Backpacker to Beginner Surfer: How Travel Sparked a Passion

When I left the UK with a backpack and a camera, I didn't have surfing in mind. I was looking for stories. I wanted to meet people, see landscapes, and write about the world. But found waves instead.

It happened in a small coastal town in Portugal. The hostel offered cheap lessons, and I thought, "Why not?" That single decision changed the trajectory of my travel. Suddenly, my destinations were dictated by swell charts rather than guidebooks.

Travel opens you up to these serendipitous moments. You think you're going one way, and a single wave pushes you in a completely different, beautiful direction.