{"id":18160,"date":"2017-05-09T12:03:23","date_gmt":"2017-05-09T12:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.tickettoridegroup.com\/?p=18160"},"modified":"2025-10-17T18:35:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T18:35:09","slug":"life-lessons-ive-learnt-from-surfing-south-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tickettoridegroup.com\/blog\/life-lessons-ive-learnt-from-surfing-south-in-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Life lessons learnt from surfing in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have been surfing on the Bluff, Durban since shortly after getting out of nappies!.\u00a0 The\u00a0Bluff<\/a>\u00a0is home to some of SA’s best waves, which has bred some great talented surfers like\u00a0 former WSL campaigners\u00a0Ricky “Bobby” Basnett<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Rudy Palmboom<\/a>\u00a0to name a few. After\u00a0surfing competitively as a junior, I decided to share my knowledge with others and started running surf trips for Ticket to Ride in 2012.<\/p>\n

I regard the ocean as my \u2018second Mother.\u2019 She has taught me many lessons in my time… Some being the greatest moments of my life, others a tad less than great!<\/p>\n

Here are a few wisdoms given to me by mother ocean:<\/h2>\n

Never give up-<\/strong>\u00a0The ocean, at times is a cruel place to find yourself. It can be a constant battle against the elements. Relentless, crashing waves, howling winds, pulling currents keeping you in one place, bringing on the hopeless feeling of getting nowhere, often so strong that with all the paddling fitness in the world, against it you still get stuck,\u00a0But persistence is key. Never allowing the ocean to get the better of you. Pushing on in hard times. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Hard times,\u00a0in the ocean, like in life, do not last forever. Eventually the ocean gives a small gap, a break from the continuous waves. When you see that gap, that\u2019s when you push just a little harder and break free from the stagnant feeling of not going anywhere.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Always show respect \u2013<\/b>\u00a0I feel that respect should be shown where respect is due.\u00a0 The ocean commands respect like no other, behaving with grace, reverence and respect of the all-powerful ocean is the only way to enjoy and preserve her beauty.\u00a0 Taking this realisation, I choose in my daily life to respect my fellow man, Mother Nature and myself, it\u2019s the only sustainable way. There will be times where you know it isn’t safe, beyond your ability’s and choose to just watch, and train harder to be prepared for next time<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Not all waves are the same-<\/b>\u00a0Every wave can be perceived as either good or bad, depending how you ride it.\u00a0 As in life, we have the moment-to-moment choice in how we respond to circumstantial waves that come our way.\u00a0 listing the choices you have when you see a wave come your way in surfing you can either duck under, give it all you got, get smashed and\u00a0or\u00a0who knows end up riding the barrel of your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Learn to relax during a wipeout-\u00a0<\/b>Learning to stay relaxed during turbulent times is essential to survival. Both in and out of the water. When life isn\u2019t going quite as planned and throwing everything it\u2019s got at you. Stay calm, don’t panic, and when you can, swim peacefully\u00a0to the surface.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Recognise<\/b><\/span>\u00a0and enjoy the small things –\u00a0<\/b>Life is made of small beautiful moments, like those unexpected perfect waves with no one around, appreciate and enjoy each one that comes your way.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Humans as a species derive such pleasure from the ocean, as a food source, as a healer, as a playground, as a teacher.\u00a0 I’m grateful to have been a student of the most magnificent teacher.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I am eternally grateful I am a student of this magnificent Teacher.<\/p>\n