The smell of sunscreen and wax fills the salty sea air as the white crests of waves break off-shore. The sand blowing in the breeze grazes the back of your legs as you walk to the sand colored water. You toss your board in the water, and start paddling. The water reflects the sun and creates a crystal like sparkle. You can feel the warmth of the sun on your back. The waves are perfect four to five feet and the sets about a minute apart, perfect surf for the Gulf Coast. The waves are so perfectly rounded and not caving in cutting my ride short. Paddle hard till your arms turn to noodles, and then use all of the strength in your body to stand up and shift your body weight right and cut back left. The seven foot six inch board glides down the incredible wave with your momentum pushing you. The board creates its own wake, with the water splitting in two directions spraying from behind your board leaving only a thin white jet stream cutting the water. The ride ends with the breaking of the wave. You shoot out of the wave, and collide with the dark water; the taste of salt water so bitter and harsh enters your nose and fills your mouth. I bob like a floating duck on my board waiting for another set to come rolling in. I could do this all day, in fact I usually do.