Post Competition Update

I did surf on Sunday; day after the competition. I surfed with my close local surfing buddy. It was a lot of fun, still some waves were challenging and some waves closed out right after I took off; just like "as usual."

Since I have not been in any other types of competitive athletics, I am not sure if a competitive athlete would go out the next day after getting some result from the competition, unless, of course there is another competition the next day. I remember when Nancy Kerrigan got her medal, and asked what she will do next "I want to go to Disneyland!" If I was in the same situation, I would say, "I want to go surfing!"

I really think that surfing is quite different in this respect, because I do see the same people I have seen at the competition the previous day still having fun surfing. Or for that matter the rest of the day at the competition! It is fun and challenging and, and to me, if I have gotten better, that opens up so much more potential of having fun. Whenever I am out there and I have some satisfying moment, that moment is gone immediately, and I would start to think; "I want to do it again, but with a better or bigger wave next!"

This difference is seriously deep and confirms with me further that surfing is not just a sport, but it seems to hold a key to one a life-long quest and a journey associated with it, and so whenever the chance arises, we all take the board out and paddle out. Winning in a competition is not the ultimate goal, but it is just simply a status check how well things are progressing and part of fun.