Stoke AI: The Soul Lost at Sea
Stoke AI: The Soul Lost at Sea
Has Surfing Lost Its Soul to Silicon Valley?
Has Surfing Lost Its Soul to Silicon Valley?
Remember when surfing was about going to the beach not knowing what to expect, the feeling of excitement in your body, wondering what the waves would be like? That pure stoke of not knowing? Now, it feels like we’re losing that magic. We check our smartwatches and webcams first, and just like that, the adventure fades.
Alright, here we go.
I’ve been thinking about how surfing has changed lately. Do you remember how it used to feel? We’d wake up early, pack our boards, and head to the beach, not knowing what we’d find (if you were lucky enough to live close to the ocean or had those precious two weeks surf holiday a year at a campground in France). The excitement came from that uncertainty. The waves could be big or small, perfect or messy - you never knew, and that was the best part.
But now, I’m starting to feel like something’s missing. Technology is creeping into everything, even surfing, and I’m not sure it’s a good thing.
The Evolution (or Devolution?) of Surfing
Surfing used to be about adventure. About you and the ocean. No distractions, just you, some friends, your board, and the waves (and maybe some wax). But now, it feels like that our offline connection is getting weaker. And the digital signals are getting stronger. We have Surfline now. What started as a simple tool to help us predict swells has become this big data system. It turns surfing into numbers and charts, and suddenly, it feels more like math than a fun adventure. The newest features are crowd predictions to help you avoid crowds and wave distribution to check how many waves have been unridden.
Then there’s Dawn Patrol, the app that tracks everything. From how many waves you catch, how long you ride, how fast you go, to even how many calories you burn. It’s like surfing isn’t about the experience anymore; it’s about collecting data. A.K.A. “You only surfed if you capture it on Dawn Patrol / Strava”. Every session becomes just another bunch of numbers instead of having a good time.
And now, AI is stepping in. Companies like Flowstate and Wavegarden/Check My Surf are using AI to track surfers in wave-pools and provide real-time data and surf coaching feedback.
For more check YouTube.
Even Microsoft is tapping into the next big break with Team US trying to improve performance and reducing risk with AI (YouTube).
Sure, the technology is cool, but aren’t we losing something? If AI tells us when and where to surf, are we really surfing, or are we just following what the machine and the GenAI language models are telling us to do?
Data Overload
The more we focus on data, the less we connect with us, the people around us and the ocean. We’ve become so obsessed with wave height, crowd numbers, and session stats that we forget why we surf. A similar trend has been observed with sleep tracking, where people feel they’ve had a good night’s sleep only if the data says so (Check for more detail about data-driven health anxiety => Link).
Surfing isn’t supposed to be controlled; it’s about embracing the chaos. You paddle out, not knowing what the ocean will give you. Sometimes you get amazing waves, sometimes not. That’s the magic.
When I learned to surf, my first coach taught me something I still think about today. He said, “For every foot of wave height, you have to watch the ocean for five minutes.” Which means, if it’s 3 feet, you watch for 15 minutes. If it’s 10 feet, you watch for 50. It wasn’t about analysing data; it was about understanding the ocean. You sit there, you watch, you feel, and you learn. Where is the Lineup, Take Off point, Close-Out Section, Rips, Channels. That’s how you would understand the spot. Now, we’re replacing that with apps and forecasts, star ratings, and it’s just not the same anymore - I feel!
The Soul of Surfing
Let’s agree, Surfing isn’t just a sport. It’s something different. It’s about feeling connected to nature, being grounded, about travelling, exploring new waves and cultures. But when we let AI and data control our surfing, we are losing that connection. Instead of reading the ocean, we’re staring at screens, trying to make our surf sessions as efficient as possible, like we’re optimising a business task. We might even have AI assistant scheduling a calendar placeholder when the crowds are low, and the star rating of our favourite spot is 'fair to good'.
But here’s the crazy part: in trying to make surfing perfect, we’re making it less perfect. The best sessions aren’t the ones where everything goes as planned. They’re the ones where you’re surprised by something unexpected, where you paddle out with no expectations and come back with a smile because it was somehow special. But when technology does the thinking for us, those moments might become rare.
I hear you - this isn’t just about surfing. It’s happening in all parts of life. We’re letting data and numbers take over, and we’re losing something important - our connection, our intuition, our soul.
Conclusion
So, my friends, next time we go surfing (or do something else), let’s try something different. Let’s unplug. No checking Surfline, no Dawn Patrol, no Surfline AI predictions. Let’s just go to the beach, paddle out, and see what happens. Let’s remember what it feels like to be in the moment!
Because in the end, surfing isn’t about catching a wave and having a good time. It’s about the experience. And that’s something you can’t plan or predict. It’s something that will happen when you’re out there, away from everything else.
Stoke AI might be the future, but let’s not forget what made us love surfing in the first place. The soul of surfing is too valuable to be lost at sea.
See you out there.
⚡ Felix
#ShareTheStoke
References
1. Surfline and Surf Reports: https://www.surfline.com/
2. Surf Metrics: https://www.surfer.com/news/surfline-artificial-intelligence-premium-plus
3. AI in Surfing (Flowstate and Wavegarden): https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/flowstate-ai-technology-tracks-surfers-in-wave-pools, https://wavegarden.com/checkmysurf/
4. How AI is Transforming Surfing: https://unlocked.microsoft.com/usa-surf/