A Good Dawn Patrol Routine
How I Make Every Morning Surf Session Easier
There are mornings when my alarm goes off at 4:45 a.m., and I'll admit, getting out of bed isn't always easy.
But I've never regretted doing it.
There's something about being one of the first people at the beach that never gets old. The roads are empty. The air is cool. The wind is usually calm, and sometimes there isn't another surfer in sight.
For an hour or two, it feels like the ocean belongs to you.
Over the years, I've learned that the best dawn patrol sessions don't start when your alarm goes off.
They start the night before.
It Starts Before You Go to Bed
One thing I've learned is that if I have to think too much in the morning, I'm already making it harder on myself.
So before I go to bed, I get everything ready.
My board is loaded.
My leash is attached.
My towel is packed.
My boardshorts are folded.
My wax is in my surf bag.
My keys and wallet are in the same place they always are.
Sometimes I even throw everything into the truck the night before.
That way, when the alarm goes off, all I have to do is grab a cup of coffee and leave.
No searching.
No forgetting things.
No excuses.
Know Where You're Going Before You Wake Up
One mistake I used to make was deciding where to surf after I woke up.
Now I spend a few minutes the night before checking the buoys, swell direction, wind forecast, and tides.
I'll usually have two or three spots picked out before I even go to sleep.
If my first choice is crowded or the wind isn't cooperating, I already know where I'm going next.
That little bit of planning means I'm spending more time in the water and less time driving around wondering where the best waves are.
Sometimes You'll Beat the Sun
One of my favorite parts of dawn patrol has nothing to do with surfing.
Sometimes I get there so early that it's still too dark to paddle out safely.
So I just sit on the beach.
Coffee in hand.
Watching the horizon slowly light up.
Listening to the waves.
Those quiet twenty or thirty minutes before sunrise might be my favorite part of the entire morning.
There's nowhere else I'd rather be.
Surf With Someone
It's a lot harder to hit the snooze button when you know someone is waiting for you in the parking lot.
Having a friend keeps you accountable.
It also makes every session more memorable.
Some mornings the waves are incredible.
Other mornings they're terrible.
Either way, you'll usually end up laughing about something on the drive home.
Don't Forget Fresh Water
Not every surf break has showers.
If you're surfing somewhere without one, having fresh water waiting in your vehicle is one of the best things you can do.
One trick I've used for years is bringing warm water with me.
If I have an old five-gallon water bottle available, I'll fill it with hot water before leaving. By the time I'm finished surfing, it's usually cooled to a comfortable temperature and feels amazing for rinsing off the salt.
If I'm leaving especially early, I'll sometimes heat the water the night before and store it in an insulated container or wrap it in a blanket so it stays warm until I get back.
One thing I've found that works really well is using one of the bigger water jugs with a handle that Walmart sells. They're inexpensive, easy to carry, and hold enough water for a good rinse.
Since I drive a truck, I secure mine with a bungee cord attached to the tie-down hooks in the bed. It doesn't slide around, and it's always there when I need it.
It's a simple trick, but after a cold winter morning surf, warm fresh water feels like a luxury.
(Just be sure the water has cooled to a comfortable temperature before using it.)
Keep It Simple
I've found that the easier I make the routine, the more often I actually surf.
You don't need three hours.
You don't need perfect waves.
You don't need to catch the wave of the day.
Sometimes all you need is forty-five minutes in the ocean before work.
That one hour can completely change the way the rest of your day feels.
Why I Still Wake Up Early
People ask me why I'd willingly wake up before sunrise just to surf before work.
The answer has never been about finding perfect waves.
It's about finding peace before the rest of the world wakes up.
It's about watching the sunrise from the water.
It's about sharing a few waves with friends before everyone heads off to work.
It's about driving home tired, salty, and smiling while everyone else is just beginning their commute.
By 8:00 a.m., you've already done something for yourself.
And somehow, the rest of the day just feels better.
That's what dawn patrol has always been to me.
Not chasing the biggest waves.
Not trying to impress anyone.
Just starting the day doing something I love.
See You in the Water
If you've never tried dawn patrol, give it a shot.
Pack your gear the night before.
Check the forecast.
Meet a friend.
Get there before the crowds.
Sit on the beach if you have to and wait for the sun to come up.
I think you'll discover that some of the best surf sessions aren't remembered because the waves were perfect.
They're remembered because of how they made you feel.
Sometimes the best part of surfing isn't the wave at all.
It's everything that happens before and after it.
Surf because you love it.
— SSC Team
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