The Watermelon Board Rides Again

If there is one thing I’ve come to realize in my life as a surf photographer, it’s never been about the waves for me—it’s always been about the people. While there is undeniable excitement when a good swell is rolling into town, the thing that keeps me lugging camera gear to the beach is the chance to connect with people and to listen to their stories. While some shoots are one-offs, others result in long term friendships, which is exactly the case with Stephanie Schechter.

Spanning probably close to fifteen years now, Stephanie is definitely on the short list of surfers I’ve photographed the most over the years. Having moved to Australia a few years back, we don’t get to shoot much anymore, but luckily for me, she dropped into California for a couple of days last week and we were able to get together on one of them. I met up with Stephanie and her friend, Rashid, and while certainly not epic, there were a few fun, longboardable waves here and there. Two other friends, Lisa and Kelsey, joined in late, but sadly, the tide had drained and taken the waves along with it.

While putting this piece together, I looked back to see when the first time it was that I posted a photo of Stephanie on her cherished watermelon board. The date was January 10, 2014. I had no idea she still even owned the board, but when she pulled it out of truck, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It looked as good as new and she rode it as effortlessly as ever. Over time, I’ll definitely forget the waves from this day, but the people, never. It blessed my heart to shoot with this group of great friends and truly made my day to see the watermelon board riding again.

You’ve probably seen Stephanie’s work on @surfline over the last several years, but you can also follow her at @stephanieschechter . To see what her friends are up to on Instagram, check out @rashidclifton , @lcarolla at @fishandcostudio , and @kvp_ at @by.kvp