Latest news with #DibiFletcher
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Hey Dibi: Shoud I Encourage My Kid to Chase the Pro Surfing Dream?
Editor's Note: Have a question for Dibi Fletcher? She's definitely got answers. Or at least a perspective. Don't hold back, shoot her a DM on Instagram and ask away. Here's this week's dispatch from the Matriarch of Radical… Hey Dibi… My daughter wants to be 'sustainable' but also wear whatever's trending on TikTok. How do you raise kids to think long-term when everything they see is built to be disposable? - EcomindedMomFirst, I believe it's an illusion to think everything is 'built to be disposable'. Synthetic fabrics used in fast fashion are often non-biodegradable and contribute to the plastic pollution in landfills and the ocean. With an estimated 85% of all textiles ending up in landfills annually. That translates roughly to a staggering 11.3 million tons of textile waste pre year in the U.S alone. I do not know what the long-term solution is to the massive global problem, but I do know according to what you said, your daughter wants to be 'sustainable', that's a start. I was raised by a mom who sewed almost all my clothes. She knit bikinis for me and all my friends; she even crocheted my sister's wedding dress out of ribbon. She taught me to recycle my clothes by adding patches, drawing and painting on them to make them uniquely my own. Perhaps you and your daughter can start a new TikTok trend by taking something you might think of discarding and creating something new and fantastically unique out of it. You might not be thrilled with the results at first but keep at it as you build skills. I'm sure it wouldn't take much coaxing to get a few of her friends to join in. Before long you've started a new fashion happening and created a new way for you and your daughter to share time together. Hey Dibi…I used to be a surf competitor in my 20s; I now work full time and still surf most weekends. My teenage son is really ripping and has dreams of being on tour, should I encourage him? - SurfLocal2You didn't mention whether your son is now competing and consistantly finishing in the top, which is the first step in the preparation to being on tour. As you know from your own experience the tour is fierce and your son may rip, but the pressure of competing is different animal all together. Going to all the contests on the amateur circuit and getting the experience that only comes from competition is the first consideration in the decision process. If he's doing that, I believe the next issue is financial. Is there some sponsorship that is going to help with travel, has he worked and saved money, or are you going to pay the full freight? It's not cheap and there aren't the travel budgets in the companies there used to be and there isn't the sponsorship money that surfers previously could live on. These are a few of the things to consider off the top and I'm sure he has heart set on the dream of being on tour. It's your job as his dad to understand the harsh realities and help him make the right Dibi… Ma'am, I'm 19 and arrived at Pendelton from Iowa thinking out here in SoCal surfers would be completely chill, good vibes and all that. But every time I go into San Clemente, I feel like I walked into the wrong movie. Cold stares, no eye contact, what happened to that groovy, endless summer scene? - ScusethehaircutPlease let me say 'Thank you for your service' and apologize for those who are so dimwitted and small minded they don't know or have forgotten what it means to be gracious. It speaks volumes about them as your choice speaks clearly about you. I hope for your sake you shake it off and don't let a bunch of spoiled kids keep you from enjoying the time you have here and making it the surf scene of your dreams. Hey Dibi… I grew up idolizing style and soul surfing. Now the same surfers seem to be pitching everything from sunscreen to protein bars. Is it possible to have a soul surfing career? - DisillusionedSurfFanI think 'growing up' and idolizing someone's surf life is a bit unrealistic to start with. Before social media in the era of big surf brands, surfers were paid by their sponsors to go on exotic trips with magazine photographers and would appear in fantastic picture editorials and occasionally sponsors print ad programs. So, the advertising aspect of their careers was a bit more sublime and not so easily recognized. With most of the big sponsorship now gone surfers must be their own magazines and advertise themselves with social media posts, so it seems much more in your face. The truth is that like it or not it's expensive to 'surf' for a living and the surfers who relied on sponsors now find themselves in a position where they are forced to be more entrepreneurial. If you want to be that 'soul' surfer, I suggest you get a great paying a job that gives you a couple weeks off and you can surf without ever having to hawk some product yourself to enjoy Dibi… Every time I go to my in-laws for dinner the whole evening is spent arguing about politics. When I mention it to my husband on the drive home, he always says 'Don't worry about it, we always discussed politics during meals.' I find it very uncomfortable; I like his family but don't want to get into politics over dinner. What should I do? - NeutralmindsetWhy don't you invite his family to your home for dinner? Make a special meal, set the table like you would for a party. Maybe invite another couple or mutual friend. Changing the setting will change the routine that your husband and in-laws naturally fall into at the table. If politics do come up, you can politely steer the conversation in another direction with a gentle prompt or having enlisted the cooperation of your husband beforehand he can say something about how great it is to have you all together and perhaps suggest spending time like this more often. The conversation has changed and you're creating new ways to enjoy having family meals together. Hey Dibi: Shoud I Encourage My Kid to Chase the Pro Surfing Dream? first appeared on Surfer on Jun 30, 2025
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hey Dibi: Is Surfing a Path to Sobriety?
Editor's Note: Have a question for Dibi Fletcher? She's definitely got answers. Or at least a perspective. Don't hold back, shoot her a DM on Instagram and ask away. Here's this week's dispatch from the Matriarch of Radical… Hey Dibi….We celebrate the icons of surf but often forget the lesser-known pioneers. How do we honor the full story without rewriting it? = FreelancewriterMuch of surf history has already been changed through the lens of whoever's telling the story. I've heard and read so many renditions of events told by people who weren't there that now seem to have taken hold as the truth. Stories I know for a fact have been manipulated for the sake of sales, reputation or a lack of research. Now with most of the early pioneers gone there are just a handful of people left with more than a smattering of facts, so it's safe to assume the past will keep being massaged to fit the stories of the present. Hey Dibi…. All my friends surf, I don't, but paint waves and surfers constantly. Am I just a voyeur, or would you consider me part of the culture even though I don't paddle out? - SurfartnSandThe Google definition of surf culture: 'A lifestyle that includes the people, language, fashion, and attitudes surrounding the sport of surfing'. So as far as the modern interpretation is concerned, you seem to fit the definition, which I believe is what you're aspiring to. I don't surf, but I suppose others would consider me a part of surf culture, but I've always thought of myself as a devout individualist surrounded by people who Dibi…I used to sleep in my car to get the best morning shots and sold film prints to pay for gas. Now it's drones, GoPros, and iPhones. Is there a market left for prints? - SurfFotographerIII believe there is still a market, but it's nothing like it was. There are no magazines or corporate advertising budgets that used to be the mainstay of the surf photographer's income, and most surf photography now is viewed scrolling on social media. But there will always be a market for beautiful surf images in restaurants, hotels and office buildings that have wall space. It may be a bit of a challenge to make the connections at first but if this is the road you want to pursue, you're going to have to think out of the box and understand you won't be selling a print of a famous surfer, this market won't care and won't know the difference between one surfer and another, they just want beautiful images for the best price. It may not be what you were thinking but best you know the reality before making the commitment. Hey Dibi…. My partner and I surfed together for 30 years. After he passed, I stopped going in the water. It's been more than a year, and I feel like I might want to start surfing again, but can't seem to, do you have any tips? - WaveWidowI'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure surfing together all that time was great and I understand the hesitation. I think paddling out and sitting in the lineup the first few times you will be filled with memories of your partner and the great experiences you had together. When you're riding a wave, you'll be so engrossed in the present there won't be room for any other thoughts until the rides over and you paddle out again. I'm sure this will continue for a while until the day comes in the not too distant future when you're in the water and the healing that being in the ocean has brought you has done it's magic and the time you now spend surfing will be a blessing of sweet memories and daily stoke that your partner of thirty years would want for Dibi… I got sober six months ago, and surfing is my 'high'. My old crew still parties and it's hard to feel like I belong without joining in. Can surfing carry me through this? - SoberthenewHighI'm sure surfing can be a great activity to enjoy while being sober but surfing alone can't help you stay that way. One of the realities of being sober is changing behavior and most times that includes the friends you hung with while indulging. If they're still using it will be hard to stay on track with them as a distraction. It's OK to change, it's part of the growth cycle that hopefully we all aspire to. I'm sure after six months you're noticing the difference in the choices you're already making. Take inventory of your life and where you're at now and add a challenge that you'd like to accomplish in a month, six months, a year and prepare to acquire the skills to help you achieve your stated goal. I believe if you keep at this and reevaluate every three to six months, you'll be truly amazed at the path you've set up to travel the hero's journey. Hey Dibi… You come from a family of rad board sports people, can being great at something be taught or is it in the gene pool? - SurfCoachFLI think with all the modern technology and information now available you can produce incredibly talented competitive athletes that would smoke previous generations. I believe there's an element that can't be taught, an innate part of the athlete that they don't have conscious control of but that makes the difference between great and gifted. Occasionally we are privileged to see athletes who have the advantage of excellent training, and natural ability combined, and we are witness to true greatness. There are a handful in every walk of life that change the world we live in but go mostly unnoticed. In the world of boards sports there are many extremely talented and a few standouts in every generation. Hey Dibi: Is Surfing a Path to Sobriety? first appeared on Surfer on Jun 16, 2025
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Hey Dibi: How do I Avoid Talking Politics With the In-Laws?
Editor's Note: Have a question for Dibi Fletcher? She's definitely got answers. Or at least a perspective. Don't hold back, shoot her a DM on Instagram and ask away. Here's this week's dispatch from the Matriarch of Radical… Hey Dibi… My daughter wants to be 'sustainable' but also wear whatever's trending on TikTok. How do you raise kids to think long-term when everything they see is built to be disposable? - EcomindedMomFirst, I believe it's an illusion to think everything is 'built to be disposable'. Synthetic fabrics used in fast fashion are often non-biodegradable and contribute to the plastic pollution in landfills and the ocean. With an estimated 85% of all textiles ending up in landfills annually. That translates roughly to a staggering 11.3 million tons of textile waste pre year in the U.S alone. I do not know what the long-term solution is to the massive global problem, but I do know according to what you said, your daughter wants to be 'sustainable', that's a start. I was raised by a mom who sewed almost all my clothes. She knit bikinis for me and all my friends; she even crocheted my sister's wedding dress out of ribbon. She taught me to recycle my clothes by adding patches, drawing and painting on them to make them uniquely my own. Perhaps you and your daughter can start a new TikTok trend by taking something you might think of discarding and creating something new and fantastically unique out of it. You might not be thrilled with the results at first but keep at it as you build skills. I'm sure it wouldn't take much coaxing to get a few of her friends to join in. Before long you've started a new fashion happening and created a new way for you and your daughter to share time together. Hey Dibi…I used to be a surf competitor in my 20s; I now work full time and still surf most weekends. My teenage son is really ripping and has dreams of being on tour, should I encourage him? - SurfLocal2You didn't mention whether your son is now competing and consistantly finishing in the top, which is the first step in the preparation to being on tour. As you know from your own experience the tour is fierce and your son may rip, but the pressure of competing is different animal all together. Going to all the contests on the amateur circuit and getting the experience that only comes from competition is the first consideration in the decision process. If he's doing that, I believe the next issue is financial. Is there some sponsorship that is going to help with travel, has he worked and saved money, or are you going to pay the full freight? It's not cheap and there aren't the travel budgets in the companies there used to be and there isn't the sponsorship money that surfers previously could live on. These are a few of the things to consider off the top and I'm sure he has heart set on the dream of being on tour. It's your job as his dad to understand the harsh realities and help him make the right Dibi… Ma'am, I'm 19 and arrived at Pendelton from Iowa thinking out here in SoCal surfers would be completely chill, good vibes and all that. But every time I go into San Clemente, I feel like I walked into the wrong movie. Cold stares, no eye contact, what happened to that groovy, endless summer scene? - ScusethehaircutPlease let me say 'Thank you for your service' and apologize for those who are so dimwitted and small minded they don't know or have forgotten what it means to be gracious. It speaks volumes about them as your choice speaks clearly about you. I hope for your sake you shake it off and don't let a bunch of spoiled kids keep you from enjoying the time you have here and making it the surf scene of your dreams. Hey Dibi… I grew up idolizing style and soul surfing. Now the same surfers seem to be pitching everything from sunscreen to protein bars. Is it possible to have a soul surfing career? - DisillusionedSurfFanI think 'growing up' and idolizing someone's surf life is a bit unrealistic to start with. Before social media in the era of big surf brands, surfers were paid by their sponsors to go on exotic trips with magazine photographers and would appear in fantastic picture editorials and occasionally sponsors print ad programs. So, the advertising aspect of their careers was a bit more sublime and not so easily recognized. With most of the big sponsorship now gone surfers must be their own magazines and advertise themselves with social media posts, so it seems much more in your face. The truth is that like it or not it's expensive to 'surf' for a living and the surfers who relied on sponsors now find themselves in a position where they are forced to be more entrepreneurial. If you want to be that 'soul' surfer, I suggest you get a great paying a job that gives you a couple weeks off and you can surf without ever having to hawk some product yourself to enjoy Dibi… Every time I go to my in-laws for dinner the whole evening is spent arguing about politics. When I mention it to my husband on the drive home, he always says 'Don't worry about it, we always discussed politics during meals.' I find it very uncomfortable; I like his family but don't want to get into politics over dinner. What should I do? - NeutralmindsetWhy don't you invite his family to your home for dinner? Make a special meal, set the table like you would for a party. Maybe invite another couple or mutual friend. Changing the setting will change the routine that your husband and in-laws naturally fall into at the table. If politics do come up, you can politely steer the conversation in another direction with a gentle prompt or having enlisted the cooperation of your husband beforehand he can say something about how great it is to have you all together and perhaps suggest spending time like this more often. The conversation has changed and you're creating new ways to enjoy having family meals together. Hey Dibi: How do I Avoid Talking Politics With the In-Laws? first appeared on Surfer on Jun 30, 2025
