Conversation: From pointe shoes to paddling out: Crystal’s most unconventional shortboarding journey

Crystal didn’t take the typical beginner route to surfing—and she definitely didn’t start on a longboard. In this episode, she shares how a lifetime of dance, skimboarding, snow skating, and YouTube deep dives helped her make the leap to shortboarding. We talk about fear, injuries, the gift of bad conditions, and what it means to be “community-taught.” Crystal breaks down the myth of self-taught surfing, how she structured her learning (spoiler: she’s extremely organized), and why she’ll always respect the lineup—even if she’s stuck on the shoulder. Plus: surf funks, dental assistants with big advice, and the magic of unexpected surfboards falling from the sky.