Since the 1930s, the east coast of Florida has been a hot spot for surfing. Daytona Beach pioneered some of the first organized competitions and influenced the surfing community we see today. After moving here four years ago, I have been surrounded by the surf culture. I have had the opportunity to meet and photograph a variety of talented surfers. The locals here are very passionate when they talk about the sport they love and unites those who share the interest. The love of the ocean brings people together and builds a respect for what the beach provides. Surfers have an intriguing way of life that varies so much from the average person. The surfer mentality is to enjoy every moment as it is happening; the wave will end but there is always another one behind it. 

Surfing consumes and constructs the daily life for those who participate. For many, the ocean is the first thing they think about when they wake up and the last thing they check before they go to sleep. The sport strengthens the relationship they have with the ocean and the personal connections in their lives. It can be a passion a parent passes onto their children, a hobby that brought a couple together, or a moment of peace for individuals. Those I capture in this series, make up this community, ranging from surfers themselves, board shapers, to surf schools. In these images, I serve as a bystander looking into their lives and show an appreciation for the people who make surf culture what it is.