Surf Quotes

We spent some time digging the depths of the internet to bring up this comprehensive hand picked collection of amazing surf quotes made by famous surfers and ordinary people alike.  Let us know in the comments if we have missed any that you think should be here and we'll keep adding to this list.

The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.

"The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun."

~ Phil Edwards

Tweet:

 

If in doubt, paddle out.

"If in doubt, paddle out."

~ Nat Young

Tweet:

 

If you're having a bad day, catch a wave.

"If you're having a bad day, catch a wave."

~ Frosty Hesson

Tweet: If you're having a bad day, catch a wave. ~ Frosty Hesson.  http://bit.ly/surf-quotes @surfcareers

 

I surf to get tan.

"I surf to get a tan."

~ Shane Dorian

Tweet: I surf to get a tan. ~ Shane Dorian - http://bit.ly/surf-quotes @surfcareers @shanedorian808

 

Surfing is for life.

"Surfing is for life."

~ Bruce Jenkins

Tweet: Surfing is for life. ~ Bruce Jenkins -  http://bit.ly/surf-quotes @surfcareers

 

One drop in is an accident, two is rude, three is a twatable offence.

"One drop in is an accident, two is rude, three is a twatable offence."

~ Roger Sharp

Tweet: One drop in is an accident, two is rude, three is a twatable offence.

 

It's a culmination of your life of surfing when you turn and paddle in at Mavericks.

"It's a culmination of your life of surfing when you turn and paddle in at Mavericks."

~ Jeff Clark

Tweet: It's a culmination of your life of surfing when you turn and paddle in at Mavericks.

 

Waves are not measured in feet and inches, they are measured in increments of fear

"Big waves aren't measured in feet, but in increments of fear."

~ Buzzy Trent

Tweet: Big waves aren't measured in feet, but in increments of fear.

 

I will rule the waves. Me, the Joker

"Then, after I've gotten rid of Batman and Robin for good, I will rule the waves. Me, the Joker, king of the surf and all the surfers. Then, Gotham City! Later, the world!"

~ The Joker

Tweet: Then, after I've gotten rid of Batman and Robin for good, I will rule the waves...

 

Surfing is not something you retire from.

"Surfing is not something you retire from."

~ SurfCareers.com

Tweet: Surfing is not something you retire from.

 

Eddie would go.

"Eddie would go."

~ Mark Foo

Tweet: Eddie would go.

 

Sometimes in the morning, when it's a good surf, I go out there, and I don't feel like it's a bad world.

"Sometimes in the morning, when it's a good surf, I go out there, and I don't feel like it's a bad world."

~ Kary Mullis

Tweet: Sometimes in the morning, when it's a good surf, I go out there, and I don't feel like it's a bad world.

 

Surfing's the source. Can change your life. Swear to God.

"Surfing's the source. Can change your life. Swear to God."

~ Bohdi

Tweet: Surfing's the source. Can change your life. Swear to God.

 

Thank God for a few free waves.

"Thank God for a few free waves." 

~ Miki Dora

Tweet: Thank God for a few free waves.

 

Honest to goodness it’s the absolute ultimate!

"Honest to goodness it’s the absolute ultimate!"

~ Gidget

Tweet: Honest to goodness it's the absolute ultimate!

 

Wiping out is an underappreciated skill.

"Wiping out is an under appreciated skill."

~ Laird Hamilton

Tweet: Wiping out is an underappreciated skill.

 

shit, I’m still alive!

"I took off on a wave, went down the side, popped out the other end, and went, shit, I’m still alive!"

~ Greg Noll

Tweet: I took off on a wave, went down the side, popped out the other end, and went, shit, I’m still alive!

 

Learn to read the ocean better

"Your surfing can get better on every turn, on every wave you catch. Learn to read the ocean better. A big part of my success has been wave knowledge."

~ Kelly Slater

Tweet: Your surfing can get better on every turn, on every wave you catch. Learn to read the ocean better. A big part of my success has been wave knowledge.

 

If there was no such thing as barrels I probably wouldn't even surf.

"If there was no such thing as barrels I probably wouldn't even surf."

~ Clay Marzo

Tweet: If there was no such thing as barrels I probably wouldnt even surf.

 

I could not help concluding this man had the most supreme pleasure

"I could not help concluding this man had the most supreme pleasure while he was driven so fast and so smoothly by the sea."

~ Captain James Cook

Tweet: I could not help concluding this man had the most supreme pleasure while he was driven so fast and so smoothly by the sea.

 

There are a million ways to surf, and as long as you’re smiling you’re doing it right.

"There are a million ways to surf, and as long as you’re smiling you’re doing it right."

~ Unknown

Tweet: There are a million ways to surf, and as long as you’re smiling you’re doing it right.

 

Never drive away from good surf.

"Never drive away from good surf."

~ Roger Sharp

Tweet: Never drive away from good surf.

 

Waves are toys from God

"Waves are toys from God"

~ Clay Marzo

Tweet: Waves are toys from God

 

When the surfs up, your life is too

"When the surfs up, your life is too"

~ Wilhelm Sverdvik

Tweet: When the surfs up, your life is too

 

I get this tremendous urge to make a sandwich

"As for my own surfing, let's just say that when the waves start pushing 10 feet, I get this tremendous urge to make a sandwich."

~ Bruce Jenkins

Tweet: As for my own surfing, let's just say that when the waves start pushing 10 feet, I get this tremendous urge to make a sandwich.

 

It’s a cakewalk, when you know how.

"It’s a cakewalk, when you know how."

~ Gerry Lopez

Tweet: Its a cakewalk, when you know how.

 

I've tried body surfing. It's nice.

"I've tried body surfing. It's nice."

~ Ziggy Marley

Tweet: Ive tried body surfing. It's nice.

 

I’m just a surfer who wanted to build something that would allow me to surf longer.

"I’m just a surfer who wanted to build something that would allow me to surf longer."

~ Jack O’Neill

Tweet: Im just a surfer who wanted to build something that would allow me to surf longer.

 

Go strip off your clothes that are a nuisance in this mellow clime

"Go strip off your clothes that are a nuisance in this mellow clime. Get in and wrestle with the sea; wing your heels with the skill and power that reside in you, hit the sea's breakers, master them, and ride upon their backs as a king should."

~ Jack London

Tweet: Go strip off your clothes that are a nuisance in this mellow clime. Get in and wrestle with the sea; wing your heels with the skill and power that reside in you, hit the sea's breakers, master them, and ride upon their backs as a king should.

 

It's funny, 'cause you think surfing is your whole life

"It's funny, 'cause you think surfing is your whole life, but then when you make a family it seems like it's not at all."

~ Joel Parkinson

Tweet: Its funny, cause you think surfing is your whole life, but then when you make a family it seems like its not at all.

 

I caught my first tube today... Sir.

"I caught my first tube today... Sir." 

~ Johnny Utah

Tweet: I caught my first tube today... Sir.

 

The only one whom can whisper to you the ways of the surf, is the wind.

"The only one whom can whisper to you the ways of the surf, is the wind."

~ Wilhelm Sverdvik

Tweet: The only one whom can whisper to you the ways of the surf, is the wind.

 

you need only three things: your body, a surf-board, and a wave

"One of the greatest things about the sport of surfing is that you need only three things: your body, a surf-board, and a wave."

~ Naima Green

Tweet: One of the greatest things about the sport of surfing is that you need only three things: your body, a surf-board, and a wave.

 

No more worries about mortgages or strife of being poor or rich.

"Sliding a wave removes our brains out of the ordinary and slips us into the extra ordinary of being there now. No more worries about mortgages or strife of being poor or rich. When you enter the domain of an ocean cylinder, that moment, those split seconds belong to the Zen part of just being. Period."

~ Bill Hamilton

Tweet: Sliding a wave removes our brains out of the ordinary and slips us into the extra ordinary of being there now. No more worries about mortgages or strife of being poor or rich. When you enter the domain of an ocean cylinder, that moment, those split seconds belong to the Zen part of just being. Period.

 

Surfing is very much like making love

"Surfing is very much like making love. It always feels good, no matter how many times you've done it."

~ Paul Strauch

Tweet: Surfing is very much like making love. It always feels good, no matter how many times you've done it.

 

a vital way of life

"Surfing, alone among sports, generates laughter at its very suggestion, and this is because it turns not a skill into an art, but an inexplicable and useless urge into a vital way of life."

~ Matt Warshaw

Tweet: Surfing, alone among sports, generates laughter at its very suggestion, and this is because it turns not a skill into an art, but an inexplicable and useless urge into a vital way of life.

 

A big wave is like a beautiful woman, exciting to look at and thrilling to ride.

"A big wave is like a beautiful woman, exciting to look at and thrilling to ride."

~ Buzzy Trent

Tweet: A big wave is like a beautiful woman, exciting to look at and thrilling to ride.

 

100% pure adrenaline!

"100% pure adrenaline!"

~ Bodhi

Tweet: 100% pure adrenaline!

 

Live to surf, surf to live.

"Live to surf, surf to live."

~ Mike Doyle

Tweet: Live to surf, surf to live.

 

Tell the teacher we’re surfin’.

"Tell the teacher we’re surfin’."

~ The Beach Boys

Tweet: Tell the teacher we re surfin.

 

Out of the water, I am nothing.

"Out of the water, I am nothing."

~ Duke Kahanamoku

Tweet: Out of the water, I am nothing.

 

There is not one right way to ride a wave.

"There is not one right way to ride a wave."

~ Jamie O'Brien

Tweet: There is not one right way to ride a wave.

 

Surfing in crowds is like mind over matter.  If I don’t mind it don’t matter.

"Surfing in crowds is like mind over matter.  If I don’t mind it don’t matter."

~ Brodus Rogers

Tweet: Surfing in crowds is like mind over matter. If I dont mind it dont matter.

 

The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.

"The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun."

~ Phil Edwards

Tweet: The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.

 

You're sayin' the FBI's gonna pay me to learn to surf?

"You're sayin' the FBI's gonna pay me to learn to surf?"

~ Johnny Utah

Tweet: Youre sayin the FBI's gonna pay me to learn to surf?

 

Surfing is the most blissful experience you can have on this planet, a taste of heaven.

"Surfing is the most blissful experience you can have on this planet, a taste of heaven."

~ John McCarthy

Tweet: Surfing is the most blissful experience you can have on this planet, a taste of heaven.

 

My passion for surfing was more than my fear of sharks.

"My passion for surfing was more than my fear of sharks."

~ Bethany Hamilton

Tweet: My passion for surfing was more than my fear of sharks.

 

Surfing is attitude dancing.

"Surfing is attitude dancing."

~ Gerry Lopez

Tweet: Surfing is attitude dancing.

 

We're all equal before a wave.

"We're all equal before a wave."

~ Laird Hamilton

Tweet: We re all equal before a wave.

 

it's my first love

"What I love the most about surfing is that it's my first love. It's the first thing I can remember being consumed by."

~ Stephanie Gilmore

Tweet: What I love the most about surfing is that it s my first love. It's the first thing I can remember being consumed by.

 

There is nothing, nothing, more sad than a surfer who used to surf.

"There is nothing, nothing, more sad than a surfer who used to surf."

~ Unknown

Tweet: There is nothing, nothing, more sad than a surfer who used to surf.

 

Surfing soothes me

"Surfing soothes me, it's always been a kind of Zen experience for me. The ocean is so magnificent, peaceful, and awesome. The rest of the world disappears for me when I'm on a wave."

~ Paul Walker

Tweet: Surfing soothes me, it's always been a kind of Zen experience for me. The ocean is so magnificent, peaceful, and awesome. The rest of the world disappears for me when I'm on a wave.

 

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."

~ John Kabat-Zinn

Tweet: You cant stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

 

It's not tragic to die doing something you love.

"It's not tragic to die doing something you love."

~ Mark Foo

Tweet: Its not tragic to die doing something you love.

 

 an obligation to be an environmentalist

"I think when a surfer becomes a surfer, it's almost like an obligation to be an environmentalist at the same time."

~ Kelly Slater

Tweet: I think when a surfer becomes a surfer, its almost like an obligation to be an environmentalist at the same time.

 

The joy of surfing is so many things

"The joy of surfing is so many things combined, from the physical exertion of it, to the challenge of it, to the mental side of the sport."

~ Kelly Slater

Tweet: The joy of surfing is so many things combined, from the physical exertion of it, to the challenge of it, to the mental side of the sport.

 

It's like the mafia. Once you're in - your in. There's no getting out.

"It's like the mafia. Once you're in - your in. There's no getting out."

~ Kelly Slater

Tweet:

 

Surfing's one of the few sports that you look ahead to see what's behind.

"Surfing's one of the few sports that you look ahead to see what's behind."

~ Laird Hamilton

Tweet: Surfings one of the few sports that you look ahead to see whats behind.

 

Surfing for me is more than my lifestyle

"Surfing for me is more than my lifestyle; it's my passion, my love, and it's a part of me."

~ Bethany Hamilton

Tweet: Surfing for me is more than my lifestyle

 

If it swells, ride it! 

"If it swells, ride it!"

~ Unknown

Tweet: If it swells, ride it!

 

We'll be updating this with more quotes, let us know if we have missed any in the comments below!

Posted by: Troy Roennfeldt, on May 5, 2015
Categories: Articles