Brian McElfresh

Brian: “I knew this life-altering, benchmark day was approaching with my first child, but I didn’t have many expectations or fears. Honestly, my hope was just to get home with a healthy wife and baby. I hear friends talk about a baby like an inconvenience, which is never how I felt. They talk about a baby hindering their career goals or free time. I understand that concept. However, it’s impossible to understand the love within a parent-child relationship until you go through it. Priorities immediately changed when Lyla was born, and it was 100 percent better than before, unexplainably good. She and Gunner have brought so much joy and laughter into our home. Natalie and I hardly remember what life was like prior to having children.”

Bobby: “I’m a person who thrives in the moment, so as life took its course, I’ve adjusted to it and kept my mind open. Lifelearned lessons go a long way compared to what you’d learn from a book. It’s been great.”

HL: What’s the most surprising part of being a new father?

Dhruv: “My friends tell me I’m a tough guy, but when I held my daughter for the first time, I felt like ice cream melting. I can’t describe the feeling. There are no words. All my preparation didn’t prepare me for that emotion.”

Brian: “Leaving the hospital with another little human. That probably sounds odd, but it was weird.”

Bobby: “That my wife and I have created this being in our likeness who shares di erent traits we have, and just being able to love, care and ‘do life’ with her.”

HL: What’s the best part of being a dad?

Dhruv: “When my daughter and son call me Papa and run to give me hugs and kisses. That right there is the best part of everyday life.”

Brian: “Daily life. It’s the hugs, smiles, laughter and all of the firsts. The first bite into a lemon, first time crawling, walking, going to the beach, drinking sweet tea, etc.”

Bobby: “I’m a firm believer that childhood is probably the most important part of a human being’s life, because it shapes and molds them into who they are when they grow up, so the best thing is just being part of that. I’m also kind of reliving my childhood; things I might not have done as a child, I get to do now.”

HL: How has your relationship with your wife changed since becoming a father?

Dhruv: “On our days o together, we try to put the kids to bed early and have our own time together. We make that time as good as possible.”

Brian: “Natalie and I have become much closer. We understand our new responsibility and have to give each other breaks sometimes. We talk strategy. It certainly takes a team. I have to admit, Natalie does the brunt of the hard stu when it comes to middle-of-the-night baby needs. She’s the most selfless person I know.”

Bobby: “We’ve grown more mature and stronger as a couple, but it’s been challenging just because your full attention isn’t on one person; you have to share it now. You still have to give your wife 100 percent, but now you have this little one who needs your attention. It’s an interesting balance you have to find every day. You have to choose where to put your time and energy.”

HL: Any advice you’d pass on to other expectant/new dads out there?

Dhruv: “There are curve balls to everything, but when it comes down to it, just do your best. That’s all you can do.”

Brian: “Don’t miss any moments. You hear all the time that kids grow fast; it’s ridiculously true. Do your best. Everyone gets stressed out. It’s all worth it, and being a perfect parent is impossible. Pray endlessly for patience and self-control. Smile at the tough times. Give your wife a break as much as possible, especially the first couple months after birth.”

Bobby: “Know how you want to be as a husband and father. Really be there, care for and nurture your wife and baby. Don’t allow circumstances to take over. It can be overwhelming at times, so just take it day by day. You have to be conscious of the future, but be there in the now.”

HL: Is there anything funny about fatherhood you want to share?

Dhruv: “Until you’ve been through it, who would know there are di erent levels of nipple gauges for bottles?”

Brian: “My sister-in-law, Sadi, trained Lyla that the FSU logo is called ‘poop.’”

Bobby: “When Julissa asks for something and you don’t immediately give it to her, she’ll make a sad puppy dog face, complete with puppy whining noises.”

By Katie McPherson

Whether you’re an avid surfer or a newbie wanting to learn the ropes, make this the year you hit the waves like never before. Read on for world-class surfing destinations, the best schools for day lessons and the raddest new gear on the market.

School’s In is Summer

Florida has no shortage of surf schools, but some stand out thanks to their perfect locations and 5-star ratings. Check out the following and see if they sound right for your first intro course!

Ron Jon Surf School

Cocoa Beach’s claim to fame is surfing, and that’s why it’s home to Ron Jon Surf Shop. Try your hand at surfing, standup paddleboarding or kitesurfing with the help of their instructors. They o er private, small group and group rates. Call for pricing, but know that the board is included. Just bring your towel!

150 E Columbia Lane, Cocoa Beach (321) 868-1980 ronjonsurfschool.com

SEBASTIAN INLET SURF & SPORT

Want to learn on “Florida’s best wave?” Located in the infamous Inlet, this locally owned and operated school o ers lessons from $40 to $70 as well as rentals for those with the experience but not the equipment. And if you’re thinking full emersion lesson, they also o er a weekend surf experience in Costa Rica.

8898 S Hwy A1A, Melbourne Beach (321) 574-0600 sebastianinletsurfshop.com

Pure Life Surf School

Daytona Beach’s Pure Life Surf School o ers instructors who have taught all over the world, with private and group lessons available. Fees are $60 to $95 and include a board, rash guard and a wetsuit if you go in the colder months. They also o er standup paddleboarding for anyone looking to take up SUPing. Book online for maximum ease.

2705 South Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores (386) 492-7873 purelifesurfschool.com

ST. AUGUSTINE SURF SCHOOL

One of the highest rated schools in the state is St. Augustine Surf School, which o ers 90-minute longboarding lessons for $75 oneon-one or as low as $55 in a group. Book online ahead of time to reserve your space. If you want to ca einate as the locals do after the beach, less than 10 minutes away is one of the best co eehouses in St. Aug, The Kookaburra. Shoes and shirt not required. This writer recommends The Honey Badger, basically a Cinnamon Toast Crunch latte. 5401 A1A S, St. Augustine (904) 206-SURF staugustinesurf.com

Surf Report Breakdown

Just like checking the weather, a smart surfer always checks the surf report to see how the waves are looking before they head out. A quick Google search of your destination’s surf report will get you to the right site, but sometimes the lingo (just like any other surf slang) can be hard to decipher the first time. Here’s what makes for good surf, and what that report is really saying.

SWELL DIRECTION: All you need to know is that a swell is described by the direction it originates from. A west swell formed in the west, and if your destination’s beach faces west, well that’s just perfect. A southwest swell, however, will be coming at you from an angle and create di erent kinds of waves.

WAVE HEIGHT: How big the waves will be is definitely a need-to-know number. Height and intervals between waves is read by o shore buoys, and most surf reports will interpret the data for you. For example, 3 feet and 10 seconds means 3-foot waves pass the buoy at 10 seconds apart. The biggest factor in wave size, however, is the swell interval. The longer the interval, the larger the waves when they reach your area. At 3 feet and four seconds, don’t bother showing up. But 3 feet at 20 seconds? You should probably get to the beach immediately.

TIDES: Some beaches create better waves at high tide than low tide, and vice versa. Water depth hides or exposes peaks and valleys in the ocean floor, which can cause waves to break. Find out if the beach in question is known as a low tide break or a high tide break, and time your visit based on the tide schedules.

LOCAL WINDS: O shore winds are responsible for creating swells, and the swells grow as they travel closer to shore. However, local winds can make or break a promising swell. Onshore wind—wind blowing from behind or across waves onto the shoreline—causes choppy surf that is di cult to ride. Winds that blow o shore and directly into the waves hold them up for a moment while breaking and keep the surf clean. The ideal condition is no wind at all, which results in the glassy water surface all surfers live for. If you see glassy on the report, start heading for the door.

WAVE BREAK: Waves break depending on the geography of the shoreline—when a wave finds topography to expend its energy on, it rolls up into a wave shape and crashes back down.

BEACH BREAK: The most common of the three, most places you surf will be beach breaks. Waves usually break within 100 yards of the shoreline as the ocean floor rises up to meet the swell. Although they aren’t hard to access, they can be unpredictable in direction and harder to catch as a result.

POINT BREAK: These make for worldclass surfing, and they’re behind legendary spots like Je ries Bay and Malibu. A natural point in the coastline or a manmade feature, such as a jetty, causes the waves to break left or right exclusively and provides longer rides than beach breakers.

REEF BREAK: Arguably the most consistent waves in the world happen at reef break locations. As waves break over rock beds or coral reefs, they arch up quickly into fast, hollow waves. They’re the freight trains of waves, lining riders up for aerials maneuvers or pipeline rides like you’d see in a movie. But because of their power (and the fact that only a few feet of water separate surfer from sharp reefs), these waves should only be taken by true veterans.

Sources: visitfl orida.com, rootsrated.com, ocregister.com, thesurfi ngsite.com, surfi ng-waves.com

Catch ese Competitions

Want to see what seasoned surfers can do with the right waves? Or maybe the kids want a chance to try? Check out these upcoming events for fun spectating for falling in love with a new sport.

Gnarley Charley Surf Series

Weekends from June 5 through Nov. 3 Gnarley Charley grew up surfing in Daytona Beach, and now travels Florida teaching young surfers how to advance in competitions and improve their performance, while also reminding them to have fun. They’re all over the state but spend lots of time in Satellite Beach, Cocoa Beach and New Smyrna Beach.

For more information or to sign up your grom, call (386) 690-SURF or visit gnarlycharleysurfseries.com.

Super Grom Surf Festival 2017

Saturday, June 17, 9am-3pm

Jax Beach Pier, Jacksonville Beach

Grom, n. a young surfer, usually age 15 or below. The cutest contest in the surf world, this day is dedicated to participants age 10 and under. Through this event, the Florida Surfing Association encourages families to get outside and enjoy surfing their local beaches.

For more information or to register your little surfer, visit floridasurfing.org.

Silent Surfing 2017

Wednesday, July 19, 9am-12pm

6th Ave. N, Jacksonville Beach

Each year, the Florida Surfing Association seeks to share their “surf stoke” with a group of people not commonly given the chance: deaf or hard of hearing athletes. In a beginnerfriendly, push-and-surf-style competition, these new surfers can take on the waves with the help of instructors and ASL interpreters by their sides.

For more information, visit floridasurfing.org/event/silent-surfing.

Sebastian Inlet Regular Joe Surf Festival

Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17, 8am-6pm North Jetty, Sebastian Inlet State Park

It’s a surf competition for the non-pros! Check out some of the best local surfers shred the waves they know and love in this benefit contest for the Sebastian Inlet Charter of Surfrider Foundation. In case of bad waves, backup dates are September 23 and 24. Free with park entrance fee.

For more information, call (321) 5740600 or visit sebastianinletsurfshop.com.

Sweet Gear, Bro

If you’re feeling like you might have the hang of hanging ten, it’s time to start buying your own gear for your surfing days. Or maybe you’re a seasoned beach bum looking for some cool additions? Either way, here are some new, unique and classic items to add to your stash.

When it comes to board shorts, surfers need breathability and durability (because let’s face it, even the best boarders eat their fair share of sand). Enter the Quiksilver New Wave Highline Boardshorts Covered in a proprietary Dry Flight coating, these shorts don’t allow water to absorb into the material. That means they stay lightweight, dry quickly and maximize mobility. They also have heatbonded seams for ultimate durability. They’re some of the priciest shorts on the market, but for avid surfers, they might be worth the investment. $199.50, quicksilver.com.

Board bags from Rareform are made from billboards, which means each bag is completely unique and those billboards aren’t piling up in landfills. Yay style, yay environment. (Bonus: You may recognize these board bags if you’re a fan of Shark Tank.) $88-229, rareform.com.

Tired of itty bitty bikini malfunctions? Seea o ers suits designed by pro surfer Amanda Chinchelli for women who want to get in the water without holding onto

Atlantic Surfing Federation Championship Surf Contest

Friday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 8, 7:30am-5:30pm

North Jetty, Sebastian Inlet State Park

Another North Jetty gem, check out this amateur-level contest as surfers from all over the state compete for the championship title. Free with park entrance fee.

For more information, visit atlanticsurfing.org.

QUIKSILVER’S KING OF THE PEAK

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 and Sunday, Nov. 5, 8am-6pm

North Jetty, Sebastian Inlet State Park their tops and bottoms the whole time. They’re stylish, reversible and made of a breathable neoprene alternative that wicks moisture away from the body. Choose from one-piece, two-piece and other styles. $50-$150, theseea.com.

Someone has to be crowned King of the Peak this year, and with a major organizer like Quiksilver, this is an event not to miss. Free with park entrance fee.

For more information, visit quicksilver.com.

Future Fins let the rider customize their experience. Do you want more speed, better balance or increased control? Now you can choose without purchasing multiple boards. $110, futurefins.com.

Set to be released August 1, Hound of the Sea is a memoir detailing Garrett McNamara’s seemingly insane quest to surf the largest waves on Earth. He set the world record for surfing a 78-foot wave in 2011 only to break it two years later, and readers will learn from the legend himself why chasing deadly swells has become his life’s passion. Pre-order the book on Amazon.com for $10.99 in paperback or $12.99 for Kindle.

Every surfer has their favorite brand of wax. For most, Sticky Bumps is the holy grail. It’s been getting the job done, fussfree, since 1940. Beginners in need of wax should visit stickybumps.com immediately, drop $13.50 on their first box and never look back. It works in every water temperature, too, so no Florida temps will melt it from your board. If you didn’t know, now you know.