Father and Son
Photograph by Mark Holmberg
“We surf wherever there are waves,” says Josh Mihaly. “Figure Eight, Mason’s, Wrightsville . . .” The “we” is Joshua, a Wilmington landscape architect, and his 12-year-old son, Dylan. Josh has been surfing for twenty-five years. He started pushing his son into waves four years ago, when Dylan was 8. “There’s nothing more important,” Josh said as they finish a sunny winter surf. “It’ll last a lifetime.” Dylan nods happily, even though most kids would shiver at the thought of a swim in 50-degree water. “Whenever there are waves, it’s fun,” he says. “Once you get a good one, you’re stoked.” There are limits, though. “We go by the 100-degree rule. If the water and air temperatures add up to 100, that’s warm enough,” Josh says. Father and son share a very similar, almost conspiratorial smile that seems to say surfing together generates its own special kind of warmth.
Photograph by Brownie Harris
The Art & Soul of Wilmington
May 2014 •
Salt
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