I’ve been deliberating about posting this over the past few weeks. Not that it’s been front and centre of my mind, but rather floating around in the background, bouncing between a million other thoughts and feelings. One, I don’t usually post about my personal life. Two, I’m a man of few words. And three, Instagram was very low on the list of priorities for Jess Flynn. I’ll leave the reasons why I did until the end.
Jess and I began as strangers living in the same town. Our relationship quickly evolved to lovers, then a couple, ex-couple, couple again, ex-couple, occasional work colleagues, friends, and finally tight friends who could call on each other for help, a random conversation (which usually involved giving each other shit), or a cheeky couple of drinks.
Over this time Jess taught me so much about myself, how to love, how to experience deeply, how to live fully, and how important all of this is. After seeing the outpouring of support from this community and connecting with friends old and new, it seems I’m not the only person who felt the love and life lessons from Jess.
I am so grateful for Jess being part of my life, preferring not to look at what could have, should have, or what I might have wished for, but rather cherishing what was and is. Although these times have passed, they will live with me forever. (Continued in comments)
Our new McTavish film in partnership with @driftersurfshop “The Alchemy of Bob” is now live on YouTube.
Starring Wispy_ and @chrisdelmoro111 as they test-ride a range of boards, dialing in the perfect Bali quiver.
Mctavish boards now available at @driftersurfshop in Uluwatu.
Filmed by @milo_inglis
Music by @the___m1
Korea 2019. This trip just happened to coincide with a typhoon swell and when that happens in South Korea all beaches are closed, surfing is forbidden. After a couple of windy and wild days, the swell cleaned up and I stumbled across the left in pic one. I made my way out through a small harbor the wave was bending around, looking over my shoulder with Koreas ever noticeable military presence in the back of my mind. As I surfed a crowd of locals gathered along the jetty clapping and cheering every wave as I ran around along the rock wall and jumped back out through the harbour. I soon forgot about the potential interrogation and surfed until my board broke in half all to the amazement of my new fans haha! The next day the swell held in and once again I broke the rules. Only this time the police were onto me, calling me in after a few waves. With the help of a little translation I soon realized I wasn’t being arrested, instead I was asked to sign a document, a waiver of some sort, then I was allowed to paddle back out, the police were pretty good about it all in the end! This was an unforgettable journey, my first OS trip with Bob, so many amazing people, new friends and great food! All thanks to @mctavishsurf and my old pal @schurrers for making this one happen! I’ll be back to print more t shirts soon Jin ;)
Another Maldives adventure done ✅ Fun times in paradise with great friends old and new. These trips keep getting better thanks to the team @theoceanspelltravel Who’s coming next year? Stay tuned for 2026 dates!
📸 @maldivessurfphotographer
Another epic Longboard Coaching Adventure with @wispy_ & @josie_prendergast in Maldives 💙
✨ It may sound impossible, but our Signature Coaching Experiences keep getting better & better.
The key? We love what we do — and we only create experiences we’d want to join ourselves as guests.
It’s not just about the perfect waves, the excellent coaching, the boats, or the smooth logistics — obviously those matter, and are a must.
The indispensable ingredient is the people. Our team.
Look out for 2026 — our waiting list is already on fire! 🔥
Special thanks to our epic team who make every trip unforgettable ✨🙌🏽
Feeling honored to create these experiences alongside you —
the crews of our boats, and our epic team @maldivessurfphotographer@aliphoto_maldives@hussainareefiboo@entty.maldives@wispy_@josie_prendergast@menina_do_mar — and every guest who brings these adventures to life. 🤍🤟🏽🙌🏽✨
📸 @maldivessurfphotographer
One Miss one hit. An unremarkable tube, made remarkable by the patch of sand I was lucky enough to find it on. Always visible on a decent swell but nutritiously allusive, this corner brings the local right foot forward crew out of the woodwork, rolling the dice and hedging their bets looking for the one in fifty that are makable. Somehow within a half hour session before the sun set, I managed to snag one, also lucky that @radkahonzova was there to capture the moment! Riding a 5’9” prototype quad by @mctavishsurf
Still a few spots available to join myself and @josie_prendergast in the Maldives this October with @theoceanspelltravel Come along and seek out the best longboard waves the Maldives has to offer onboard an amazing lux boat and work on your skill. This is the third year running and every trip has been one to remember so get in quick! 2 x trips available, check out @theoceanspelltravel for details or there’s a link in my bio!
Nico @nicosaintcas laying down some deep purple on my new Bluebird twin fin. Each resin tint is mixed by hand and matched by eye, knowing how these colours look when a board is finished is an art form in itself, let alone actually laminating a board. It blows my mind every time a see it happen. Backed up by an amazing fade spray and resin pin line on the deck by @alonzopunkerart , this one’s a keeper! @mctavishsurf providing the goods once again, very grateful for these wonderful surfboards 🙏
Congratulations to @wispy_ and the team for taking home the award for best mid-length film at the Noosa surf film festival @noosa_festival_of_surfing . We are super proud of this film and stoked to see it receive some acclaim from a very experienced judging panel. If you haven’t yet, check out “Dreading South" to see Wispy “battle” the cooler waters of New Zealand’s South Island, via our YouTube channel or the link in our story.
