This Wasn’t the Plan 🌊🏄♂️
On Tuesday, we promised:
Team #5 drops tomorrow… unless something wild happens first! 🦁
Well… something wild happened.
Wednesday came.
But Team #5 didn’t.
Why not? Because Smallball was busy evacuating from the tsunami warning zone in Hanalei.
No joke. Thankfully, we’re all safe.
We got a reminder of just how powerful the ocean can be.
And also… how unbelievably calm some people can be.
🎥 Check out this video we took of a guy paddle boarding as the tsunami waves were expected to roll in.
While that guy was doing something dumb and dangerous… it got us thinking about people who take on big waves on purpose.
So instead of jumping straight back into football, we figured today was the perfect time to talk about something we haven’t covered yet on Smallball.
Surfing.
It’s not just a sport.
It’s a mindset. A culture. A way of connecting to nature.
And when the waves get big—really big—it becomes one of the most heart-pounding, awe-inspiring things in all of sports.
🎥 Hit play to see what we mean.
🏄♂️ Surf School
As you can see in that video, not all waves are created equal.
Surfers actually choose where to paddle out based on the type of break. (That’s the word for how and where a wave breaks, shaped by what’s underneath the water.)
Here are the five most important kinds:
1. Beach Break
Waves that break over soft, sandy bottoms. They shift with tides and storms, and are often best for beginners.
Famous Spot: Huntington Beach, California
2. Point Break
Waves peel slowly and smoothly along a rocky point of land. They’re long, rideable, and legendary.
Famous Spot: Malibu, California
![Spot Check: Malibu Surfing Guide [with HD Photos and Video]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yOU9!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93699344-7474-4ff0-a8d2-9bf57377bc8a_1560x1016.jpeg "Spot Check: Malibu Surfing Guide [with HD Photos and Video]")
3. Reef Break
These waves explode over sharp coral or rock reefs. Super powerful. Super dangerous. Super cool to watch.
Famous Spot: Pipeline, Hawaii
4. River Mouth
Where rivers meet the sea, sand builds up in wild ways—creating fast, shapeshifting waves.
Famous Spot: Mundaka, Spain
5. Big Wave Spot
A special category. These are massive waves that only show up with giant swells—and only pros should even think about riding them.
Famous Spot: Nazaré, Portugal
🎤 Got questions?
Surfing is one of the coolest sports on Earth… but also one of the trickiest to explain.
So we want to hear from you!
Do you have any questions about how it works, who’s the best, or what it feels like to ride a wave? 🤔
Drop your thoughts in the comments, and help us decide if Smallball should dive deeper into surfing!
Tomorrow, Team #5 is finally coming. (Probably.)
But today?
We’re riding a different wave. 🌊
Smallball is just for fun.
All trademarks, images, and videos are used for educational and fair use purposes only.
If you have any questions or concerns, please just email us.
Why is Smallball Going up the wave and on one foot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who is the best surfer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!