Meet Professional Surfer Nate Tyler

There are two avenues one can take to become a professional surfer: competitions or free surfing. Nate Tyler has succeeded in doing the latter.

The Volcom surfer from Templeton, Calif., is able to travel around the world to surf, being featured in documentaries, short films, photographs, magazines, online and more. Not too shabby for someone who grew up 35 minutes away from the beach.

“Surfing is beyond surreal,” Tyler said while on a recent surf trip in Bali, Indonesia. “For me, personally, it’s the craziest thing. I know I look like a quintessential surfer, but at the same time, I look back on my childhood and I don’t think I was ever really in a position to become a professional surfer.”

Tyler started surfing when he was around 12 years old and would take weekend camping trips to Big Sur with his father. It wasn’t until Tyler was 16 when he got his license and could drive to the beach more frequently when he got more invested in the sport.

“Surfing is a very important part of my life,” he said. “It’s given me everything I’ve become, but at the same time it’s also this daily disease, if you would, that I have to get in the ocean every day. It resets you. It’s your exercise. It’s everything.”

Outside of surfing, Tyler, who grew up on a “glorified hippie compound”, is also very artistic. Both of his parents are artists and the creativity and skillset have been passed down to him. He is an avid builder, craftsman and creates pieces of artwork with metal.

“Nate Tyler has the skillset to be on the World Tour, but he has the foresight and mental toughness to say, ‘Hey, that isn’t for me,'” said Matt Bemrose, Volcom Global Surf Team Manager. “He’s as real as it gets. He’s true to himself.”

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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