After a gorgeous, fun day at the lake with a few families, we tried out a new local restaurant. One of the dads mentioned that he couldn’t share food because they’re vegetarian. My wife turned to him and said something like, “My husband doesn’t really understand vegetarianism.” She then asked him why they don’t eat meat.
Internally, I could feel my ego fire up—my inner lawyer preparing for battle. I started silently picking apart his logic, spotting inconsistencies, finding hypocrisy, building a case for why his choices were wrong.
But I caught myself.
Because honestly, what are the chances that me arguing would lead to him saying: “Oh wow, I’ve been such a fool. I’ll start eating meat immediately—thank you so much for educating me!”
About the same odds as him convincing me to stop eating meat right then and there.
Later that evening, I remembered a core principle I’ve learned…
This past month I have been riding waves of fear and anxiety, I got cracked open or activated, and old stories about going broke and being left to starve alone in the streets came pouring out. At the root of these feelings is a fear that I'm not good enough or unlovable. Am I born in the wrong time period, stuck in the shame and despair of being useless, a slave to drudgerous meaningless work that has no purpose, no passion, no future?
https://youtu.be/n2KGTc607JE?si=o9-8ZlxHpxtrTePq
Like a sneaker set the waves comes out of nowhere, the horizon goes dark, and my first impulse is to paddle like my life depends on it and get out of there, far far away and don't look back! This strategy can work in the ocean, but I see these thoughts and feelings are inside me, and wherever I might escape to I will bring these fears and anxiety with me.
Thankfully I have magical, practical, quick and easy tools I can use that gently steer me from panic to calm in minutes. I used a biofeedback app to track my stress and energy before and after these calming practices. My numbers improved significantly immediately and repeatedly, that's Latin for they just work, and work incredibly well! I could feel the difference, I went from freaking out and thinking I'm doomed to feeling calm and at ease, blissing out within minutes. That chaotic antsy horrible feeling passed and I felt relaxed and even excited. I can do anything, I am powerful, my value is infinite! What amazingness will I create today?!?!
I am so so grateful that I have these tools. I have weathered these storms before without any tools, resources, nor guidance, and that sucked big time. Even when the storm passed and I felt better, I was still afraid another panic attack would come out of nowhere and overwhelm me, I was lacking the understanding of how my mind and body work and what to do, basically confused and alone. My prayer is that these tools help and heal anyone who is in that dark place. Reach out, I'm here, love and support are here, you me we I are valuable, needed, and welcome.
This page is dedicated to whatever new stuff we happen to be testing and working on.
When I have something to report I will post here and update the posting date, kind of a preview before a tutorial is ready.
I added 4 videos of the F-one Seven Seas 1200, reviewing this wing both surf and wing foiling. Available on the foil reviews page.
Jeff Clark's larger wing foil boards came in and I have 2 sessions on the 118L (5'10"). I am stoked to report that the extra volume is well placed and right away I noticed the improved stability over my 95L. I am only 2 sessions on the Jeff Clark board, and yet schlogging was a pleasure, and touching down a non issue. It's been so long since I have ridden higher volume boards that I forgot how nice it is to be able to touch down or even plane along the surface with no issues or pearling or sinking. He only had 2 boards made and with the good feedback is working on having more boards made. I am not a jumper so I don't know if this construction can stand that type of abuse, for my everyday surf style they are great. Going into the light wind season I am so stoked to have a short stable board in my quiver.
One of the reasons this matters to me is that the 110-140L size board is what a lot of beginners and intermediate riders end up buying, and it's a huge benefit if these boards are stable to stand and schlog on. In my opinion stability is priority one for a higher volume board, for me this was the single biggest factor that made wing foiling easier to learn.
I added 2 videos of no pump acceleration take offs, these are helpful with small high aspect foils, and when one cannot pump. Can find the videos at the bottom of the small board knee start page.
Also added an update to weak side or switch foiling, 1 video on small body weight board and no pump take off.
I also added a video on how to flip over an 8 meter wing while sitting on a body weight board at the bottom of the wing handling page.
I demoed a full 2022 Cabrinha wing foil setup: wing, foil, and board. The camera died before I got on foil so no foiling, I did make a video review of my short test on this gear on the foil reviews page.
Below is Chapter 13 from my new book Unlearning to Remember – Finding Truth in a World That Forgot:
Maui fires August 2023. 
This page is dedicated to whatever new stuff we happen to be testing and working on.
A mythical tale of the far far away land of Oussa with Sorcerers, Wizards, Lords, Emperors, LyeRhus, Merkins and more.
