surfer.com

6 days ago | surfer.com | Dashel Pierson

While Waimea Bay is mostly known as one of the world’s most historically significant big wave surf spots – ushering in the modern era of heavy water wave-riding, a sacred spot in the sphere of extra-large surf, and hosting the iconic Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational – there’s a handful of other, extracurricular aspects to the Bay that make it at times exciting, yet also, quite dangerous.

1 week ago | surfer.com | Dashel Pierson

“How the fuck do they even get out there? It’s so gnarly.”Hannah Anderson – photographer, videographer, media maven etc. – butt-dialed me while coordinating this live video feed from Sydney, Australia’s infamous widow-maker slab, Cape Solander, and this was amongst the chatter that gurgled through the phone, transmitting through satellites in space, all the way on the other side of the world, then into my rectangular digital device. Isn’t technology incredible?

1 week ago | surfer.com | Dashel Pierson

As surf park mania continues to spread across the world, wave pools are popping up in all corners of the globe. From Europe to Asia to Australia to South America, and beyond. But one domain – and a primary marketplace, one would imagine – has been somewhat behind the full steam ahead nature of the synthetic surfing train. At least, for now…Currently, the US of A has five open and operating wave pools, of the modern surf park boom, regularly pumping out waves to previously surf-starved regions.

1 week ago | surfer.com | Dashel Pierson

Currently, in Southern California, scores of marine life are falling ill, and specifically sea lions. It’s due to a toxic algae bloom permeating through the water, which, filled with domoic acid, can make the mammals sick, both mentally and physically. In some cases, the domoic acid can even make them more aggressive – sort of like a zombie apocalypse in real life. But with sea lions. It’s not a joke, though. It’s a serious situation, and one unfolding presently in Californian waters.

1 week ago | surfer.com | Dashel Pierson

In recent years, climbing Mount Everest has become increasingly controversial. The contention amidst the world’s most infamous ascent? Too many people. Specifically, people with money (and egos) climbing the mountain, paying sherpas, when perhaps they’re not physically fit enough to do so. By the latest numbers, an estimated 7,269 individuals have summited Everest, with 12,884 successful ascents, and 335 deaths (including over 200 popsicle bodies still on the mountain).