I have a friend, who over the years, have visibly increased his surfing ability. His confidence, his pop up, manuvers down the wave, all have improved in the last few years through hard work, dedication and mistakes. One of my favorites is pearling.

Pearling is when you paddle for a wave and the nose of your board goes under water, followed by you and all you see is the tail of the board shot straight up in the air. From the shore or the inside break where one can watch from a distance, it is extremely hilarious! No matter how many times I see it, I still laugh, even if it’s me.

There is one break that my friend and I used to go to. Every single time we went, for some reason, the first wave he paddled for, he always pearled. No matter what the size, condition or board. First wave… pearl. I have to admit that I often waited for this moment so I could get a good laugh. Of course he was laughing as well.

Last weekend I surfed that break. As I paddled out, I started to remember those days. I laughed quietly outloud. Then I turned around, paddled for a wave….. and… yes, I pearled! Then I was laughing even harder!

[ original photo courtesy of okofoto photostream, flickr ]