Earlier this year, filmmaker Corey McLean spent 10 weeks in Cuba embedded within the country’s bourgeoning surfing scene. McLean is producing a documentary about the community, and the legal, cultural, and economic obstacles still preventing locals from catching waves.
This week, we published his dispatch from the island, but McLean and co-director Marco Bava’s photos are too great not to share more.
In his home near the Playa 70 shore, Frank Gonzalez, one of Cuba’s first surfers, meticulously shapes the rails of his newly formed short board. There are no surf shops on the island.
Gonzalez walks along the Malecón esplanade. This particular stretch of the sea wall has become a hot spot for new businesses thanks to economic reform.
Santeria priestesses perform a ritual sacrifice along the Playa 70 shore.
Gonzalez catches air off the coast of Havana. To prevent defection, the Cuban government historically has policed coastal waters, arresting surfers and swimmers who ventured too far from the shore.
Gonzalez remembers surfers in the ‘90s crafting boards out of refrigerator door foam and jump rope. Today, it still is nearly impossible to buy a board outside of Havana.
Skateboarding, which Soviet soldiers first brought to Cuba in the late '70s, also is growing in popularity, fueled by equipment donations from non-profits like Miami-based Amigo Skate.
Classic American cars like pre-'60s Fords and Cadillacs have become symbols of Cuban nationalism. Surfing, not so much. Gonzalez estimates there are no more than 100 surfers on the island.
Cuban surfers watch for waves.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.