So You Want to Be a Competitive Surfer?

I started surfing when I was 19 years old, kind of late in life really for a competitive surfer. It took me several years of surfing everyday before I would even consider competing. Sure I read the surfing magazines and thought that surfing would be a great way to make money. Surfing for a living! In the early 1980s I was competing in Hawaii.Mainly because other surfers said I should compete in semi-pro contests. They claimed that I would probably do well in most areas of surfing. Not only did I find it to be very difficult but I seldom placed better than 4th place. I trained pretty hard by myself and received plenty of encouragement from the other surfers.

Most surfers only dream about entering the competitive surfing arena. It takes more than just ability and determination. There is a great deal of responsibility that goes along with being a competitive. Most of the sponsors I have had do not tolerate tardiness to the contest or using drugs. When you have a sponsor you really are representing your sponsors company and their interests not yours. So you are expected to act accordingly in public. Being childish is considered bad form for a surfer although I have seen many surfers who act childish. Some sponsors will even ask that you refrain from dressing a certain way that would not adequately represent their company. So you must to be in shape, surf well and show that you are a responsible person. You must also be mature enough to attend the functions when asked by your sponsor. Some days when we were holding surf contests I did not want to go into the water. Why? Because the surf was so big and out of control that if I was not competing I would have not entered the water. This coming from a person that has surfed 20 foot waves. I also entered surf contests in Florida. In fact I surfed against Ricky Carrol for several years in Eastern Surfing Association.

It can be difficult surfing against people who have more experience and knowledge than you do. It can get to you because you already have seen them surf and know that they can rip. A person like Ricky Carrol probably has 20 surfboards and can pick just the right board for the wave and the day. This is probably the biggest lasting impression I have had from surfing against Florida surfers. They have plenty of knowledge about surfboard shapes and styles. This knowledge and experience will set you above the crowd most times. Florida surfers are some of the best surfers that I have seen in the world. Florida surfers spend their time surfing poor conditions most of the time. So when they do find a decent wave they can really surf well! They also seem to be obsessed with the weather and ocean conditions. I believe they may have a considerable advantage over most of us average surfers. So remember if you want to enter a contest be prepared to surf to the best of your ability. But most of all have fun. Remember to always enjoy and respect the ocean. You will have a much better experience if you do.