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Dr. Dion Mattison

I provide philosophically grounded, holistic, and actionable content for surfers of every level.

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La Sud Sessions, Submarine Canyons, Tofu Pizza Pizza, & Why I Ditched Whoop

For the most part we’ve been up in the Hossegor/Capbreton area targeting the premier small wave spot in the area: “La Sud.” La Sud, literally “the south,” is at the southern end of the Hossegor/Seignosse stretch of beach, just before the entrance to the Capbreton harbor. When Les Estagnots and La Graviere are 10-15ft, La Sud is 3-5ft and fun as all get out. What?! I know. It’s so wild. Literally you’re standing there staring at fun little waves and you just turn your head to the right, look...

Rebrand! I know that you here reading this did not need me to rebrand the zine in order to find value in it. I was driving down the coast route from Biarritz to Guethary one day with Alex and it just popped into my head while driving, “I’m going to rebrand the zine Dr. Dion’s Surf Secrets.” Alex said, “That would crush.” I didn’t pounce on it right away. We had a lot of surfing, eating, and sleeping to do. Then one morning this week back in Hossegor I woke up at 4a and put in the work. I...

I will have to figure out what is causing this issue! Sorry links were broken again. But here are your vids! Love, Dion

France/Spain. Great to be back! It’s a different experience showing up to a place that one has been to before. Last year when I arrived at BIQ (Biarritz Airport) I had no clue what to do, where to go, or what really to expect. It was November, not December. If you remember correctly, I didn’t do SD last year, and instead made up for the usual NY November flatness by getting to Europe earlier. Then I loved it so much that I extended my trip by a week. And that’s why I just decided to stay the...

Hope this works! Was alerted that the other link was broken.

You are what you eat! Haha. Dear Fellow Philo-surfer, This week I’ve been thinking about what it means to be “thankful.” First of all, when you look at it for what it is, “thanks” is a very weird looking word! How did it enter our language? Here is what one Claude AI search for “thanks, etymology” reveals: “"Thanks" comes from Old English þanc (pronounced "thonk"), meaning "thought, gratitude, good will." It's from Proto-Germanic þankaz, related to þankōną ("to think"). The connection between...

Dear Fellow Philo-surfer, You have a lot of content to watch this weekend! We’ll start off with this raw compilation of footage from San Diego: 100% unfiltered and only mildly edited. Begins with our November 9th session at San Elijo State Beach. As with my last trip to SD, we spent a lot of time surfing at San Elijo. There are so many different A-frame reef options, each with their own names, some of which change depending on who you talk to. Parking was a piece of cake. You can park inside...

Dear Fellow Philo-surfer, You have a lot of content to watch this weekend! We’ll start off with this raw compilation of footage from San Diego: 100% unfiltered and only mildly edited. Begins with our November 9th session at San Elijo State Beach. As with my last trip to SD, we spent a lot of time surfing at San Elijo. There are so many different A-frame reef options, each with their own names, some of which change depending on who you talk to. Parking was a piece of cake. You can park inside...

Dear Philo-surfer, This week, as you might imagine, I'm a little pressed for time because the waves just keep pumping here in San Diego. When this hits your inbox we'll be in the water again no doubt. So I've compiled a photo essay for you of the trip so far. Enjoy! Pita's first trip solo with dad. Smuggled her onto my lap on the plane. After delays leaving NY we arrived in SD. First stop: Pokez for burritos. Pokez isn't a fully vegan joint, but they have a full vegan menu. This is the tofu,...

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Dear Philo-surfer, It’s been a good week in NYC for people who hope to see a new political landscape. I voted for Mamdani, and I’m glad he won. Do I think he’ll fix every problem in NY? Of course not. There will still be too much trash on the beach in the summer. People will still not be able to afford housing and food. The roads will continue to have pot holes. But messaging and intention still count for something, and that people are brave enough to elect a young person with admirable...