Dalen Michaels loves to face the storm. Literally! The 23-year-old from Florida is an avid surfer. And while Michaels loves to ride the high waves, what entices him more is getting into the waters during some of the most ferocious storms. Scary, isn’t it? Well, that is exactly the kind of adrenaline rush that keeps the young surfer going. During his surfing career so far, Dalen has had experience of coming face to face with several deadly hurricanes. Some of the mentionable include Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Hurricane Dorian in 2019, and Hurricane Isaias in 2020. Now that’s what you call a pro.

Nonetheless, having taken up the surfing board at the young age of 14, Dalen Michaels was excited to learn about the depression forming recently. So, when Dalen caught wind of a new depression brewing that would soon become Hurricane Milton, he was practically buzzing with excitement. He immediately called up his friends and started to monitor the weather conditions. After successfully plotting a suitable time to go out on his adventure, Michaels and his friends headed for Boca Raton Beach at around 4 pm. 

With Hurricane Milton intensifying with time, the weather conditions deteriorated significantly. Letting his mother know about his audacious idea, the 23-year-old started filming her reaction while uploading the same on TikTok. As his mother looked panicked and out of her wits, Michaels later told PEOPLE that he had an unsaid pact with his mother.

Dalen Michaels said, “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.” Michaels continued to say why he loved to take such extreme risks, even putting his life on the line. 

Expressing his love for the waves, Michaels opined that Florida does not get good waves as the oceans are usually calm. However, once a storm passes, things take a dramatic turn. Not only do huge waves hit the shores, but the offshore winds also create cleaner waves. According to Michaels, these types of waves are easier to surf. Well, while such a habit might give the impression that Dalen Michaels is likely to be a lunatic, his mother reflected on how Michaels’ extreme love for surfing has grown over the years.

Dalen Michaels’ mother explains the madness

Dalen’s mother, Alena, kind of knew that her little kid was a water baby in every way. Reminiscing about his childhood, the surfer’s mother mentioned that as soon as he could walk, Dalen would be fidgeting with water. This only grew with time and Alena was shocked to find out that her son was out surfing with his friends in the middle of a hurricane. Rattled to the core, Alena sat down with her son and made some clauses that Dalen vowed to never break. 

In their exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Alena mentioned that she asked her son to check thoroughly if the conditions were safe enough to get into the waters. She also asked him never to surf alone and always have friends around him to take care of if something went wrong. Well, as much as a madman Dalen might appear, he abided by all of her mother’s clauses and even provided her with regular updates when out surfing. Alena continued to explain the situation, saying that she had complete trust in her son.

Being a nature lover, Dalen is immensely respectful towards the natural environment. She said, “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.”

Alena admitted she’s had to stop Dalen from going out during hurricanes a few times in the past. But over time, she’s come to terms with his adventurous spirit. Now, she’s pretty much normalized the whole situation. So, as Dalen Michaels continues to live life on the edge, you can bet he’ll keep conquering those epic waves and storms when Mother Nature is at her fiercest!