to check out the swells at his favorite surf break and plot the best location for his after-work wave-riding. But with gas now approaching $5 a gallon, Mauro recently cut out his daily ritual in favor of the savings. He isn’t alone. The surging cost of oil has been a dose of reality for many surfers who have long thought of their sport, with all its sun-kissed lore, as a counterculture niche shielded from the pressures of mainstream America. For the full story visit http://www.dailynews.com/ci_9810779