What a year it has been. While it’s not over yet, I thought for this month’s blog post it would be nice to reflect back on the year it has been. Epic, challenging and laced with plenty of blessings in disguise. As artists, we are almost, always hustling, hustling for our next gig or striving for our next goal or dream and we very often forget to just stop and pause, rest and soak up all the goodness we’ve achieved. Thanks to a lovely run of kidney infections, the flu, and dengue fever, I’ve had many opportunities in the last 2 months to stop, pause and rest, lapping up much needed time to appreciate everything that has been this year. As I write this, I’m sitting at Day 8 of dengue fever, another gift that keeps on giving.

This year decided to start, keeping me on my toes with my water housing flooding in January when the high season was in full swing, making me think quick and on my feet to ensure that I could keep myself afloat here in Mexico. This led me to my very first solo exhibition ever, in my favourite café Miscelánea. I’ve always loved the community of Sayulita, hence why I live here but having my first exhibition here and watching how the community comes together to support each other, this is something I experienced for the first time, firsthand.

Next was Mexilogfest, traveling down to parts of Mexico, I’ve been dying to see. I was equipped with my camera again after being out of action for 3 months. This was a lifelong dream to photograph alongside some of the best surf photographers in the world, some of the best longboarders in the world. What a week, a week full of good vibes and beautiful humans, lifelong friendships and a bunch of photos I’m so proud of, some of my best work I’ve ever produced came from this frothy week of lefts. Mexilogfest has become a career highlight for sure.

Kristy Murphy, Caio Teixeira, Mason Schremmer and Mantarraya at this year’s Mexilogfest, La Saladita.

The next moments of epicness saw me traveling to Costa Rica for 2 months working with Rise Up Surf Retreats and Surf With Amigas. Not only had I never been to Costa Rica before, but I’d also never traveled this far for work before. And what can I say, I hit the jackpot. Rise Up became my instant family. The good vibes, manic monkeys and jungle houses became our home for the next 5 weeks. Our daily routine/ commute saw us walking through the jungle spotting sloths, monkeys, snakes and many other random animals I couldn’t pronounce the names of, not to mention the numerous wonderful guests that came through. Each and every one of them bringing something different and wonderful to the Rise Up experiences. Photographing all these wonderful humans with the backdrop of the jungle, was again another highlight in my career, right now I was literally going from one highlight to the next. From the rights of the Osa Peninsula to the lefts of Pilon and Pavones, I found myself catching some of the best waves I’ve ever surfed (for all the goofy’s out there). I spent the next two weeks on another epic adventure with the Surf With Amigas crew. Again, photographing some of the most epic swells coming through with some incredible souls. Could my life get any better?

From Costa Rica back to Mexico, my housing flooded yet again, costing me another small fortune. But it also saw me landing some of my most favourite clients, becoming a swimwear ambassador for Salt Gyspy, an Australian Sustainable swimwear brand, a trip to some islands about 3 hours off the coast of Mexico, which are illegal (sorry Mum) and where a prison used to be up until February this year. We scored 2 days of epic rights to ourselves, a beached boat, fresh ceviche from our daily catch as well as shark sightings and a night in the tent with 4 tropical storms gracing us with their presence.

The next couple of months saw me on a trip to Ensenada, Baja for the Peninsula Longboard and Film festival. Another weekend of epicness and freezing my ass off in the water. I hate the cold but I tell you what, those glassy waves and misty sunsets were worth the 6 hours in the water and the adventures to find chocolate clams.

Ricardo Garcia, Jen Smith, Vicente Yazbek at this year’s Peninsula Longboard and Film Festival, Ensenada Baja.

Which brings me to my most treasured accomplishment of this year, being published in my first magazine and I couldn’t be more stoked to be published in Pacific Longboarder, an Australian Surf magazine which has been a big part of my life for years. I wrote a piece about how I ended up here in Mexico with many colourful moments about my journey. I’m beyond stoked to see my work splashed across the pages in a few week’s time.

So while I’m not sure what else could pack itself into this year, and to be honest, I’ll be happy if nothing else does, I can say this, I’m so bloody grateful for everything that has popped up this year. It’s been a challenging year that has made me so uncomfortable in so many ways because it’s pushing me to do things I’ve always dreamed of but never knew how to. I’m so grateful for all the people I have in my life reminding me, if it scares you, that’s good. While I wish I could keep my eyes shut a little bit longer, I’m also very thankful for the opportunities that continue to come my way. 2020 will see me in Guatemala, Morocco and back home to Australia (for a few weeks) for work, my best friend’s wedding and meeting my beautiful little niece Elsie for the first time.

And the next special thing is, today is actually Salty See’s 3rd birthday. 3 is also my favourite number and I just happen to be 33! So yay for 3’s hahaha. It’s been 3 years since I started my baby, Salty See. Born out of my love for swimming around in the ocean for hours on end, surfing and being able to play with light, colour and movement of the ocean and the people who gracefully glade in front of my camera. It’s each and every one of you who appreciate my work, allowing me to follow my dreams. If you didn’t love and support my work, then I wouldn’t have a job! To say thank you and to celebrate I’m offering 30% (because I love 3’s so much) off my print shop. I’m also releasing a limited edition print run of 100 prints for ‘Baja dreams’.

So thank you, everyone, for an outstanding 2019. I hope 2020 brings less snapped boards and flooded water housings, no more dengue fever and a whole lot more epic smiles.