From Bush Trails to Big Waves: How Daniel Found His Path Through Nature, Breath, and the Ocean
An Interview with Daniel Patrick from Tidal Trip & Surf4Earth
“I’ve always felt deeply connected to nature,” he begins, remembering a childhood spent “on a game reserve… herding cattle barefoot through the bush” and disappearing for long, quiet hours into the African landscape. The ocean was a distant world he only met on family holidays — yet even then, he reflects: “I always felt strangely at home whenever I was in the sea.”
That sense of belonging stayed with him. After studying Nature Conservation and working in anti-poaching units protecting white rhino, Daniel made a spontaneous December trip to visit his friends in Cape Town — one of those life-changing detours that shifts your entire trajectory. “I surfed my first wave… and the surfing bug bit hard,” he recalls.
Within months, he traded his bush life for a beach life. Surfing became, in his words, “my favourite pastime, my greatest teacher, my therapist, my healer and my best friend.”
Breathwork also came into his life early. “My mom was a yoga teacher and practised pranayama religiously, so I was exposed to breathwork from a young age,” he explains. In his teen years, after two near-drowning incidents, his curiosity about breath and the human body deepened. “I began attending various breathwork courses and certifications,” he shares. When he eventually moved to the coast in his early twenties, he had more time and space to dedicate to the practice, and he “dived even deeper into the world of breathing.”
This early foundation has evolved over the years. Today, Daniel has been studying the breath for over 15 years and teaching breathwork for 10. “It remains a lifelong journey… a passion, and a practice that continues to evolve,” he says.
Surf4Earth: Merging Conservation, Surfing, and Breath
Surf4Earth grew out of Daniel’s desire to merge his love for nature conservation with his passion for surfing. As he explains, “It was my way of bringing those two worlds together.”
In the early years, that meant volunteering, environmental outreach, and launching eco-conscious surfboards — an initiative that later evolved into Nala Boards.
But a key moment came when Daniel realised that his breathwork knowledge was a missing link in surf progression. Surfers wanted to push their limits; they just lacked the tools. “That insight led me to start hosting surf apnea workshops and surf progression retreats,” he explains, blending ocean skills, psychology, and conscious breathing into one holistic path.
Nala Boards: Eco-Conscious Surf Crafting
The surf industry’s environmental footprint shocked Daniel early on — “from surfboards to wetsuits and even wax.” Nala Boards is his response: high-performance EPS flax constructions crafted as alternatives to traditional toxic PU boards.
“At Nala Boards, our mission is simple,” he says. “to offer eco-conscious, high-performance alternatives to traditional PU boards and help the surf community move toward cleaner, more sustainable equipment, without compromising on performance.” Years of R&D, collaborations with top South African shapers, and a commitment to sustainability anchor the project.
The Birth of Surf Apnea Training
The roots of Surf Apnea run deep — back to those two near-drownings that taught Daniel “the true importance of breath as the primary life force within the human body.” When he began surfing seriously, he noticed something: he was unusually calm in heavy conditions. Eventually, he realised why. “My deep trust in my breath, my understanding of it, and my confidence in my breath-hold abilities gave me a calm edge in high-stress environments.”
His first workshops were basic “held in my family’s lounge and our backyard swimming pool”, but word spread quickly. Not long after these first tries, Daniel was hosting sessions across various spaces in Cape Town, and before long, his Surf Apnea training had expanded into international retreats across South Africa, Mozambique, and Indonesia.
Today, he’s trained hundreds of surfers across continents, from beginners to WSL athletes. And yet one moment never gets old: “watching someone hold their breath for twice as long as they thought they could. The look of amazement on their face never gets old.”
Understanding the mechanics of breath dissolves fear, he says. It transforms surfing not just physically, but emotionally, helping people “move beyond their fear of drowning” and rediscover joy in the water.
Tidal Trip: A Global Ocean Adventure Marketplace
When COVID abruptly paused all his in-person work, Daniel pivoted. A Facebook post unexpectedly opened the door to what would become Tidal Trip — “a dynamic ocean adventure marketplace, connecting stoked travellers with passionate hosts around the world.”
Their mission is twofold: empower ocean-based business owners and help surfers and divers “find and book their next adventure with ease.” As Daniel says with a smile, “we absolutely froth on helping surfers and divers.”
One Mission, Many Expressions
Nature and breath are the threads that tie all of Daniel’s ventures together. “Nature, and the time I’ve spent in it, especially through surfing, along with the power of breathwork, have been two of my greatest teachers,” he reflects. “Every one of my business ventures has been shaped by the lessons and insights I’ve drawn from the ocean and the breath.”
From his own experience, he explains, “when we allow ourselves to be fully present in nature, whether through surfing or simply slowing down outdoors, we tap into deeper parts of who we are. We uncover truths that often go unnoticed in the rush of daily life. Breathwork offers a similar pathway inward; through conscious, intentional breathing, we can access those same deeper layers of self-awareness and clarity.”
Through his business ventures, Daniel says, he aims “to create spaces, opportunities and experiences that help people reconnect with nature, the ocean and their breath, so they can discover more of their own magic and move through life in a more authentic, grounded, and harmonious way. And catch a looooooot more waves in the process ;)”
Understanding the Barriers Surfers Face
From elite athletes to absolute beginners, Daniel has seen a pattern: fear. “The biggest mental barriers… stem from fear-based beliefs, specifically that of drowning.” These fears, he explains, are self-imposed limitations, preventing people from pushing their limits in the sea. “Past negative experiences, such as near-drowning incidents or being held underwater by waves, can also create trauma associations with the ocean, making it difficult to fully enjoy surfing or build confidence in the water.”
Physically, he says, many surfers simply lack foundational breath-hold skills and fitness — but the good news is, “these abilities can easily be developed through training.” As Daniel puts it: “The confidence and freedom that come from a strong breath-hold and solid foundational fitness are transformative, opening the door to a safer and more rewarding surfing experience.”
Lessons From Building Impact-Driven Businesses
“Being an entrepreneur is no easy game and is not for the faint of heart!” Daniel originally wanted flexibility to surf more and “shape his work life around the swell forecast” — only to learn that start-ups can demand far more time than any 9–5.
His biggest lessons?
Match value with demand.
“You might have the best idea for a product which is of immense value, but you might be ahead of the market.”
With Nala Boards, the eco-board demand in South Africa simply wasn’t there yet, making the early stages “very challenging.”Daniel suggests: “Study market trends and market demands, and supply a product of value within that market.”
Consistency and perseverance.
“People often give up prematurely, just as they are about to break through.”
Entrepreneurship is endurance, not speed. “The hard slog will be worth it!”
Staying Balanced While Building It All
Daniel’s guiding star is unmistakable: “My ultimate ‘why’ is to own an eco-lodge and retreat centre on a tropical island where I can live in harmony with nature and the community.” That vision keeps him motivated during the hard days.
Daily balance comes from simple anchors: movement, good food, meditation, nature time. “I always get fresh air and nature time before and after I work.”
What He’d Change About Surfing
Two things.
First, the industry: “shift the entire surfboard production industry to a more sustainable way of doing things and create less waste in the current surfboard production processes.” The waste problem, he says, is far bigger than most surfers realise.
And second, in the lineup: “to enter its waters with less ego and more respect. Respect for Mother Nature and the ocean itself, and respect for all other people who share the ocean space with you.”
Where to Find Him
“Connection is a big and important theme in my life,” Daniel says. He welcomes anyone who wants to reach out:
Email: surf4earth@gmail.com
Instagram: @Surf.4.earth
Tidal Trip: https://tidaltrip.com/
Surf4Earth: surf4earth.com
Nala Boards: @nalaboards
Want to easily connect with entrepreneurs like Daniel? Join Surfpreneurs now and start networking!
Interviewed by Lina Heller
Ocean-lover, wanna-be surfer, and yoga teacher. Helping surfers and creatives ride both waves and ideas. Always curious, slightly chaotic, but fully here for good vibes and better stories.
