This summer I’ve made it out to the lake more than I have ever. Partly because I’ve made it a priority to do more outdoor activities with the family, partly because I want to explore and go play.

In my last post I talked about paddle boarding, balance, and guard passing. In this post, I want to talk more about wake surfing and learning.

For those that don’t know wake surfing, don’t confuse it with wake boarding or water skiing. They are quite different. In wake surfing you can literally surf the wake without the pull or tug of the rope. The back of the boat sits deep causing a bigger wake and although you need the assistance of a rope to get going, once you figure out how to ride the wave, you don’t need it anymore. For someone like me with no surfing experience it’s quite magical.

The magic is in the opportunity to hold on to the rope as long as I need to as I figure out how the board moves with the slightest movement of my body. After I fall I can ask questions, get advice, and try again. There’s no better scenario to try, get feedback, fail, try again, ask a question, and keep going. When I’m tired I can take a break. I can watch others with more experience so cool fancy stuff. Something to aspire to. The more I put in to “figuring it out,” the more I get from the experience. Ultimately no one cares how many times you fall. They just want to see you having fun. Seeing you learn and enjoy the game is what gives them pleasure.

We try to reinvent a similar experience on the mat at our dojo in El Dorado Hills. A learning environment where people can share their knowledge and experiences with others, ask questions, and try for themselves. A learning space where people can fail, take breaks, challenge themselves to the limit, and learn about their mental and physical potential. A space where people are motivated by the achievements of their friends and mentors.

Sometimes you don’t even need to train. Just being on the water is enough. Being immersed in the community and culture is enough to give you a boost of motivation to triumph. The atmosphere gives you the opportunity to find a breath of fresh air. Or a sigh of release.