Have you ever had one of those epic surf sessions where you will literally tell anyone who will listen about it? That was the kind of session I recently had. When I’ve had sessions like that in the past, I always say I’m just having a ‘lucky’ day.
Instead, this time while I was out in the water I started thinking about why things were going so well. I narrowed it down to 4 main keys: my energy, the conditions of the surf, my mindset, and my cycle. Let me explain further.
Energy Level
As a nutritionist, I know how the food we eat can make the biggest impact on our performance and energy. Overall, I know I had been eating really nutritious meals over the days prior to this surf. Then, the past two nights before this surf I ate healthy, carb heavy meals. Specifically, I had pasta with lentils and vegetables in the sauce. The night before that, I had veggie pizza – and no breakfast before paddling out. For morning sessions – the food you eat the night before you surf plays a huge role in the amount of energy you’ll have for the following day. If you’d like to read more about the details of eating for energy you can check out this blog on Energy Hacks for Surfers.
Surf Conditions
The conditions for this particular surf were epic, for me and my level. I felt safe yet challenged. There was no wind, it was mid tide going low and most of the waves were about 5ft, with the odd bigger or smaller yet. The wall was *perfect* for practicing maneuvers. The takeoff was fun and steep but not too scary. There was a small crowd but I still felt like I had the confidence to paddle the waves I wanted / had priority for.
Mindset
During this session – I wasn’t scared. I felt calm, encouraged, and supported. I have been working on staying calm in the ocean since I started surfing 6 years ago. The night before this particularly epic session I attended a workshop with the Surf Société. I always feel so encouraged by Kim and Laura and I’m sure I carried that energy with me into the ocean the following day. Even though I didn’t paddle out with any friends, I knew a couple people in the water and overall the crowd was friendly and mellow (that always helps).
Menstrual Cycle Timing
I’m right in the middle of my menstrual cycle. This is naturally when women have the most energy. Of course we can have good sessions anytime, this is an automatic boost in energy and confidence that I definitely felt. There are also ways you can accommodate your surfing and diet to where you are in your cycle. To read more about surfing and your cycle you can check out this blog.
Overall
I think these four themes: energy, conditions, mindset and cycle awareness are KEY for a great session. Surfing isn’t just what happens out on the waves, there’s so much more to the lifestyle! I plan work, time with friends and meals around my surf schedule. Part of the fun is that the surf is changing all the time and we have to be adaptable. However, knowing how to fuel your body, which conditions you surf best in, how to work with your mindset and support yourself through your cycle will increase your chances of having FUN in the water.
More Support
If you could use some personalized support with your energy, digestion, or mindset my 1:1 coaching program may be perfect for you. Check that out here.