Ask someone to describe their dream lifestyle, and I bet surfing waves around the world while earning an income is near the top of their list. Picture this, you start your day by grabbing a coffee at your local seaside café and heading to the beach for a couple of hours of surfing before logging on to work for a few productive hours.
Although that life does sound pretty perfect, sometimes it is far easier said than done and requires much more than just a laptop and a passport.
In this article, we’ll discuss exactly what it takes to be a digital nomad as well as the unique opportunities and challenges it presents. Throughout, we’ll also cover some tips for living the surfing digital nomad lifestyle and how to make sure you’re balancing work and waves.
What is a Digital Nomad and What is the Appeal?
According to Oxford Dictionary, a digital nomad is ‘a person who earns a living working online in various locations of their choosing, rather than a fixed business location’.
Although the concept of a digital nomad is a relatively new term, it is becoming increasingly popular with an estimated 40 million people worldwide committing to on-the-go remote work.
This statistic isn’t a surprise, as travel enthusiasts are beginning to understand the appeal of remote work and how the digital nomad lifestyle offers you more freedom than you would experience in a typical 9-5 office job. Whether you’re employed by a company that offers the flexibility to work anywhere, are running your own business, or pursuing freelance projects, this lifestyle means you can experience the world around you without sacrificing your career.
From living metres away from the beach in Bali or being able to see Sagrada Familia from your window, you can escape the office and truly learn the meaning of work-life balance.
The Digital Nomad Surfer Lifestyle
With so many prime surfing destinations around the world (and so little time!) the digital nomad surfer lifestyle really combines the joy of having access to incredible waves and making money to afford new gear.
Unlike a regular digital nomad, scheduling time for surfing into your daily routine is one of the biggest considerations. As surfing is a weather-dependent and physically demanding sport, factors such as surf conditions and recovery times may impact your work schedule. If your job involves strict deadlines, there may be occasions where you have to miss out on a perfect surf day to meet a client/company’s expectations.
That being said, the heart of this lifestyle is the ability to fit in some time to boost your surfing skills or chase the perfect wave. Living an active surfing life not only benefits your physical and emotional health but also gives you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live out your passion for freedom, adventure, and travel.
Key Considerations and Tips for Surfing Digital Nomads
Time Zones
Client expectations and deadlines are important to consider when becoming a surfing digital nomad – and even more so when you throw time zones into the mix.
The key to working around time zones is letting it play to your advantage. For example, being based in New Zealand, all my clients are around 13 hours (or more!) behind me, meaning the evening is the only time I can talk with them. This allows me to wake up early and head to the beach for a couple of hours of uninterrupted surfing, before working on my projects for the remainder of the day.
Communication is fundamental in working around your client’s schedules to figure out the best time of day for you to surf without sacrificing your professional reputation.
If the time zone you are working in causes you to shift or change from your regular routine, embrace this! You may surprise yourself with how adaptable you can be, and how you can grow to love your new normal.
Travel Insurance
As the nature of surfing is high-impact and at times dangerous, having specialised travel insurance is a no-brainer. When researching policies, it is vital to check that they explicitly cover surfing activities, including injuries and equipment loss or damage.
For digital nomads, a popular choice is World Nomads, which has policies that cater directly to surfers, with options to cover other activities you may want to try during your travels – such as sandboarding and SUP (stand-up paddle boarding). However, as everyone’s budgets and requirements are different, it is important to spend some time researching various policy providers before you set off.
Visas
Before you even pack your bag, you need to check whether you’ll even be allowed to legally live and work in your chosen destination. Luckily, more and more countries are recognising the popularity of digital nomads and have introduced visas to make it easier to stay in some of the world’s best surf spots.
For US citizens, over 50 countries offer digital nomad visas which are typically valid from six months to a year. This includes prime surfing hot spots such as Australia, Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal, and Thailand, amongst others. For non-US citizens, you can check which countries offer dedicated visas via government and embassy websites, or Nomad List, which also includes statistics like cost of living and quality of life rankings.
When researching where to go, consider destinations that balance great surf conditions with reliable infrastructure for remote work, such as strong internet connectivity and co-working spaces. It is also a good idea to research the country’s seasons beforehand, so you can make the most of your surfing time without being stuck indoors due to unsafe weather – (which is exactly what happened to me during typhoon season in The Philippines, and believe me it wasn’t fun!).
Tax
Much like visas, it’s crucial to understand digital nomad tax implications before heading to your destination. While some countries state that remote workers are not subject to local taxes, other places may require you to pay income tax depending on your length of stay.
Make sure to spend time researching the country’s specific policies first and consider speaking with a professional tax consultant if you are unsure.
Pros and Cons of being a Digital Nomad Surfer
As with anything, there are pros and cons to becoming a digital nomad surfer. The freedom to position yourself wherever you want is a huge positive, as well as giving yourself the opportunity to go ‘off the beaten track’ and explore some of the world’s hidden beaches.
Surfing culture is also home to one of the most welcoming communities of fellow digital nomads and travellers. Through a love of surfing, you’ll find yourself making friends, sharing tips, and maybe even finding networking opportunities; all while spending time in some of the most inspiring and beautiful destinations.
On the other hand, having a sudden change to your regular routine can be daunting, and in some cases feel quite isolating – especially when you’re away from home for long periods of time. And just like any other lifestyle, you will experience ups and downs from being homesick, work stress, and the general fatigue that can come from living out of a suitcase!
However, to make sure you’re making the most of your chosen lifestyle and staying positive, remember to practice self-care, stay in touch with your friends and family and be organised to stay on top of your deadlines to ensure you’re putting enough time aside to pursue your passion for surfing.
Conclusion
To conclude, embracing the surfing digital nomad lifestyle provides the ultimate escape to freedom, allowing you to travel the world while you work, surf on breathtaking beaches, and experience new cultures.
By learning how to balance surfing into your daily work schedule, researching visas and tax implications, and communicating client expectations, you can make the most of this unique lifestyle.
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