Florida Man, 23, Goes Viral for Surfing During Hurricane Milton — But Cautions Others of the Risks (Exclusive)
Dalen Michaels began surfing at 14 years old
Dalen Michaels began surfing when he was 14 years old. Since then, he's had many storm-surfing experiences including Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and Hurricane Isaias in 2020.
When Dalen learned about Hurricane Milton, he and his friends monitored the weather and planned a time to hit the ocean.
Before leaving, he told his mom, Alena Michaels, about his plans and filmed her reaction. He later posted that video on TikTok, where it went viral, garnering 1.8 million views and almost 700 comments.
Dalen Michaels isn't new to surfing during storms. But he doesn't want you to try, either.
The 23-year-old has eagerly grabbed his board to catch the waves caused by major hurricanes that have hit Florida since he started surfing at 14. His storm-surfing experience includes Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and Hurricane Isaias in 2020.
When Dalen learned about the formation of Hurricane Milton, he and his friends monitored the weather and planned a time to hit the ocean. On Wednesday, Oct. 9, around 4 p.m. — just before Hurricane Milton made landfall — Dalen and his friends grabbed their boards and headed to a local Boca Raton beach.
Before leaving, he told his mom, Alena Michaels, about his plans and filmed her reaction. He later posted that video on TikTok, where it went viral, garnering 1.8 million views and almost 700 comments.
Her reaction was classic mom: "Are you kidding me?" Dalen, the CEO and founder of Outheback, a surf apparel brand, tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I've done this before and gotten into trouble, but now that I’m 23, her authority is slowly diminishing. She was definitely panicked, but we have a trust established. She knows I wouldn’t put myself in danger or do anything unsafe."
"We're Floridians; we don't get waves often, so whenever we do, we want to make sure we're out there and not missing out," he continues. "The reason we love surfing during storms is that after a storm passes, the offshore winds create cleaner waves. Clean waves are easier and more enjoyable to surf."
Speaking to PEOPLE, Dalen's mom shares that she was upset at first, but her emotions quickly turned to worry. She says Dalen has always been a water-lover; as soon as he could walk, he was playing in or with water.
"A few years back when he was in middle school he went out during a hurricane with his buddies," Alena, 49, says. "We had a long talk prior and I had to see that the conditions are okay for the surf. We also had an agreement that he would never surf alone and would always check in with me. So we built trust and good communication. They would drive out as far as to New Smyrna Beach which is a few hours from where we live."
"As parents, we have stopped him from going out during one or two storms because the conditions were bad. Dalen knew this, so he didn’t argue with us," she says. "Otherwise, as much as I’m terrified and worried, I also trust that he’s not alone and doesn’t make illogical decisions. He’s been surfing for a long time, and one thing about Dalen is that he respects Mother Nature and knows when it’s time to stay put."
"People will form opinions based on how they feel in the moment," she continues. "We all project our emotions onto others, so I remind myself not to assume and to do inner work before reacting. With this in mind, I’ve learned not to take these comments personally because those who comment don’t really know me or my son."
Related: How to Help the Victims of Hurricane Milton
Dalen adds that when he's out in the water, he usually doesn't bring his phone. But once he gets back, he'll text his mom to let her know, "Hey, we're all good. Everything's all right." He emphasizes that if conditions were ever too extreme, he would "absolutely not" go out.
He always comes prepared with a First Aid kit, and one of his surfing buddies is lifeguard certified.
"We have confidence in each other's abilities and in our ability to save one another, so we might as well go have fun and enjoy what nature provides us," he says.
"I'm a big believer in manifestation and the power of positive thinking. If we’re constantly thinking, 'Oh, there’s a shark going to bite me,' then there’s a good chance something might happen. Instead, we focus on having a good session," he adds. "We’re blessed to be out there, and we keep our eyes on each other."
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When Dalen and his friends arrived at the east coast beach on Oct. 9, they dropped their gear and headed into the water. As they paddled out, they looked at the ocean and said, "Dang, the waves are really big, and the wind is ripping."
While surfing, he says one of his buddies drifted all the way down the beach. They waited for him to come back in, and when he did, they kept on surfing.
Dalen explains, "With those crazy winds, you get gnarly rip currents. We were paddling as hard as we could south, where the wind was coming from, and still getting blown down the beach. We don't want to encourage people to surf during hurricanes, but for those of us who do, we make sure to position ourselves safely. We went in a group of five, looking out for each other. We’d never go alone."
He adds with a laugh, "We even saw a couple of sharks out there. I didn’t tell my mom about that one. She would lose her mind if she knew!"
After about 45 minutes of surfing, Dalen and his friends wrapped up and decided, "Let’s just go home and ride out the rest of the storm." They ended the day with "the most beautiful sunset ever." Dalen says. "That’s magic right there. That’s the magic we chase and get excited about."
When he got home after dark, he sheltered inside with the rest of his family. On Thursday, when he woke up, he texted his friends to meet up and surf once again. He says he's grateful that his area of the state hasn't been affected as badly as expected, experiencing only minor flooding.
But Dalen knows that not everyone around him is as lucky, which is why he is also finding ways to give back to the community while surfing. Recently, he built out a van and cleared it out so he could take supplies to donate to the west coast of Florida. He plans to drive that way on Sunday or Monday, depending on how bad the road conditions are, and finding who needs help the most.
"What I absolutely adore about Dalen is his love for creating community and giving people a sense of belonging," his mom adds. "With his Outheback brand, he travels around, making pop-ups and organizing surf clubs. My husband and I have attended his events a few times and always feel proud to see how he contributes to local shops and communities through his passion for surfing."
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