C.V. ESSENTIALS — SURF

Fig. 1 — Recycled Gorilla Tubs, Fig. 2 — Rareform Changing Mat, Fig. 3 — Green Fuz Canvas Board Bag, Fig. 4 — Surf Brush, Fig. 5 — Summer Bummer Neoprene Bag, Fig. 6 — Brothers Marshall Beach Bag, Fig. 7 — Matunas Surf Wax, Fig. 8 — Wax Container & Comb, Fig. 9 — Manifatura Towel, Fig. 10 — Koh-I-Noor Detangling Hair Brush, Fig. 11 — Nalgene Water Bottle, Fig. 12 — Dune Suncare, Fig. 13 — BLDG Active Skin Repair Spray, Fig. 14 — SurfDurt Sunscreen, Fig. 15 — Lip Trip Balm SPF 15

Surfing is a big part of the Crystal Voyager culture and lifestyle. Our namesake is of course George Greenough’s seminal 1973 surf film. I decided to open the previous C.V. showroom/studio in Malibu so that I could constantly be inspired by and in rhythm with the dreamy vibes of this classic surf locale. I also picked this location so I could surf all the time. In the future, I will do a separate post about my journey with surfing, as it is a huge part of my personal healing journey. But this particular post is focused on sharing my favorite surf essentials because I love a curated edit, and I plan on sharing many more here :)

When it comes down to it, all you really need to surf is a board and some waves. And if you are lucky enough to live in a tropical locale within walking distance of the ocean, you can pretty much get away with these bare necessities. For the rest of us, we require some basic gear, including the obvious wetsuit and in my particular case, some durable booties to combat rocks that inevitably leave my feet sliced. As with any sport or hobby, you can certainly go wild buying tons of stuff just for the fun of it. That is not my focus here. When it comes to material items, I always have specific criteria that ensure that I am being mindful about my consumption. I use these filters to inform me of whether or not I need to acquire something. I am always striving to find the balance between what it is I actually require for practical purposes with how much joy an item gives me because it is well-designed and speaks to my personal values. The products here exemplify this balance as they are not only easy on the eyes, but I actually use them all.

Fig. 1 — Recycled Gorilla Tubs

I store all of my surf stuff in these. They are durable, accommodate a large amount of wet items like towels and wetsuits, can easily be cleaned of sand or salt water, and in a pinch I even stand in my large one when I am changing.

Fig. 2 — Rareform Changing Mat

Another solution for easy post-surf changing and for storing wet items. All of Rareform’s products are made from recycled billboards.

Fig. 3 — Green Fuz Canvas Board Bag

I keep my favorite board Rosie in this no-frills handmade canvas bag.

Fig. 4 — Surf Brush

This is so handy for brushing sand off your feet and out of the car.

Fig. 5 — Summer Bummer Neoprene Bag

A durable and waterproof bag made from locally sourced materials and the studio has a no landfill policy. It is perfect for storing wax, sunscreen, and first-aid items.

Fig. 6 — Brothers Marshall Beach Bag

Like a cooler version of the Ikea bag, which can be used for shlepping anything and everything, especially wet and sandy items. These guys were our Malibu neighbors and these bags are made locally made from up-cycled vinyl.

Fig. 7 — Matunas Surf Wax

Surf wax is an absolute necessity for non-slippery boards. This is the only non-toxic wax on the market. It is biodegradable, petroleum-free, synthetic chemical-free, eco-friendly, and made using local ingredients in Santa Cruz, California.

Fig. 8 — Wax Container & Comb

Gotta store that wax in something so it doesn’t melt all over. Plus this one holds a handy comb.

Fig. 9 — Manifatura Towel

I could do a whole post on towels alone and I just might because there are so many great ones out there. I love Turkish towels because they are lightweight, absorbent, and quick-drying. Manifatura’s makes a particularly refined version made with unbleached cotton and there are a range of pretty hues to choose from.

Fig. 10 — Koh-I-Noor Detangling Hair Brush

Each one of these brushes is made by hand in Italy. This particular style has conical molded bristles made specifically for detangling wet hair.

Fig. 11 — Nalgene Water Bottle

Hydration is key! I am a fan of this classic BPA-free plastic bottle and these days you can find them with all kinds of illustrations and graphics by alternative brands and stores.

Fig. 12 — Dune Suncare

This is a new suncare line launched by two sun lovers, one of whom is also a surfer. The Bod Guard is an invisible gel version of sunscreen that is perfect for under-wetsuit skin protection. They also make a facial variety, which I am looking forward to trying out as part of my daily ritual. I use a much higher and heavier SPF when I am actually in the water on my face, like the other product listed below. They also make a post-sun aloe rescue gel, which I really wish I had on my recent trip to Mexico when I got extremely burned on areas of my body that were not accustomed to sun exposure because of wetsuit use.

Fig. 13 — BLDG Active Skin Repair Spray

Injuries are an inherent part of surfing, which can be a brutal activity due to all of the weathering environmental factors. I always have a first aid kit in my stuff with band-aids and disinfectant. Active has an excellent range of products for treating minor wounds like this spray, which is natural, non-toxic, antibiotic-free, and non-stinging). This spray is an antibacterial medical-grade skin solution that quickly provides pain relief and helps support the body's natural healing process.

Fig. 14 — SurfDurt Sunscreen

Perhaps the most important thing for me on this list…a heavy-duty facial sunscreen. I also thought about doing an entirely separate post on sunscreens alone, as there are many high-quality options available. For now, I am including this SurfDurt, which is available in white or a more cocoa color. Both look equally bad on me, but all I am concerned about is limiting skin damage and direct sun exposure (a surf hat helps too although I don’t always wear one). SurfDurt is a sunscreen made in California that is a natural, reef-safe, zinc sunscreen with SPF 30. I also use Manda, which is SPF 50 and made from organic ingredients.

Fig. 15 — Lip Trip Balm SPF 15

This beloved cult brand makes this lip balm that provides long-lasting moisture in harsh weather conditions and has SPF 15 for that extra dose of sun protection.