Carl is a welder and fabricator for the biotech industry in San Diego, CA. He starts his workday at 7 AM but still finds time to surf in the mornings before heading to work.
For most people, an early workday would mean no time for morning activities, but for Carl, it fuels his determination to be more intentional with his time. By going to bed earlier, he ensures he can wake up in time to for a morning surf before heading to work. Though the window is small, beginning his day with a surf puts him in a better mood and sets a positive tone for the rest of his day.
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Q. What got you into surfing, and where’s your favorite spot to go?
Carl - My dad got me into surfing about 13 years ago. His favorite thing to do was to go surf and I learned just to spend more time with him and ended up falling in love with it. My favorite spot to go is probably blacks even though I don't make it down there that often anymore. The spot I surf most frequently is Tamarack because that's where my dad and brother like to surf. So I surf there every weekend.
Q. What do you do for work, and what's your schedule like?
Carl - I am a welder/fabricator for the biotech industry. It sounds fancier than it really is. I just cut metal and weld it together and make sure everything is polished and up to code. A normal schedule for me is getting to work at 7 in the morning to around 3:30/ 4:00 in the afternoon.
Q. What do you love about surfing, and what motivates you to wake up early to surf?
Carl - I love the freedom and the joy that comes from surfing. To me, there's not much else that's more fun than going surfing before most people are up. You paddle out at first light and there's not much noise no people or crowds just yourself immersed in God's creation with nothing else to do but just admire and soak in the beauty. And it's fun! What surfer doesn't like to surf clean and uncrowded waves!?
Q. What's your morning routine look like on the days you surf before work?
Carl - In the mornings I surf before work I get up at 4:00 and read my bible then get my dog and all my surf stuff ready so I can leave the house at 4:45 to 5:00. Then I take my dog for a walk to the beach to look check where looks the most fun and see where I want to surf. I typically surf from 5:30 to 6:30 before I head back home to drop my dog off before I go to work.
Q. How does going for a surf affect your mood and mindset for the rest of the day?
Carl - I think surfing affects my mood for the better. I am typically more stoked and more relaxed when I surf before work because I got some exercise and it's always cool to start the day doing something you love.
Q. What does community mean to you and how has surfing and the ocean shaped your community?
Carl - Community to me is relationships that you've built with other people that are initially based on a common interest. Surfing has had a huge effect on my community because it is the main thing that my dad and brother get to do every weekend. It has also been the way that I've made some of my closest friends. And to put the cherry on top it was the main activity my wife and I shared when we first started dating.
Q. Any tips for someone who might be thinking of trying to get a surf in before work?
Carl - I guess just send it and get after it. I used to get bummed when I didn't get to surf but you only get time to do things that you intentionally make time for. I think about it like this being able to surf for 30-45 minutes in the morning is way more enjoyable than 30-45 minutes of scrolling on my phone at night before I go to bed.
