Good Bye '25
- jebshred
- Jan 4
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Looking back at the 2025 surf year, it’s clear that riding waves in your 50s isn’t just about staying in shape; it’s about the optimization of every single session. This year was a testament to that philosophy, balancing personal milestones, technical board projects, and some pretty consistent surf on the Space Coast. And while the local sandbars weren't always optimum, there were plenty of opportunities for some fun slides.
The Tale of the Tape: 2025 Stats
I’ve admitted before that stats are for kooks, but I still proudly own my nerdom because these numbers represent memories I don't want to forget. 2025 was a statistically banner year, according to the Dawn Patrol App using a series 7 Apple Watch... especially compared to several sputtered-out seasons of the past. But this year, no sputter.
Total Waves: 459
Total Sessions: 65
Miles Paddled: 31.1
Total Water Time: 55 hours 16 minutes
Longest Wave: 513 yards (48 seconds)
Fastest Wave: 24 mph
I easily surpassed my baseline goal of one wave per day and one session per week (365/52), which is something I’ve struggled to hit in previous years.
The Quiver: Tools of the Trade
This year was defined by a quest for the perfect board for every Florida condition. While I got a dozen different boards in the water, my rotation mainly centered on three specific surgical tools:
Quiet Flight - Secret Agent 6'8 x 22 x 2.75. My daily go-to with 15 sessions tracked. Whether it was gutless ripples or overhead wedges, Florida to Costa Rica, this board delivered.
Jebshred - HPLB Prototype 9'4 x 22 2.75. The result of my "Unriddling GEEnius" project. We successfully digitized the magic of a 2003 Gee Rainbow shape using Shape3D files and a local board-cutting machine. With 12 sessions on this prototype, I can confidently say we captured the essence of that original manual craftsmanship.
Quiet Flight - Jumbo Sting Fish 7'6 x 22 x 2.75. Used a lot for those small, squirrel-sized days, clocking in 9 sessions.
Seasonal Highlights: Hurricanes and Pura Vida
The standout event of the year was undoubtedly Hurricane Erin in September. I can’t remember a better surf-positioned tropical storm; it provided Central Florida with over 10 days of pumping surf. While the swell shifted the sandbars and made me a bit critical of local coastal management, the waves were the best we’ve had in a long time.
I capped off the year with a "strike mission" to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica in December. It wasn't just about the 30 mph waves; it was about the lifestyle, navigating jungle roads on a 4x4 ATV and refueling with organic fusion at Namore’s.
Final Thoughts
From the hometown sessions at the end of my street to the tropical breaks of Costa Rica, 2025 reminded me why I keep tracking these moments. Whether I’m riding a 9'4 longboard or a 7'6 hybrid fish, the goal stays the same: slow the regression and enjoy whatever time I still have in the water. I’ll keep logging it the same way I always have. Quietly, consistently, and for my own record... regardless of who thinks that needs commentary. The waves still break, my boards still work, and I’ll still be out there.
An AI wrote every word of this blog post. No soul. Then it created this Deep Dive Podcast
I hope you're surfing where you are.
