OPPOSITE PAGE : CHRIS BURKARD ; THIS PAGE , TOP LEFT : JORGITO RIVERA ; MIDDLE AND BOTTOM RIGHT : TYLER REVLLE

“ Riding waves forces you to be completely in the moment and there is something therapeutic about that ,” Zoller says . “ This piece of energy has traveled thousands of miles across the ocean , and we ride it before it dissipates onto the shore to never be seen again . Each wave is different , which keeps it exciting and always changing . Riding a wave just satisfies the soul in a way that not many other things can , and it just never gets old .”

Zoller , 35 , recently moved with his girlfriend to Seal Beach , but plans to return to Laguna soon .

“ It ’ s the best place to come home to ,” he says . “ I ’ ve been traveling extensively for the last 10 years and , every time I come through the canyon and get to the stop light at Broadway and PCH at Main Beach , the smell of the ocean air just makes me feel at home . I love the beaches and the tight-knit surf community that feels like extended family .”

Rather than competing , he puts all his energy and money into travel . In fact , he first teamed up with Laguna adventure brand Roark for a surf trip to Iceland in the winter . That was almost 10 years ago and the partnership continues . Not one to shy away from the frigid temperatures , he recently returned from Norway , where he surfed

Nate Zoller surfing in Puerto Rico

GO-TO PLACES IN TOWN Laguna Surf & Sport for surfboard wax and sunscreen , The Taco Stand for a good al pastor taco ; “ I ’ m from south Laguna , so any beach that way . There ’ s [ also ] countless hiking trails to name , but I will let you discover those on your own .” FAVORITE LOCAL SURF SPOT “ I grew up surfing Thalia , so it will always be a special spot to me .” FAVORITE GLOBAL SURF SPOT Fiji , Mexico , Tahiti and “ pretty much anywhere … culture and the waves come together in harmony .” BUCKET LIST SURF DESTINATION Australia —“ I think I ’ m going in September . I can ’ t wait . I ’ m just scared I won ’ t ever want to leave .” SURFING STYLE “ I try and keep my movements clean and efficient ; I chase barrels in most of my travel destinations .” HIS BOARD “ My bigger wave boards are made by Chris Christenson . Stretch makes me some cool epoxy boards , Album just made me a fun asymmetrical board . I appreciate each different shaper ’ s approach and I think it ’ s beneficial to my surfing to keep it fresh .” OTHER HOBBIES Golfing with friends , diving around Laguna , skimboarding in the summer and photography

in the Arctic Circle .

“ I ’ ve surfed in some cold places like Alaska and Iceland , but Norway was on another level ,” he says . “ The air was below freezing most days and the water temp was around 37 degrees . Those cold water trips really make you work for it and , to be able to do what I love in a place so far removed from what people think of when they think of surfing , that ’ s pretty cool .”

Zoller makes a living out of sharing those experiences with others . He has served as an editor and writer for surfing magazines and worked on adventure films from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to New Zealand , Mexico , the Falkland Islands and Portugal . He also works with a few surfboard companies , offering feedback on design , and Roark , as a brand ambassador . “ Wherever I end up , I make sure to bring [ a ] new product to test out and come back with video / photo assets as well as stories from the road ,” he says .

Zoller has also volunteered during his travels , teaming up with the nonprofit Waves for Water . “ Jon Rose , who started Waves For Water , is from Laguna as well . I ’ ve been going down to mainland Mexico for over a decade now and a lot of the area has small villages with the water source being stagnant wells ,” Zoller explains . “ Roark has a giveback initiative called Safecamp , and W4W agreed to give me some filters to bring down , so I went with my brother to install these water filtration systems at several elementary schools . We would surf in the morning and then install 500-gallon water tanks with filters in the afternoons .”

If he has one piece of advice to share , Zoller says , “ Life is short . Once you find your passion , be sure to chase after it with everything you have .”

Zoller chasing barrels in Tahiti

COURTESY OF THE RANCH AT LAGUNA BEACH

LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 41