As coronavirus continues to spread globally, sending ripple effects into the daily lives of every person on the planet, the questions keep stockpiling: How long will this last? How bad will it get?
Things are changing so rapidly with coronavirus that it’s hard to keep track, even with what’s happening in our niche little world of surfing. Just a few weeks ago, we canvassed a large selection of traveling surfers about their thoughts on chasing swell during the pandemic and, for the most part, they were unconcerned. Before that, it was speculated that surfing’s debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could be abandoned if the Games are canceled. Then, more recently, the WSL announced that the kickoff event to the 2020 CT season, the Corona Open Gold Coast, would be canceled. And perhaps the scariest part of this whole thing is the unknown of what’s to come.
But all we can do in this time of uncertainty is focus on the here and now. So, we decided to reach out to a handful of surfers worldwide to see exactly how the pandemic is impacting their lives, specifically with regards to getting wet – or, more accurately, attempting to stay sane while that’s not an option.
Natxo Gonzalez (Basque Country, Spain)
“We are not going surfing now. The police are on the streets trying to stop surfers going out. It’s going to be pumping this week and empty! [Laughs.] We are at home just going out to the supermarket and nothing else. It’s a shit thing, but the world is like that though and we have to respect it. And well, we [Natxo and lensman Jon Bakio] have been working on a new project that’s dropping soon. It’s a perfect time to work on a computer.”
Pre-quarantine, Natxo finds a protected Basque country wedge earlier this year. Photo: Jon Aspuru
Jon Bakio (Basque Country, Spain)
“This is a kind of mad nightmare. Quarantine for more than 15 days, minimum. Lockdown at home, even in small towns, with police controlling everything with several fines. Surf is forbidden, beaches closed, let’s hope something happens safe and as quickly as possible. Thursday, Mundaka will be pumping…and empty! Fines from 1,500 to 6,000 euros…mad. This is our second day of quarantine and today is onshore and rainy but that is going to change tomorrow. I don’t know how we are going to make it [nervous laugh].”
WATCH LIVE: Mundaka Surf Cam
Kepa Acero (Basque Country, Spain)
“I’m locked at home and things are pretty heavy. I never expected things were going to be like this. At least in my hometown, there’s no one in the streets. If they catch you running, walking around, you have to justify what you’re doing. And, of course, you can’t go surfing. There’s fines of 600 euros to 30,000 euros and they can put you in jail. I’m going crazy at home! But I guess it’s something everybody has to do right now. The sooner we stop this, the sooner we’ll go back to – well, maybe not normal, but back to work.”
Kepa’s cure for quarantine sanity.
Nic Von Rupp (Portugal)
“It’s advised by the government but not obligatory. But I guess everyone here in Portugal is taking their own actions. I started to feel a bit sick so decided to do what I thought was best. Trying to learn from the mistakes of others. Trying to take this as serious as I can. People are surfing, but the beaches are forbidden at the moment. I’m sure people will be getting in at some point, no one knows if there’s a punishment for surfing. I haven’t tried to in the past five days. Think we will be in quarantine for at least a month, maybe even until June. It took China three months and it’s going to take less civilized places — well, where people are more reckless, it’ll take longer. I don’t have any travel plans for the next couple of months, that’s for sure.”
WATCH LIVE: Nazaré Surf Cam
Roberto D’Amico (Italy)
“I’ve been quarantined for one week already. There are no waves at the moment but, even if there were waves, I’m not allowed to get out of my house. And even if there were, the lineup would be like the roads…empty. We think this will be in place until April 3. Because most of the people have to get in the car and look for the right spot and once you park, we are all in one place pretty much and this is not possible at the moment. I live in front of the sea; I want to get more information in case of waves so I can go if I need to.
“I was supposed to be in Israel now and then Portugal with the following QS events. Once this is done I can’t wait to go get barreled somewhere. It’s been a great winter here but now the season is over; I don’t think there will be much till October.
“We are really helping each other. All the nation is sharing info with online trainings and donations to the hospitals for the ones who can.
“We are making online appointments, doing things that we never have time for being positive and respecting the rules. I know this will help mother nature to be reborn as well, world was going too fast in my eyes and this is just a brutal stop. Just don’t start to be lazy in isolation. Keep your body active and that will help your mind. Stay away but close to the ones you care about and respect the rules.”
Nik Zanella (based in China, but currently in Italy)
“The Italian ban is not specific to surfing and not clear at all in terms of what you can actually do outdoors. Walking the dog is ok, running (without using a car to go to the park or place you want to run) is ok, and there’s a specific ban on beaches, piers and docks because two weekends ago people (including myself) flocked to the beaches for what they suspected would have been their last sunny days of outdoor life.
“Now, people have been fined by the thousands for riding a bicycle without a valid reason and SUPing has been stopped too. When you get fined you pay 209 euro and then it goes on your record, it’s not like burning a red light.
“For example, I work in China and I could not legally work with that on my record, it messes with your freedoms so I don’t want to test the flexibility of the law. Some guys here on the east coast went surfing yesterday but I don’t know if they got caught or not. I surely don’t encourage that.
“I’m like a junky without his fix. I feel quite stupid and superficial speaking about surfing in this tragic situation. But frankly don’t see the light out of the barrel yet.”
“I don’t know when I’ll be surfing again and this drives me crazy. I was used to 200 days of surf per year living in Hainan and now I’m like a junky without his fix. I hate working out, I just surf and SUP when it’s flat.
“So I’m gaining weight and last time I surfed, last week, I felt like a bear fresh out of hibernation for how stiff I was. And I have those weird dreams where I get to the beach, my spot is head-high and offshore but my board has no fins, typical drug addict dreams. Without my dose I become moody.
“But I feel selfish just by mentioning it. I feel quite stupid and superficial speaking about surfing in this tragic situation. It may be that I’m scared and I’ve been locked-in already three times and I frankly don’t see the light out of the barrel yet.”
Rob Kelly (New Jersey-based, but currently in Puerto Rico)
“I’m actually in Puerto Rico but heading home tonight but from talking to everyone at home, it sounds like things are getting a little crazy.
“Because New York and Philadelphia are on lock down and schools are closed, a lot of people are leaving the city and coming to the beach towns in New Jersey. Our towns here are very seasonal and not yet ready for the influx of visitors we normally get in the summer months so it is starting to cause some issues.”
Not an hour later, Rob hits us back with this: “Coincidentally, just got kicked off the beach in Puerto Rico. No surfing for two weeks is what the police officer said.”
WATCH LIVE: Parking Lots Surf Cam
Micah Weaver (Puerto Rico)
“Today was our first day on total lockdown here in PR. Surprisingly, the police are enforcing the order at this time. The road to Domes is blocked by the cops and they are in some places kicking people off the beach. Many locals are telling friends, relatives, and clients to cancel their trips because you can’t surf here now.
“I think you could surf isolated spots that are not seen by many in the public, but you’d be breaking the law. I thought it was residents only and not visitors but it seems the police today are enforcing it on everyone. They are telling everyone to stay in their houses until 30th of March.”
Parts of this article originally appeared on magicseaweed – thanks to Jason Lock for the reporting.
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