The Mindful Surfer

This weeks intro, Will talks about breaking his surf record for the last 12 months (almost 200 sessions) and how much better he’s recovering from surf / gym / life at the moment due to lots of habits but a new one being ;  CREATINE! Liam then shares his personal experience with the supplement and the chat on Creatine recovery continues including dosage / timings and everything else in between.  We then go onto discuss recent surfs and how the boards we’ve ridden have affected them. Liam has been on his FireWire mashup which has really taken his cutbacks to a new level and with Will he talks about trying to dial in the right board for the right occasion and how tough a balance that can be.  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This weeks intro we cover :  1. A comprehensive wetsuit review (surprise package comes in here!!) 2. We talk about recent surfs and how Will was being triggered and how he managed it (with other surfers!)  3. Letting go of joy - of that special surf and how just like in life, the highs come and then they go .. we’ve got to grow in acceptance to allow this flow (rather than try and cling on to joy)  In mind body stoke, we cover body fat and how it relates to surf performance In surf media , Liam talks about a Kelly Slater clip and everything he’s put into his longevity programme (we CAN surf well as we get older but we’ve gotta be coachable!)  Stay stoked guys! Will & Liam 

This weeks show is a step by step from what we’ve learned from the last 3 weeks of crazy swells…  Here are the 5 key pointers we cover in the show ;  Sugar / alcohol is the no1 enemy to surfing gains because it ruins recovery & increases inflammation The quiver plays a huge role in your progression ; keep tweaking it forward (and don’t forget to include fins!!) If you’re not enjoying a surf, change something Fear is excitement with the breaks on - get in and have a crack but if you feel like the fear is too great , then be honest with yourself The best surf of your life is when you least expect it - the state of appreciation is already enough stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam   

Different format for today!  We discuss our 3 fave grovellers of all time as well as what we consider the 3 worst too (the ones that get marketed at us as grovellers but in reality need Noel Salas at Lowers to get them moving!)  Stay stoked and enjoy!  Will & Liam 

This weeks show we talk about our recent trip to the Bristol Wave park and all the nuances that unfolded.  Liam was undecided about which board to ride - the one with more float and fun vibes or the one with lower float and maybe trickier to ride… Will talks about how hard he found the first surf vs the second one - and why everything shifted once he adjusted his mindset The boys then talk about how important it can be to experiment with new gear (but that it can backfire if you change it too often)  Will finishes with his CSC programme for better surf performance he gets with his clients :  Core Squat  Cardio  and chats through how to navigate these for more performance and therefore more fun! Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This weeks intro, Will shares a pre surf poo story (nothing new here) and then the boys go onto share recent surfs! Liam was frothing on Wills mashup and had an absolute blast on 2-4ft mushy fun waves!  We then go onto talk about boards and how big an influence they have on your progression and how important it is to work on a) changing your boards up until you feel amped on one but b) not changing them too often so you don’t get the benefit of learning the one your on (we then share how to find that balance).  We then talk about how much the surf industry has us gripped by the “next best thing” and how to a) have fun with that but b) not be pulled into so often you’ve not got any sanity or money left!  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This weeks show, we intro on how sweaty we are downstairs in the heatwave we’re having then get onto how important it is we say No to things when we’re in a mindset that’s anything other than HELL YES!  Liam goes onto share how powerful the right decisions can feel for your surfing life - that when you are braver and more aware of the people pleaser in you , you can feel so much happier by making sure who you surf or hang out with are absolutely the best people you could be around - they allow you to shine and be who you are fully.  We also explore mid lengths and discuss what they can do for your progression journey into more authentic style which is where SURFSKATES also come in!! They ;  - are fun - make you fitter for surfing  - help you work on your turns  - AND most importantly help you work out how YOU want to move your body and craft your own authentic style.  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This weeks intro, we dive into what it means to “be successful” and how our egos perceive it based on our results - high when they’re going well and lower when they’re not (which isn’t how it has to be - there’s a MUCH calmer way if you’re willing to pause).  We then ask the question “what is subjective well-being”? and how does that relate to our daily happiness as surfers with the illusionary destinations we create such as “when I surf more, then I’ll be ….” and how we get there and discover nothings changed.  In mind body stoke, we talk about the power of breath work for a calmer mind and body and also how that enhances your surf performance.  Liam goes onto share insights around how much he’s enjoying finding a good balance between present happiness (friends/beers/time by the beach) and his future ambition (training & surf performance).  Stay stoked guys! Will & Liam 

This weeks intro, we dive into the end of our first podcast era and how we’re gonna work on bringing the next stages of refreshed and more regular content to you - the listener!  We touch on the launch of our “buy me a coffee” idea of a donation based podcast rather than flog products we’re not a fan of ! (Especially when crappy vissla wetsuits keep knocking on our door!) We then dive into “riding the waves” of a surf as well as life - how our performance on a wave relates to how we perform on land too…sometimes we’re on fire, sometimes we’re not but it’s about being patient with ourselves because all waves pass, as do thoughts and emotions. In mind, body, stoke Will shares his thoughts on getting the balance right between riding boards that test your ability vs pushing it too far and not enjoying your surfing as much (and that there’s no perfect answer - one must just keep on testing, testing , testing!!) Liam talks about how much he’s been benefiting from getting in more heavy lifting again recently and in feeling stronger he feels younger and the question becomes “is lifting weights the key to longevity as a surfer?”  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This weeks intro, we dive waaaaaaaay too deep into the nuances of pubic hair and why we discuss (well, why Will discusses) it on our show!  We then dive into Wills recent wave pool visits and how insanely difficult he found a session there riding a more performancy board and how much it knocked his confidence (there is a come back story to this too).  Will goes onto sing the praises of one of his surf coaching students - who’s ability to come back with persistence to “have a go” over and over is super impressive and helping him make hug strides in his surfing! Liam talks about playing it safe vs testing your boundaries and why it’s so important to keep testing them.  Liam also shares insights from recent surfs in Cornwall and at home and how much he’s still loving the seaside for flow and speed as well as loving his fitness work whilst things have been flat at home. He explains how much it’s helped his mindset knowing he’s staying fit despite our flat spell.  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This weeks intro, we dive into what surfing gives us spiritually , mentally and physically …. AND - that we must try and find it from other areas of our lives too so we aren’t too reliant on it for our wellbeing.  Will goes onto share insights about fear and how it shapes our surfing lives on land around lifestyle / career / family choices as well as in the ocean (steeper / bigger waves , trying to not look like a kook in front of the locals).  Liam then shares his thoughts on intuition in the surfing life - how powerful a tool it can be for when to say yes and when to say no. He goes onto talk about how much intelligence there is in the heart vs the head and how to access more of your true self.  In mind body stoke, Will talks about how powerful his recent fasting has been for surf performance - for reducing knee pain and clearing old junk out of the guts leading to higher energy levels. Liam talks about how important rest has been for him lately - a lost art form for a lot of us who do too much at times.  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This weeks intro, we discuss the finer art of managing ones arse crack in the surfing life…  After this important discussion we delve into new board purchases and what they’ve done for Wills grovelling potential.  Liam discusses recent board resurrections - an old Graham Bunt mid length that’s gonna be the longest board he’s ever ridden! Let the mid length journey begin!  We then go onto talk about how honest you’ve got to be about your surf fitness vs what boards you ride & where you get to surf (that the former plays a WAAAAY bigger role than anything else!).  In mind body stoke, Will mentions ;  1. Taking peptide bpc 157 (and the positive effect it’s had on his health)  2. How big a difference breath work in the ocean has helped his surfing recently  Liam goes onto share recent challenges he’s been working through regarding alcohol - how much joy he gets from it but also how much it’s stalling his gains (and what he wants to do about it).  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This weeks intro we dive into the nuances of  how you create your own version of surf happiness - in how you view conditions , how often you get to surf, where you surf, who you surf with etc etc  And the insight that we come back to over and over is life can’t be better ANYWHERE else not because you’re environment wouldn’t change if you moved to indo but more because it’s YOU who lives there and where ever you surf, there you are.  In mind body stoke, Will chats recent diet changes (in doing a little less fasting and it helping his surf energy) and also how powerful breath work has been for surf performance. Liam talks about being open minded to change and how much he’s enjoyed getting a little more relaxed on diet and beers when you’re around the right people (and that the people make the biggest difference to how those foods etc interact with your body).  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This week we intro on how tricky our home breaks have been this winter and all the mental (and physical) challenges that’s created.  Will then goes onto discuss his recent Bristol Wave Pool experience and he was NOT happy in the first session because of the delays and issues the wave park were having with the new settings. In the end , things all came good due to mental shifts and a huge winner was riding the Machado mashup - frothing on that new board and Will explains why.  Liam then goes onto discuss how important failure is for progressing as a surfer - that if you’re NOT failing much, your progression will slow down…it’s when you mess things up enough times that you make the biggest gains because it WILL eventually click - we’ve just gotta be brave enough to have a go! We then go onto chat about how progress speeds up and slows down at various stages in life - whether there’s been a flat spell, injuries , work being busy - and that it’s so important to stay positive and motivated when a slower period kicks in!  Will then talks about including pre workout carbs from honey and orange juice and how positive an impact it’s had on his performance!  Liam talks about his recent fitness gains from getting out and running during our flat spell to keep motivation alive for when the next swells come around.  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam   

This weeks intro we cover Liams and Wills recent surfs and all the successes and challenges they bought along with them.  From surfing with difficult people to trying to perform even in the midst of mental/emotional triggers, we hash out what it takes to get better whilst having a good time!  Liam goes on to talk about how much fun he had surfing his “cricket net” - a spot where he can simply get stuck into turns without many people around. Will also shares stories from his recent trip to tenerife and was obsessed with trying to keep the nose of his board facing the beach so he could perform tighter more vertical turns.  We then go onto talk about how close that switch and shift into the next levels of performance is and so therefore how important it is to stay stoked and keep persevering!  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

Liam talks about his recent FireWire seaside session and how he’s been finding it on our home break - he then goes on to share his quiver, how he wants to upgrade it, and why! Will goes onto share his journey on mids and what they can do for our surfing - in having to work on slowing things down, lengthening compressions and therefore improving our style, hand positions, posture and therefore carves. “Step up” performance mids get discussed too and why they can be rad for trips or bigger days at home. We then talk about how easy it is to slip into a negative mindset around your surfing - whether it be junky waves / crowds / old injuries etc…but in coming out of those funks from looking in the mirror, appreciation and therefore flow comes back in abundance! We then share insights about how to stay motivated to be fit, well and well trimmed downstairs - that so much of it is about being kind to yourself when things slip and then, when we simply choose to - get back into what we know we can do to make our surfing lives more fulfilling all round and remind ourselves (hopefully) why it’s so important to remain consistent - because surfing is worth it! Stay stoked!  Will & Liam

This week , we intro with a long chat about empathy in surfing and how it can be applied.  We then go onto discuss ,  - The appeal of the solo surf journey (self resilience)  - We discuss what we believe to be the most overused word in surfing - respect! (vs just being “mindful”).  - Will shares a crowded surf story he hopes will help other people  - Liam shares insights on thought management in crowded lineup - Board talk continues (as per) and chat about how big a difference fins make  - Will shares recent challenges to his hormones and bio hacks to fix it and get his mojo back  - Liam shares how he’s managing his emotional self through his recent work challenges  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam

This weeks intro we dive deep into a humongous intro - one that lasts the entire show due to the larger than expected break since our last show.  In order , we cover :  1. Wills pre tenerife surf training camp  2. Liams ocean knowledge vs wave pool progressions & philosophies  3. Wills no1 ever session in 21 years of surfing and how surprised he was about the board that allowed him the session  4. Why it’s so important to let go of joy  5. How relative “surf progression is” to the human trying to progress  6. Why 90% of the time, it’s not the board that’s at fault , but the surfer and their fitness & mindset  7. Why NOW is the only time there’ll ever be to go surfing , move to the coast or go on a trip (there’ll always be barriers!)  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam  

In this weeks intro, we talk about our favourite wetsuit boots and Will goes full circle with his view on “solite”!  Liam then shares how hard he found a recent surf but seeks the positivity in the experience and what it taught him. He also goes into share in his next session only 2 days later, he felt epjc - we then go onto talk about how the universe seems to be set up this way in and out the water!  Will shares insights from dialling his quiver and how positive an influence it’s had on his surfing lately. The board that’s really stood out for better waves has been his JS el baron performance mid length. We then go onto talk about the importance of being able to chop and change the quiver to a) keep the novelty = happiness = Stoke equation alive and b) get the most out of the conditions!  Stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam 

This weeks intro is all about the surf trips Liam and Will had been on in recent weeks!  We go onto talk about :  1. Why more powerful waves makes EVERYTHING easier  2. Which boards we rode as the wave quality changed  3. How we faced our fears stepping up to new challenges  4. Why going away on a surf trip is such an important part of our surfing development!  Enjoy and stay stoked guys!  Will & Liam