Dariel Meléndez Dávila is a 22-year-old surfer from the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, and one of the friendly locals that welcomed us during a recent project in Central America.

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At the age of 11, Dariel was robbed and held at gunpoint. He attempted to run away but got hit by a train and lost one of his legs. Today, Snapt filmer Logan Dulien is organizing funds to get Dariel a prosthetic leg. The leg will give him full mobility in and out of the water, and it will allow him to stop using crutches.

Donate to the Gofundme here.

Sorry, no surfing animals for me to report on today, but I did stumble upon a surf-related answer on Wheel of Fortune.

The puzzle read:
“E_RLY M_RN_NG S_RF LESS_N.”

Early morning surf lesson, duh! I’ve worked one of those before; it was fun—there are few things more rewarding than helping someone catch their first wave. You get to watch them pop up and ride the white water into a new lifelong addiction. The joy they get from surfing slowly fades, and as the years pass, a fun hobby turns into a frustrating path for progression. WOF listed the question under the ‘Fun and Games’ tag, but it truly belongs in the ‘Pain and Suffering’ category.

I’ve done my good deeds for surfing. I’ve gifted others the eternal pain that stems from an early morning surf lesson. That should be my free Caribbean vacation. I deserve the Instagram photoshoot on the warm sand of Saint Maarten, not Grace. Whatever, that show has been downhill since Nate Leal left.

Click here for the whole story. But, I mean, you probably don’t have to.

There’s nothing quite like the way a day passes on a surf trip. That instinctual jumble of surfing and eating, punctuated by nights out and deep sleep, always manages to skirt tedium. Instead, you settle into a euphoric rhythm geared towards pleasure and spontaneity.

Sounds great, doesn’t it?

For you travel-deprived Pavlovian surf dogs, you ought to enjoy this lovely clip. Grant Noble’s jazzy demeanor on a board and Kevin Jansen’s filmmaking make for a taste of that sun-soaked rhythm until the next time you’re out there.

Watch here.

*words by Schulyer Allen

Look around. There are more female surfers in the lineup than ever before. And their progression is undeniable.

KaiKaina (meaning “little sister” in Hawaiian) is a new web series presented by Togethxr and The Gnar Gnar Honeys. The five-part series follows the journey of five upcoming Hawaiian female surfers, their connection to Hawaiian culture, and the challenges women face when trying to excel in this male-dominated industry. The 5 part series features Hokulani Topping, Vaihiti Mahana, Ēweleiʻula Wong, Puamakamae DeSoto, and Moana Jones Wong.

The name Moana Jones should certainly ring a bell for you. She is no doubt one of, if not the best female surfers at Pipe. Leading by example, Moana demonstrates what is possible for women at one of the deadliest waves in the world. Moana and Carissa Moore give their unique perspectives on what it is like being a female surfer in such an aggressive, crowded lineup like Pipeline. The series also critiques the stereotypes imposed on female surfers and the WSL’s uneven amount of spots for men and women.

Watch Episode 1 here.

A 30-year-old man died while surfing in KwaZulu-Nata, South Africa. He fell unconscious at Alkantstrand Beach in Richards Bay and was helped to shore by other surfers. According to News 24:

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the man was rescued by fellow surfers after he had collapsed and fell unconscious while surfing.

“NSRI Richards Bay duty crew was activated following reports that bystanders CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] efforts were in progress at Alkantstrand Beach.

“Despite extensive CPR efforts, the man was declared deceased,” Lambinon added.

Police have not yet made a statement on the horrific tragedy.

Read the full story here.