Why I Still Guide My Own Trips

By Ahmed Aznil
2 min read · Published on 4/24/2025

 

People ask why I still guide trips myself.

They say, “You’ve done it for years, built your name, your platform. Why not step back and let others run it?”

But here’s the thing
I’m not here to run a business. I’m here to run the boat.

Guiding a surf trip isn’t about schedules or forms. It’s about presence. Reading the ocean. Feeling the wind shift. Knowing when to stay put and when to chase it.

That kind of instinct doesn’t come from a screen
It comes from years in the water. From screwing it up and then getting it right. From paddling out before dawn and staying out when others head in.

When I guide a trip, it’s not just logistics
I’m watching the guests. I’m reading their energy. I know who’s still chasing one more wave, who’s tired, who needs a push, and who’s already having the session of their life.

This is more than a job. It’s my craft
And every group I take out deserves the best version of it.

I guide because I care
Because I love it
Because this is the only way I know how to do it right

Sure, I could step back
But you wouldn’t be getting the trip I believe in

And if you’ve surfed with me before
You know the difference