If your expectations are higher than this… well, prepare to be disappointed a LOT.
I’ve found that once in a while it’s best to book a ticket, do minimal research, and arrive at a surf destination with next to no expectations. It’s easy to allow your daydreams of crisp offshores, sunny skies, and A-frames set the bar high for your next surf trip. We’re all guilty.
All too often we arrive for our first vacation session feeling a pang of disappointment when the conditions aren’t dream-like perfect. We become upset when the waves don’t look like the advertisements and YouTube videos. For the optimists, it may be easier to overcome, but for the ones who work all year for a one or two week surf trip, discontentment might surface. And when it does, it can be hard not to let your high expectations kill your happy surf trip vibes.
It’s beneficial to set the standards low and not think too much about the anticipated trip. Embrace consecutive days off of work full of surfing and much needed rest.
My sister and I recently traveled to Taiwan and had no idea what to expect. I had a mild idea of waves in Taiwan so we decided to extend our layover there on the way to Bali. There isn’t too much information available for surfing in Taiwan, so booking a surf tour seemed to be the best option. We did some general Taiwan research, packed our boards, hoped for the best, and prayed for surf.
After the surf guide picked us up at the airport and drove us hours to the east coast, we were pleasantly surprised with the surf in this tiny country. We got lucky with a northerly swell followed by Typhoon Nuri, so our days were spent surfing endless lefts in extraordinarily blue, warm water. Our low expectations made the trip even better. Having little to no expectations allowed us to immerse in the experience. This surf trip was way more pleasing without the constant comparisons of magazine quality waves and unrealistic expectations. We scored really fun waves and without heightened expectations, the experience was that much more enjoyable.
Halfway across the world from home, we left Taiwan so surfed out, so sun burnt, and so stoked. With no prior expectancies, we left the country in awe.
In the future, I aspire to keep my planning to the bare minimum, daydreams scarce, and embrace all that the new destination has to offer. Try not to think about how the trip should happen and just embrace the journey. If the waves aren’t picture perfect ideal standards, don’t complain. You’re on a surf trip. A bad day of surfing is always better than a good day at work.
