's time for one of your favorite photos and videos only post. None of these will link to YT. They're all view-in-post. I will pop in at Last Lines for updates. Enjoy! Sending Krishna off at the airport on March 19th (his birthday!) after surfing firing Freights Bay for three hours. Pic by John. K and...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
YOUR SURFING THANKS YOU FOR BEING HERE Coming to you live from Barbados 2026 Part II. Here with Kelly Haslinger and Krishna Dindial for Part I of Part II. After them it’s John Woods and Gil Morton. And then returning from Barbados Part I, it’s Pey, Erik, and Carlos for Part III of Part II. Here’s Kelly on clean one from last night: And here’s Krishna with his best duck dive form yet: While the world continues to spin out of control, we’re down here learning how to control the tails of...
about 2 months ago • 14 min read
Rumination On Violence And War Dear Fellow Philo-surfer, What an eventful week. It was surreal to hear the news of Khamenei’s death over a post wedding brunch I laid out in our hotel room. As a person born in 1980 and who grew up in and around the Bay Area for the first half of my life, I feel a special connection with the generation of Iranians whose families fled after the 1979 revolution. My classes at UC Berkeley especially were filled with Iranian peers who were born in America around...
about 2 months ago • 21 min read
BREAKING NEWS: I GOT MARRIED At our friend, Anthony Cappo's, wedding in Cape Cod July 2025 Outside of City Hall this morning, February 27th, 2026 (pic by Anthony!) Dear Friend, I told you last week that I had exciting news this week. And here it is! This morning, after 13 years of being together, and one hell of an insane winter (which we're still in obviously), Sophia and I officially bound ourselves together in legal matrimony. Vintage rings. Mine used to belong to her grandfather, Joseph...
2 months ago • 6 min read
WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM OUR LAST TRIP Surf hands are a thing. Keep em open, keep em flowing. Dear Surf Nerd, A week back in NY. The weather isn't that cold. But the water temps are! The big snow piles are finally melting. Parking spots are becoming clear again. As promised, this week I'm bringing you the last of the Barbados Progress Tapes – Carla, Bryce, and Alex. I think there's something in each of these tapes for every level of surfer. I'll start with Carla's tape, since she was the most...
2 months ago • 25 min read