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Your videos, whilst inspirational, are quite
tongue in cheek. Do you think this may detract
from the message you’re aiming to get across?
Maybe. I try to stay true to who I am. If I see an
opportunity to embrace humour in any situation, I
have to take it. Too often life can be serious as hell
so I always lean towards humour as a result. I really
just want to inspire people to go out and be
who/what they want to be. My tongue in cheek
video style just makes the message a little more
relaxing and fun. If some people don’t like that,
that’s cool with me.
Having watched his tongue in cheek delivery we
were intrigued by Mike’s story so decided to
find out more. For anyone looking to be
inspired, push their own limits – either in waves
or in life – then this is for you.
Tell us when you first discovered SUP and what
made you want to get involved.
During 2011 my wife and I were travelling through
Mozambique and ended up staying in one of those
places that looks like it’s from a Corona advert. They
had SUP rentals from a beach shack so we hired a
board each and gave it a shot. In 2014 my younger
brother introduced me to SUP surfing and I was
hooked.
In all seriousness you must’ve surfed
(traditionally) prior to SUP? If not, how come?
You’re right, however, I can be best described as a
below average surfer. Before this, as a teenager, I
was a maniac on the bodyboard. It’s by far the
easiest way to get barrelled and it taught me how to
read the ocean.
Where’s your chosen paddling location these
days? What does it offer SUPers?
I love to flat water paddles at a place in Perth called
Shelley Beach Park. It’s a very beautiful location with
dolphins and very few boats. I love that place; some
day’s the water is perfect glass-off and it feels like a
dream. My favourite surfing location is in the
Margaret River region (a 3-hour drive south of Perth).
You’ve gone out all guns blazing with stand up
and your message of self belief/confidence.
Why is SUP a good vehicle (in all senses) for this
message and its promotion?
SUP is so good for your body, mind and soul. From
beginners to advanced, I believe people will live
longer as a result of SUP participation. I’m
convinced the fullness of time will prove that to be
true. From ages 8-80, everyone can do it.
Why surf? Does flat water not do it for you?
Flat water SUP is what I do for a living, by providing
beginner lessons. It’s beautiful, relaxing and peaceful.
SUP surfing is much more challenging, and there-in
lies the appeal to me. The waves push the limit of my
skills and forces me to constantly learn more.
I use SUP to promote self-belief because it has
worked for me. However, the principles apply to
every endeavour humans can undertake. The core
idea that you can be better tomorrow than you are
today is universal. At the moment I’m using big
waves to apply that idea in my life. If you want to
be a better parent, friend, brother, sister, business
person, husband or wife, you can make it a reality.
Small positive steps everyday will, overtime,
produce results you never dreamed possible. We all
have shit days, let those slide and remember life is
always two steps forward, one step back.
And why big waves?
SUP surfing big waves scares the hell out of me, so
overcoming that fear gives me a huge feeling of
achievement. That feeling when a big wave rears its
head on the horizon…it’s the best. You know it’s game
time, any mistake has serious consequences. When
that wave picks you up and you head down the face
nothing compares to that rush. The speed, the
adrenalin; a monster chasing you down. Passing your
fears, adrenaline pumping, instincts guiding my
movement, until it’s over, leaving you an exhausted
wreck of lactic acid in a pure euphoric condition.
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