A Mid Summer Concessions Session

Dor stretches and I give my camera a water test while we wait for Tzur. We discuss the weather, the probable temperature of the water, and I commit to my rash-guard being warm enough. Tzur strolls up to us, “Don’t the waves look great?” he asks sarcastically. I laugh halfheartedly, while Dor is quick to counter, “It looks fun, I’m telling you we’re gonna score!” They continue to stretch and warm up in the sand. Dor spots a fun one in the distance, “See! A right and a left, no one on it!”

I think about a story Andy Johnson, my sailing coach at UHawai’i, told a while back. It was conference championships in California. I can’t remember exactly where, but the program hosting had old boats. Day one was a drag for the Bows. Despite being favored to win the weekend, they spent the first day of competition complaining, making excuses, and earning mediocre results.

That night, Coach gave them the winning speech, told them to stop complaining. Something along the lines of, “Would you like some cheese with that (wine)?” The message being: day one was what it was, and the boats are what they are; everyone’s sailing the same shitty boats. So, no more complaining. Do your best and the results will follow.

The next morning Hawai’i’s “A” skipper went out and got two top three finishes in his first two races. Great! When he came in Andy grinned, and teased, “Boats are faster today?” He frowned still, “No, they’re old and they’re slow.” Andy, like Dor, countered quickly, demanding him to keep the slow mentality to himself, “Don’t tell John that, go over there and tell him they’re the fastest boats you’ve ever sailed” He did as he was told. John sailed the next two races and shot two bullets, two first places. The Bows went on to win many more races that day, and eventually, the championships.

I like this story. I think it’s a good reminder of the power of our minds. How our perspective and our approach holds a significant affect over the outcome of any event.

Dor was right. The boys scored. They began the session surfing a left, I’m unsure of the specific names, but it was a left in the area of concessions. They must have been making the spot look too good and fun, guys at the neighboring breaks started paddling over. Tzur and Dor traded waves for awhile, making the best of the small-ish conditions.

Something is bothering Tzur’s foot, especially when he surfs front-side, he’s goofy foot so for him its going left. You can tell in the way he half commits, and falls on turns he typically lands with ease. The next break over, a right, has completely cleared up. I’m sure the guys didn’t paddle in, they just paddled over to us. Dor notices the now empty right and leaves us, I don’t blame him. He tells me Tzur will join soon.

I hang in the channel for awhile trying to catch both, until I decide one good angle is better than two mediocre ones. Right as I commit to Dor’s right, Tzur joins us. Perfect timing! Nothing better than an empty wave, offshore winds, and a photographer friend in the water. On Tzur’s first waves he nails an air reverse. “Backside is better,” he says as he paddles by me on his way back out.

For the next 90 minutes Dor and Tzur trade punches, throw lots of spray, and take to the air for some fun maneuvers. I cruise on the inside catching what I can and cheering them on in the process. So fun and funny being a (the only) spectator out there. It’s why I love sports photography, I become apart of the action — front row seats to all the highlights.

After many waves and a dangerous amount of sun we paddle in. I must go to work soon, but for now I embrace the Sabbath. It’s always so fun celebrating Shabbat with them! These Sturdays are the best reminder to slow down, smile, and give thanks for this beautiful playground we live in.