Professional Surfing: My In-depth Lesson

 Happy Aloha Friday, reader!

It only seems fitting to share with you a little about my 1-1 mentorship with a professional surfing company woman business leader, Pamela, as we close the week. Of course, I won't share business conversations I overheard - Pamela is a very cool woman, we shared nothing but good laughs & shared connecting stories … but gosh, to see first hand how women leaders are still navigating a primarily “white male CEO” led business world up close & personal… wow, the insights I gained.

Last summer, one of the new skills I gained was peaceful contentment with staring at the ocean. While this may seem like an odd skill to mention, let me tell you, as a former 'go go go!' Bay Area resident, being able to appreciate and fully absorb all elements of the ocean surfing scene is a skill. In a way, I had no other choice but to embrace my circumstances or completely give up. I chose to keep going and enjoy whatever I could at this point. Let’s be real: if I had cash/hotel points or a friend offered me a place to stay, would I have preferred that style of accommodation over sleeping in my car? Of course.

I met Pamela, who was renting a small ocean-facing home, when I returned to a nearby beach chair to read and sit for a while and realized she was renting the home! We laughed and both agreed:“Why put out empty chairs and not expect people to sit in them?” Haha! A fun first meeting.

We enjoyed a few coffees and both light and deep conversation as we connected underneath the sun a few times, feeling the healing ions of the sand beneath our feet. I spoke to her about my love for surfing, how fun it is to spectate and she shared with me parts of her life story, including her beloved husband passing away, the challenges a woman CEO faces and much more. She was a true kindred connection. She confirmed my suspicions that there were indeed pro surfers this late in the season, explaining how she can easily spot a surfer's style and how fun it was for her that, because she was on a low-profile break from her usual activities, no one recognized her. She could relax while she was running her business and also house-hunting nearby.

One of the funniest things Pamela said to me (who's about 20 years my senior), was that she's most popular with the 20 somethings and 60+ up ages groups for men... I said “you know, I don't know my most popular age groups, but I've come to the conclusion, I appeal to all of them - haha!” It was funny to think about “age-grouping” men in this sense, as I had done that for the past 13 years as a triathlete and now here I was age-grouping men as potential suitors. Ultimately, I joked mid 50s is ideal for me because if they misbehave, I could date their dad or son! 😆 On a comedic note, check out comedian Ali Wong’s hilarious standup, which is the most accurate, relatable material I’ve seen as a 42-year old seperated/divorced mom in the United States.

On a sport spectating note, how fun surfing is to watch!! So much more fun than attending an Ironman event, for sure, I decided. Silverstrand Beach offers a unique opportunity for high waves, but you've definitely got to be an experienced surfer to engage in the South Jetty waters, which can get quite rough and turbulent. The North Jetty features more gentle waves, where you can take lessons. This is also where I met one young gentleman, Jeremy, a 25-year old surf instructor, who I wrote about in my first book! Often at my wit's end last summer, I said 'Gosh, Jeremy. When I meet kids your age/people like you, you give me faith this country stands a chance." We shared a few laughs and even though I only shared a few conversations with both Jeremy and Pamela, they gave me good vibes restored my hope in humanity, at a time I needed it… desperately.

May you have a lovely weekend, & share good vibes with loved ones,

Heidi