Wheels and Waves

Let’s face it, we all dream of packing up the boards, pumping out the tunes and embarking on an endless road trip in search of the perfect wave. 

Once romanticised by renowned travel author Jack Kerouac, the fantasy of unlimited days ‘rolling under the stars’ is but a pipe dream for the majority, with life so often getting in the way of never ending nose-rides. 

It’s no surprise then, that with an increase in remote working during the pandemic, many surfers have grasped the opportunity to hit the road and work alongside perfect peelers, turning dreams into reality and every day empty line-ups into another day at the office.  

With a boom in the number of people buying vans, as well as a growing interest in campervan conversions, the van-life community has rocketed, resulting in a multitude of meet-ups and events specifically tailored to those living life on the road.

With our very own Spring Classic festival offering van pitches with panoramic ocean views, the event will also play host to a whole herd of the campervan community, uniting to discuss unique adventures and showcase their custom conversions.

With a range of classic camper vans on display as well as a variety of activities for outdoor enthusiasts including surf comps, skate jams, trail running, wild swimming and yoga, the festival will celebrate a weekend of wheels and waves. 

Meet the Campervan Crew

We caught up with a few of our campervan crew, who are as much at home in the waves as they are behind the wheel, to talk festival favourites and every day essentials for life on the road.  

Perky the Van

Instagram: @perkythevan

WL: What would be your dream surfing road trip?

The dream surfing road trip would definitely be the West coast of the USA, maybe starting up in Vancouver, though, as we’ve always wanted to surf on Vancouver Island. We’d then make our way down the West coast stopping at all the classic spots with good longboard waves, as well as all the iconic surf towns along the way.

WL: What are the most essential items for the perfect van getaway?

Number 1 would be a laptop, as it’s so handy for doing work on the road, watching TV and listening to music. Number 2 is a stock of bog-standard food. Pesto pasta is our go-to for a cheap, easy meal. A bit of ‘Frank’s hot sauce’ and hazelnuts makes the perfect combo!

A good outside cooking set up is also essential. We always have our portable log burner, little camping stove and foldaway BBQ. Cooking outside is much more fun and really keeps you in the moment.

WL: What’s the next van road trip that you’re stoked for?

We’re heading to Italy in May with a few days in the French Alps. We can’t wait to head to Tuscany for some wine and waves up and down the coast.

WL: What are your top songs for the ultimate surf road trip?

– Manchester Orchestra – The Sunshine

– Family of the Year – Hero

– Two Door Cinema Club – What You Know

WL: What’s your most memorable experience, good or bad, that you’ve had whilst on the road?

We’ve had so many good experiences in the van and have lived in it full time for 2 ½ years now, but for us the one that stuck out the most was the first time we opened the back doors looking over the sea at Putsborough in North Devon. We spent so long doing the van up and looking at other Instagram accounts with pictures of vans parked in beautiful places that the first time we did it for ourselves had a real, “we’ve done it” feeling.

Road 2 Adventure

Instagram: road2adventure_dan.daisy

WL: What would be your dream surfing road trip?

Our future goal is to live it up in Hawaii one summer spending our time on the road and enjoying the epic waves the island experiences.

WL: What are the most essential items for the perfect van getaway?

As content creators our number one is our ‘jackery’ as it allows us to charge all of our equipment on the go and wild camp without worrying about power. To match that would be a camera to capture all the memories as we explore the open road, and finally, a nice cooler so we can kick back and enjoy a beer as we watch the sunset on a beach.

WL: What’s your next van road trip that you’re stoked for?

We are so excited to be heading down to the Spring Classic festival, but ahead of that we are stopping down in Bude, Cornwall to spend a night on the beach front. We went there on our first van trip and instantly fell in love with the place.. something just felt so right and we felt so connected to it!

This year we are going there to spread some of my Dad’s ashes to celebrate his life so that I can share all of my adventures with him – he was one of my biggest supporters so it only seems right to share these beautiful places with him along the way!

WL: What are your top songs for the ultimate surf road trip?

1. Electric Love – Børns

2. Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap

3. It’s Only – Odesza

WL: What’s your most memorable experience, good or bad, that you’ve had whilst on the road?

Our first trip away in the van for sure! It was only the last day when we were enjoying a cold beer with a stoned-baked pizza watching the glistening sunset, when we realised… WE ARE LIVING OUR DREAM! For us that moment will always be so special. It really is the simple things in life!

Our Cornish Adventure

Instagram: @ourcornishadventure

WL: What would be your dream surfing road trip?

Definitely Hawaii! Jordan once visited Oahu with friends and Jim’s never forgiven her!

WL: What’s your most essential item for the perfect van getaway?

Hagen, our Greek rescue dog. He keeps us warm at night and is always up for the adventure

WL: What’s the next van road trip that you’re stoked for?

We’re planning on visiting lots of the UK this year, but honestly, we’re most excited to see more of Cornwall now that everything has opened up again, and of course, we can’t wait for a weekend at the Spring Classic!

WL: What are your top songs for the ultimate surf road trip?

– Rusted Root – Send Me On My Way
– Katrina and the Waves – Walking on Sunshine
– Imagine Dragons – Believer

WL: What’s your most memorable experience, good or bad, that you’ve had whilst on the road?

Our first big trip we spent 14 days in Ireland. We found ourselves on an island and had the whole place to ourselves. The sun was shining and it felt so magical and cost us nothing!

Grab tickets for a camper van pitch with a view at the Spring Classic festival and the chance to wake up by the waves.