Hey Dibi: Should I Quit Surfing?

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: Is the ultimate rebel move now just quitting surfing altogether? - SolSrf4Ev
If you think being rebellious means giving up something you love doing is making a statement, I hate breaking this truth to you, No One Cares… you won’t be missed, just like I wouldn’t be. Being rebellious means actively resisting or disobeying established rules, authority, or norms, surfing is enjoyed by 20-35 million people worldwide. If you no longer want to surf because you feel you can’t enjoy it without compromising your beliefs, I understand, but it’s a personal choice, not a statement of rebellion.

Hey Dibi: Is it possible to grow old gracefully in a youth-obsessed surf culture? - 4EVYug
I don’t think youth-obsessed is cornered by surf, it’s a much larger mindset. From the early tomb murals to modern advertising, it’s all about youth, but I always think about the old “words of wisdom” my mother used to say “youth is wasted on the young” … The older I get the more profound those simple words are. There’s nothing to chase, youth is so fleeting, it’s over and gone before you can comprehend the value… There’s something so amazing about the knowledge that comes along with experience, I can highly recommend it.

Hey Dibi: Is the surf industry killing surf culture- or is it the only thing keeping it alive? - SRF4LF2
Surf industry and surf culture are not one and the same. Surf industry is based on sales of hard and soft goods for the surf enthusiast. Surf culture is a lifestyle and  will go on long after the brands that chase it come and go.

Hey Dibi: How do you know when it’s time to walk away from the dream and chart a new course? - DremScape
Interesting your choice of words “the dream”. They seem very specific, which is the antithesis of what I interpret as a world of possibilities in a dreamscape. Perhaps it might be easier for you to decide if instead of “dream” you thought of goals. Have you achieved what you set out to do, is there more you feel you could accomplish if you persevere? These should be the same points you consider when charting a new course. There will always be unforeseen variables that come into play but when you have some tangible objectives it will help determine whether it’s time to fish or cut bait.

Hey Dibi: Can a wave change your life, or is that just something we tell ourselves? - XLWVii
I have not personally experienced that but have spoken to a few who will absolutely testify that a certain wave changed the trajectory of their lives forever. So my best answer is yes I believe a wave can set into motion a series of events that can alter a persons life forever and I think we’re seeing it manifest more often with the huge explosion in monster wave riding as an example.

Hey Dibi: At what point does chasing swells become running away from your life? - WW5
I believe it’s a personal decision based on life goals. There isn’t the sponsorship money there was a decade ago, so I imagine the expense of being on the road constantly makes the choice of moving on come earlier due to necessity, but there are more people  all the time who have been able to enjoy the thrill of surfing great waves and have successful careers in and out of the surf industry and with all the recent strides in technology  there will be more  opportunity available than ever before.