Those that receive the newsletters and follow the instagram already know my situation vis a vis the Costa Rica retreats, surf coaching, and COVID-19, but I thought I’d also post them on the blog for those that are new to the site and to the CSC community to read. Per the last post, in the first week of March I was just stoked that we were getting more surf than we had all winter. I didn’t see COVID-19 as an imminent threat to myself and to those I love, although I had heard it would be very similar to the 1918 Spanish flu, which by the way, was the event that led us to discover what a virus was in the first place! I figured that my interaction with others was pretty light in general, and that surfing was safe in times like these, etc. I also see my own blasé reaction to the news as a failure of federal, state, and local governments to properly relay information and react swiftly when they knew it was coming. If they would have told me that we should have already been in lockdown for a month, and made it relatively mandatory, that would have been helpful. If they had acted seriously at all, even as early as January, that would have been helpful. Instead they reacted untimely and infused most of us with the anxious behavior, panic, and fear that we are now experiencing on a daily level.
I cannot grieve for the fact that I did surf on March 7th, however, as it was a day for the ages. I am glad that I didn’t get hurt and that I did maintain my social distance more generally. But still I was a COVID-19 pandemic denier — “it’s just a flu” — and had my CR retreats on ‘greenlight’ when they should have been called off in January. In fact I flew to CR on March 16th, hence the picture above, where I was greeted by my brother, Andrew, who lives down there, and three CSCers already on retreat — Allie, Nicole, and Soyoup. They had had some fun surf in the past week, and the coasts of CR are COVID-19 free for now. I had been doing a ton of surfing and trip prep when I arrived that evening. While surfing we got word that gringos were hoarding at the local grocery stores. CR was not immune. I stocked up on some supplies for the week and went up the hill to make dinner. At dinner we learned that CR would shut its borders on March 17th at midnight. Still in denial, I figured we’d still be fine. Then Nicole found out her returning flight was canceled. I tried to get some sleep, but couldn’t stop thinking about how I may be endangering my clients and of the real possibility that I may not be able to return to the US, effectively stranding my partner and my dog in Brooklyn for the remainder of the pandemic. I went upstairs where everyone was still awake and I said, “The retreat is off.” I texted everyone else who had planned to come telling them to cancel their flights. We all booked on a returning United flight the following day, March 16th. We woke up at 3a, and I drove us to SJO, masks and gloves and wipes in hand. Now I was taking this seriously.
Nicole, Soyoup, and Allie all at SJO.
While in SJO we all contacted friends and family to alert them of our travel home. My partner, Sophia, wanted to hear from a credible source, so she had me contact my uncle, John Mattison, who is an MD and a global health expert. He recommended I go into an 8 day quarantine after air travel. We all arrived home from CR safely, and I am now on day 3 of my quarantine. It hasn’t been so bad and I am not showing any signs of symptoms. Still, I don’t want to asymptomatically transmit something to my partner or to the other surfaces of my house. In these past 3 days the situation has escalated to a code red international emergency. NYC will go on lockdown effectively Sunday night. In my phone calls with John, he urged me to observe a strict lockdown for the remainder of the pandemic. He did a podcast with Neurohacker that I recommend everyone reading this blog post go to immediately and listen to it. John is extremely optimistic that we and will turn this terrible time into a boon for all of humanity. Yes, lots of people are suffering and dying and will continue to suffer and die. But this is a major course corrective for our country, our world, and humanity. We need to observe the protocols of strict isolation and take the proper precautions when we risk coming into contact with peoples and places outside of our homes.
My uncle, John Mattison, is a global health expert. He’s spending 18 hours a day on the latest cutting edge research about COVID-19. He is not a journalist. You should hear what he has to say.
Per John’s recommendations, I’m not coaching or going surfing until we get a better handle on this situation. I am staying in my house. I have a strict schedule I am adhering to that includes a morning bike ride, three stretching sessions, two big blocks of dissertation time, and two big blocks for CSC business, including writing blog posts (Fridays and Mondays), newsletters (Wednesdays), and responding to texts and emails. I will also be making and editing educational videos and posting to instagram. I am available to schedule FaceTime surf consultations of videos that either I or someone else has taken of you. For currently active clients, all virtual support is free. For new or inactive clients I will charge an appropriate consultation rate for my time.
In closing, I wanted to share some links with you that I have found helpful in these trying times. I know it’s hard not to go surfing or see the people you love right now, but if you are staying home you are doing the social responsible thing. Some may want to be even more active in their communities and there are more and less safe ways to help those in need. Be safe and follow the right protocols!
On Activism in the time of Isolation and Social Distancing
Code Pink Links to ways to benefit self and others
Surfline on how COVID-19 is affecting surfers world wide
Whatyouth opinion article with one good reason not to surf
Surfrider Link on how COVID-19 may affect water quality
Another great article on why we should go on lockdown
I am really enjoying everyone sending me these links and thoughtful emails. Keep em coming! I’ll have another blog post for ya on Monday!
-Dion