{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/64037ccc0c0f770011ef6ce9/64037cd34cfcac0011e977a3?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Life of a Surfer","description":"<p>Surfing: One of the coolest hobbies anyone can have, right?<br/>Are you a keen surfer? You&apos;ll enjoy listening to someone with a ton of experience.<br/>And if you&apos;re hoping to get into it, you will benefit from some great advice.<br/>My guest today is from Madrid, Spain. He has been surfing for over 25 years.<br/>Welcome, Ruben Martin.<br/><br/><b>Episode highlights:</b></p><ul><li>[01:40] - started surfing as a teenager, canary islands</li><li>[03:10] - his brother is a pro skater, compares skating to surfing</li><li>[04:05] - advice for someone wanting to start. To be great is technical, but just start</li><li>[04:56] - safety aspect of surfing. Advice on currents in the sea, Swim parallel to shore</li><li>[06:40] - What board and wetsuit he recommends based on height &amp; weight and skill</li><li>[07:10] - Start with bigger board, 8/9 ft, helps with balance. Don&apos;t use small pro board</li><li>[09:20] - He uses different boards based on how the waves are, has used 5&quot;10 board</li><li>[11:10] - 3/4m in Costa Rica, biggest wave he&apos;s done</li><li>[11:38] - Took professional lessons from a great instructor in Sopelana, North Spain</li><li>[13:00] - In one week a person can start catching waves and get some good feelings</li><li>[13:32] - Lessons in Sopelana around €20-30 a number of years ago</li><li>[14:25] - Explains method of teaching surfing</li><li>[15:31] - Feeling of catching his first wave, a feeling you never forget</li><li>[17:05] - lived in california 2 years, studied there and saw a surfing instructor school</li><li>[17:56] - speaks about different surfing spots in spain, galicia, cadiz etc</li><li>[19:20] - Portugal: Lisbon, Carcavelos etc. Great spots for surfing there</li><li>[20:50] - surfing in canary islands, gran canaria, tenerife. Sometimes a walk of 30 minutes to the beach, some beaches inaccessible by car</li><li>[23:00] - sometimes the waves aren&apos;t what you thought, so you have to move to another place, or sometimes you just have to change plans entirely and can&apos;t surf at all</li><li>[24:35] - Some cool spots in california to surf: Huntington beach, Oceanside, Malibu, Venice beach, Redondo Beach, Tressels, Carlsbad. Favourite spot is Swamis, Encinitas.</li><li>[26:28] - Huntington beach. WSL professional contest.</li><li>[27:00] - Artificial wave machine near his house in Madrid, Spain</li><li>[27:50] - feeling of real waves in nature irreplaceable</li><li>[28:37] - working in sporting events, wants to save and reach his goal of living by the ocean and living off surfing, open an surf school</li><li>[29:30] - what qualifications are needed to open a surf school or teach? Each country has its own rules</li><li>[31:06] - social dynamics of surfing, great way to make friends</li><li>[31:55] - Speaks about vibe / type of people drawn to santander, galicia, swamis, etc.</li><li>[32:45] - Surfing fire in California, worked there as a surf instructor, since they needed someone who also spoke Spanish</li><li>[36:00] - he will be back on the show to advertise his new surfing school</li><li>[36:29] - Has been to both pacific &amp; caribbean side of costa rica, preferred surfing on the caribbean side</li><li>[37:22] - resorts for surfing or air bnb? Air bnb / own accommodation better, then find your own spots</li><li>[37:50] - Scariest experiences when surfing</li><li>[39:57] - important to be a strong swimmer to be a surfer</li><li>[40:40] - gives final words of advice to those wanting to start</li></ul><p>Recommended surf school in North Spain that Ruben used: <br/>w: www.escueladesurfsopelana.com</p>","author_name":"Nate Ralph"}