Catch some waves and hang ten with Gabe, the coolest surfer in OG town and the June 2019 OG Doll of the Month!

In this interview, we learn more about Gabe and how he started to surf!

We also brush up on our surfing lingo.

(PS – Look for definitions of words with a * at the end of the interview!)

Hi Gabe, thanks so much for chatting with us today!

Thanks for having me!

We see that you’re ready for the beach with your orange surfboard! How long have you been surfing for?

It’s been many years, since I was a baby practically! There’s nothing I like better than balancing on a wave or feeling the sand in between my toes. It’s one of my favorite things to do when I’m feeling down or stressed. *he laughs* I know that must sound weird, but it’s my way to escape the regular world and get out of my head. I feel at peace and one with the ocean when I’m out there on the waves.

How did you learn to surf? Did someone teach you?

I started on my own when I was a kid. I lived close to the ocean and spent a lot of time there with family and friends. My dad taught me how to catch ankle busters* by the time I was around 2 or 3 years old. As I grew older, I learned more tricks and skills from friends and other surfers along the way. I feel like it’s mostly a matter of just practicing and being out on the water as often as you can. You learn so much about the ocean and waves and how to surf, by actually doing it all the time!

I also teach barneys* on the weekends, or in my down time, which surprisingly brings me back and teaches me how to perfect the basics. I also occasionally ride goofy* so I challenge myself a bit more by switching things up!

What was the most amazing surfing experience you’ve ever had?

It happened a year ago! I was on this gnarly* wave that ended up being double overhead* and I ended up surfing the whole wave and coming out the doggy door*. It was incredible! My friend captured the whole thing on video and we still occasionally watch it to this day. It was epic, and something I’ll never forget.

Wow that sounds intense!?

Admittedly, I was initially really scared, but then I remembered what my dad told me all those years ago… “Keep a cool head Gabe, and you’ll be alright, you’ll make the right decisions in the moment,” and that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t panic, I let the nerves roll over me like the waves, and I did my best to stay safe.

Well we’re happy to hear you made it out safely and have an amazing story to tell! So Gabe, do you have any hobbies or interests other than surfing?

Yeah, totally! I love helping out at my local dog shelter. Is that a hobby? I mean I volunteer there and I help them take care of the animals and work on rehabilitation so that we can eventually find them all homes.

I’ve had pets my whole life, and I especially love dogs, so I try to help them whenever I can. It brings me a lot of joy, as much joy as surfing actually!

Volunteering is definitely an amazing hobby and we’re so happy to have had a chance to chat with you Gabe, thanks for a great interview!

Thanks, it was a good time!

Definitions:

Words can sometimes mean different things. Within this interview, these words mean the following:

*ankle busters: “small waves”

*barneys: “a new or inexperience surfer”

*goofy: “when you ride your surfboard with your right foot forward”

*gnarly: “a dangerous wave”

*double overhead: “a wave around 12 feet tall”

*doggy door: “exiting through the small hold left at the end of a wave before it closes”