Believe it or not, we have almost finished our Winter Skate Classes! Week Nine consisted of reviewing our previous week’s Trick Tips in preparation for our last class, Demo Day. This week we were joined by Coach Taylor, an experienced filmmaker, who filmed and photographed the Thursday group shredding it up. Stay tuned, as we will post what he captured here on the blog as well as Instagram.

As you know, my blog posts have all focused on skateboarding. However, I want to switch it up this week and share with you an experience where I, as a coach, had become a beginner. 

Recently I decided to start surfing again. I surfed regularly between the years 2012 and 2014 and was comfortable in the water. However, when I paddled out at El Porto two weeks ago, I was extremely humbled by the experience. Even though I knew what I wanted to do on my surfboard, physically I was very much out of shape. Simply paddling was quite a challenge. However, like learning a new trick on my skateboard, I persisted. Even though the waves kept crashing on me and pushing me back, I was determined to paddle into the line-up. Once I finally made it, I was exhausted. Yet, I experienced this feeling of accomplishment. That session, and for several sessions afterward, I never even caught any waves. The fact that I was pushing myself to get out there and become confident on a surfboard again was the reward in itself. 

Persistence is an incredible quality to have; as skateboarders and surfers, it is in our blood. Being determined to accomplish a goal can be applied to infinite aspects of our lives. Sometimes, when we feel like we are getting nowhere and not progressing, the key is to keep on pushing forward no matter what. See you in the streets—or the water!

-Coach Elliott