I quit my job to travel and surf for six months
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Introduction
Have you ever dreamed about quitting everything to travel the world and surf? Just a few months ago, I finally decided to do exactly that. In a few days, I’m flying to my first destination, and this trip marks the beginning of something I’ve dreamed about for years: a six-month surf and travel adventure across Southeast Asia.
If you’re into surfing, travel, or have ever thought about taking a break from the 9-to-5 to do something a little different for a while — then I hope you’ll enjoy following along.
Why I quit my job to travel and surf
I started working in the corporate world back in 2017 when I was 22. I’ve built a solid career in IT — and the thing is, I actually like my career. I enjoy the work, and I plan to continue in this field when I return home. I’m just not sure in what way or what type of role yet.
But I’ve always had this deep urge to travel — especially to travel in order to surf. And living far from the ocean means that surfing has always had to fit into tight timeframes: short holidays, in-between jobs, or squeezed-in surf trips. At some point, that just wasn’t enough anymore.
I wanted to know what life would feel like if I put surfing first. So that’s what I’m doing now — that’s why I quit my job to travel and surf!
Addicted to surfing mellow baby waves
My surf journey so far and my goal for this trip
Surfing has been part of my life for over ten years, but I’ve never lived near any surf spots that suit my level — and the few that are somewhat nearby rarely have good enough conditions to be able to surf. So, most of my life I’ve had to travel for surfing, and with limited time in the water each year, I’m still working on the “getting good” part of surfing. Last year, I finally did a longer surf trip where I mostly focused on surfing — five weeks in Indonesia — and in the final week, I started to feel a real shift in my surfing. That experience sparked something in me. I thought: What if I give myself even more time in the water?
So I planned this trip: six months of travelling and surfing through Southeast Asia. My hope is that with enough consistent time in the water, I’ll finally reach the next level in my surfing. I consider myself an advanced beginner today and my goal is to become an intermediate surfer after this trip, who can confidently catch green waves, read the ocean better, and surf more independently. I know progress takes time, but six months of consistent practice feels like the opportunity I’ve been waiting for — and I’m excited to see how far I can get.
What I’ll be doing (besides surfing)
Of course, surfing and enjoying life (!) and my travels is the main focus of this trip. But I’ll also be working on a few other things I’m passionate about:
1. This website (thebeginnersurfer.com)
If you’re new here — I run this website called The Beginner Surfer, where I write surf guides, travel tips, and help beginner surfers get started. During this trip, I’ll be working on improving the site, updating existing guides, and writing new ones based on the places I visit and surf.
I’ve already been working quite a bit on some updates for the site since I resigned two months ago, because I ended up leaving my job much earlier than expected. Let’s just say I know a lot about surfing from a theoretical standpoint — years of reading, watching, and planning surf trips while landlocked — and now I finally get to put that knowledge into practice again after almost a year since my last surf trip! This is knowledge I want to share with you on my site to help you get started with surfing.
2. Trying out freelancing
I’m also thinking about taking on a freelance job related to my IT career, maybe later during this trip. I’d love to see if the freelancing path could give me more freedom and flexibility to travel while still working in the future — not full-time, just every now and then. But I’m still unsure: how hard is it to find a job? Will it pay enough? Will I enjoy working solo without a team or office? It’s something I want to try, just to see — and if it’s not for me, I can always return to something more traditional.
3. Studying strength training and fitness
Finally, I’ve applied to take a university-level course in strength training. I already completed a course on cardio and endurance earlier this year, and I absolutely loved it. I learned so much about how the body works and how to structure proper training. This next course would complement that knowledge and be super relevant to my own surf training.
I’m currently on the waitlist, so fingers crossed I get in!
Workouts and stretches in between surf sessions during a surf trip to South Africa two years ago
Slowing down & living differently
More than anything, this trip is about living life a little differently for a while.
I’m not trying to overfill my schedule. I want to give myself space to breathe — to surf, relax, and enjoy life. After working full-time for nearly nine years, I just need a break. A little pause to reset, recharge, and reconnect with the things that truly excite me.
I did quit my job to travel and surf, but I’m not leaving my career behind forever. I’m just stepping away for a while, to experience what life feels like when I prioritize my passions instead of my productivity.
Documenting the journey
As you might be able to tell, I love content creation — especially around travel and surfing. That’s why I’ve decided to document this entire journey on my YouTube channel.
You can expect:
Travel vlogs from surf destinations around Southeast Asia
Behind-the-scenes of what it’s like to build a surf and travel content creation brand from scratch — from filming and editing to website updates
Honest thoughts about quitting my 9-5 for a while, surfing full-time, and maybe even trying freelancing
Personal reflections from the road
First stop: Indonesia
In just a few days, I’m heading back to Indonesia — it will be my fourth time visiting Indonesia so I think it’s safe to say I love it there. I honestly can’t wait to get back in the water and start this journey.
If you’re into surfing, travel, or just curious about what it’s like to chase a dream that doesn’t quite fit the traditional path, then feel free to follow along on my YouTube channel!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this post! Whether you have suggestions for improvement, want to share what you liked, or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Your feedback helps me create better content for all aspiring surfers!