[Dan S]

To become a suit and work the 9-5 grind you have to give up a lot in terms of your ability to be flexible and surf.  What do you think the best career choices for a surfer would be that gives them financial security and time flexibilty to allow us free spirits to be free and surf when we want.

I for one did the 9-5 grind and went back to serving tables 20 hours a week for cash and health benefits, and I am a freelance programmer / web designer / database admin.  Although I wish I made slightly more money, I am able to hit the surf almost whenever it is good and drop anything on a whim.  And I can take as many vacation days as I want because I have no real set hours.

Lets see some suggestions for other surf-friendly careers.

[waveslider]

cop or fireman

[Crackie Onassis]

Clean energy:
Hawaii has an 80% renewable portfolio mandate set for 2030, which means 20% fossil fuels with the balance of power generated by wind, solar, geo and wave power. Then there is smart grid (scaling power demand & supply via software) and fuel cells (collecting wind/wave power and delivering it into the grid). This industry is where the jobs are going to be for the balance of this century.

Investment Banking:
Think there will be a solution to the unemployment problem without the investment banks? Investment banking is the most misunderstood job out there right now. If I lead a team that can $400m of growth capital for a company with $50m in sales and that company can use that capital to hire a new sales team, then the banks have earned their fees. IB is a tough job but pay your dues and you will be well compensated and afford annual big ticket surf trips. Travel with companies that have a banking relationship with you and the expense is minimal.

[money4coffeeman]

trust fund kid seems to be a good gig... seem to be plenty of them in surfy locales these days. Grow white boy dreads, eat organic, bag hippy chicks, and cash those monthly checks and you can be a trustafarian too 
(still waiting to hear back on my application...)

[Waves be Good]

self-employment in development work with a mixed bag of specialities of particular relevance to uncrowded coastal regions with solid surf

[theusername]

Being a university professor (in an area near enough to decent waves) is a pretty good situation. Flexible schedule during the week, winter break free and summer recess for travel to better waves and working with creative, engaged, and talented people. I scored a ton of water time until I had a baby!

[Shacky]

Investment Banking:
Think there will be a solution to the unemployment problem without the investment banks? Investment banking is the most misunderstood job out there right now. If I lead a team that can $400m of growth capital for a company with $50m in sales and that company can use that capital to hire a new sales team, then the banks have earned their fees. IB is a tough job but pay your dues and you will be well compensated and afford annual big ticket surf trips. Travel with companies that have a banking relationship with you and the expense is minimal.

Until you get staffed on a deal the day before the trip. 

[Årne Longbörgenssen]

trust fund kid seems to be a good gig... seem to be plenty of them in surfy locales these days. Grow white boy dreads, eat organic, bag hippy chicks, and cash those monthly checks and you can be a trustafarian too 
(still waiting to hear back on my application...)

1) is there an age requirement for this ?
2) where can i get an application ?
3) (and i guess this is related to my first question, but...) are the dreds mandatory ?

[The Lone Surfer]

Being a university professor (in an area near enough to decent waves) is a pretty good situation. Flexible schedule during the week, winter break free and summer recess for travel to better waves and working with creative, engaged, and talented people. I scored a ton of water time until I had a baby!

Being a tenured faculty member. Completely different story trying to patch together classes from various universities to make ends meet.

[Dan S]

Interesting suggestions.  I personally like the Cop or Fireman.  Good pay /  pension and the hours after you get setup can be great for surfing.  Night Shifts for cops or Firemen can do the 24 hour shift, 3 days off, 24 hours 2 days off routine.  Good for having other jobs or businesses or just for some surf time.  Both have over 28 paid vacation each year and *unlimited sick (not to be over used).

Restaurant Management also have some respectful salaries.  Flexible hours, (self scheduling if you make the schedule).  GM's can come and go as they please and at most decent places make 100,000 grand with their bonuses.

[three_fins_out]

Isn't "career path" and "surfer" an oxymoron? Just sayin...

[Ghost of WQ]

if your job/career comes 2nd to surfing as adult, and you live on the east coast... you're nuts.

[The Lone Surfer]

if your job/career comes 2nd to surfing as adult, and you live on the east coast... you're nuts.

Haha. I could say the opposite. Even with the best laid plans, intentions, and work, some careers just end up being jobs. Fortunate for those that find joy and fulfillment in their careers but don't hold it against those who don't.

Coming from someone who's been on both sides, it's really hard to see the other perspective in either case.

[money4coffeeman]

A lot of jobs/careers work...where theres a will theres a way.
Some of the best surf careers I know of are things I never would've thought of (ex: I know a CPA who logs an insane amout of water/travel time, and a high tension electrical powerline equipment salesman who surfs lots and makes bank..etc). These surfers just went out and through trial and error found a niche or took a standard gig and customized it to fit their needs over time(with a lot of hard work and some luck). As with a good surf adventure, such is life. And like a surf trip where you find a sick set-up, you may not be keen on broadcasting it to the general public once you have it. At the end of the day career happiness comes from not what you do, but how you do it and if you learn to get good at somthing and work with people you like, you will have a good work life. Real surfers are a creative bunch and will find a way to make it work, sometimes with amazing results.
BE STOKED...the rest is details

[The Lone Surfer]

A lot of jobs/careers work...where theres a will theres a way.
Some of the best surf careers I know of are things I never would've thought of (ex: I know a CPA who logs an insane amout of water/travel time, and a high tension electrical powerline equipment salesman who surfs lots and makes bank..etc). These surfers just went out and through trial and error found a niche or took a standard gig and customized it to fit their needs over time(with a lot of hard work and some luck). As with a good surf adventure, such is life. And like a surf trip where you find a sick set-up, you may not be keen on broadcasting it to the general public once you have it. At the end of the day career happiness comes from not what you do, but how you do it and if you learn to get good at somthing and work with people you like, you will have a good work life. Real surfers are a creative bunch and will find a way to make it work, sometimes with amazing results.
BE STOKED...the rest is details

Great post.