As an intermediate surfer and a professional working in the risk sector, I am constantly navigating the thin line between the comfort of small fun waves and the challenge of a towering overhead swell. Throughout my surfing journey, there have been a few times when misreading the signals of the Ocean pushed me far beyond the “comfort” or “stretch” zone into a state of panic and distress. The physical and mental toll of those situations can’t be underestimated and can potentially lead to protracted states of anxiety, fear, and lack of confidence in the water.

Since I came across the SMILE surf hat, this whole narrative completely shifted. The hat didn’t only equip me with a protective piece of gear, but most importantly with a newfound sense of confidence and security. Essentially, the hat created a buffer for me to push my boundaries further and explore new risk levels of surfing, whether in terms of swell size or spots’ degree of difficulty. Even on smaller and more crowded days, when people inadvertently drop in and surfboards fly all over the place, the protective shell gifted me more peace of mind and tranquillity, as well as an appealing and well-designed cover for sun protection.

Based on my personal experience, I would strongly recommend the SMILE hat to surfers across all levels. I can confidently say it is a game-changer for risk-taking in the world of surfing.