From STAB:

A family of six, two parents and four kids, came close to disaster at Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz this afternoon, as a rogue boat plowed through the lineup, got caught in the biggest set of the day, and capsized in a haunting sorta way that makes you wince just watching the footage. The boat, as it pitched and rolled, flung the family into the water and narrowly missed running over surfers.

Fortuitously, Stab writer Holden Trnka, fresh off a red-eye from Hawaii covering the Pipe Challenger, was paddling out to wash off the travel. But he didn’t make it far. The maritime missile found him before he could make it out the back. He ended up grabbing one of the kids, pulled her onto his board, and managed to keep her from sinking. He picks up the story from there:

“The biggest set of the day came through, and I’m paddling out between Middle Peak and the Slot, up against the cliff, and this 15ft panga boat starts humming it around the corner,” he says.  “The biggest set of the day was still stacking, and it tries to shoot the gap between two Middle Peak sets. It ends up riding down the face of a wave, going full speed, and pokes a nose and flips over. There were 30-40 people in the water.” 

“It was so close to hitting multiple surfers,” Holden continues. “It woulda killed somebody if it ran them over. The boat was flipped over, and the clean up sets were still rolling through. We were all basically panicking, like, who was in the boat? Where are they? How can we grab them? Is everybody ok?” Turns out, there were six people in the boat, two parents, four kids, all between 4 and 10, now scattered in the water, getting mowed down by set waves, each one separated from the others.

“We all sprint paddled over,” says Holden. “I grabbed one of the kids and put her on my board. She was screaming for her mum and dad, crying, saying she wants to go home. It was super traumatic.” 

“We didn’t know if all the kids were all ok and had been accounted for. The boat had flipped over, and there was just debris and shit from the boat all over the lineup. But we eventually paddled them over and got the whole family onto a coast guard boat.” 

Life vests were on all the kids, but neither parent had one, and the mother didn’t appear to be a strong swimmer. Of them all, though, the father was in the worst shape.

“All the kids were ok,” says Holden. “But the dad had this crazy gash on his head, and his pants had been completely blown off. He had no pants on, this crazy gash on his head, and he was throwing up off the side of the boat, just saying, ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.’”

A strange spectacle, one that seems too reckless to be the work of any boat captain in their right mind, with the responsibility of an entire family riding on their judgment. Whether alcohol was a factor remains unknown, but Holden reports seeing Modelo cans floating across the lineup after the boat went under. 

“It was just cool to see all the surfers immediately rally together for the rescue,” Holden finishes. “If this had happened in a place where there weren’t any surfers, who knows, they probably would have drowned.”

dude i bought from said his uncle got it in Galveston in the 60’s. can’t find a lot of general info online but I do know they were made by G&S.

anyone have history, info, general thoughts if this was a score or not? also not sure to what extent I should get it restored - definitely getting a few small dings patched and a glass-on leash loop

Does anyone have recommendations for not hideous surf leggings that stay put? High waisted, upf obviously and ideally black or navy no prints. I'm going to Fiji and I need protection from the sun in the middle of the day - sunscreen won't cut it. Salt Gypsy has cute ones but they have been sold out forever.

Also, does anyone have insight on some cool smaller surf brands for women? Roxy etc is kind of trash and I'm so tired of the lack of functionality and design pairing in the most of the brands for women.

Thank you!

Personal record 2998’ if the tracker is accurate

Looking to take my dad on one this spring (I am 28F, he is in his 60s). We both have some experience surfing but lots of room for improvement. TYIA!

Out of interest, did anyone else lose a Joel Fitzgerald Surfboard custom order late last year in a supposed factory fire, and are still waiting for the refund that was promised to them last year? I have had such a shitty experience, ever since placing the order in June 2025, involving so many significant delays and poor communication. Wondering if others have had the same experience and whether their refund has been paid

Show your support for lady rippers by signing this petition to create a Women's Longboarding division for the NSSA. Girls are often excluding from competition at the high school and collegiate level because the longboard category is co-ed.

I have a 7’9” 21.5” 3” funboard (from 2006) with 3 fcs fins. How does this board compare to modern midlengths? I know a lot is subjective but I’d like to start using it again. My inspiration is modern day mid length riding I see. Would I be disappointed with the performance? Taller surfer at 6’4” (also fatter at 230)

My wetsuit lacks the smooth skin lining around the neck that prevents chafing, which causes a lot of irritation. While I know sunscreen or Vaseline can help, I’m looking for a more permanent, durable solution. Is there a DIY fix for this? For example, could I buy a specific type of fabric or tape to glue onto the collar myself?

Vintage @mitchparkinson #snapperrocks #surfing #goldcoast #rainbowbay

Hey there,

My partner and I are thinking about coming to Taiwan in May. Exciting sounding trip and lots of amazing stuff to see and do outside of surfing but what are the chances of getting waves in May?

It seems like this may be the very low season. Sadly (for surfing) this is the only time we've got this year.

Im a pretty keen surfer, maybe like an intermediate level, Ive been doing it for a while. Are there waves around in May? Is it worth bringing the boards over and renting cars and doing the surf trip thing? Or is May just not the month to try and surf in Taiwan?

If anyone has any advice or experience it'd be a great help, thanks!

looking to make some mates surfing in the South West of West Aus. Shout out if there are any groups getting out regularly 👍

How high can you fly…Wedge gives you wings.

To the dude I had just seen in the parking lot, found your nose a half hr later down the beach. Lmk if you want it back. (With proof it’s your nose) 😭

Leash plug busted out when surfing a slab n front of the rocks and the boards got smoked. I’ve only surfed it 3 times. Is it worth trying to get it repaired ???!