Learning to Surf in Our 40s: Starting Something New

Learning to surf in our 40s: Johnna and Clint on the first weeks of surfing almost every day on Kauai, the soreness, the fear and the ego, and what starting something new teaches you about everything else.

Johnna surfed on Maui 25 years ago. Clint had never surfed. We bought boards, drove five minutes to a learners' spot, and decided there were no more excuses.

• The new muscles surfing found, and why recovery came before lifting
• Starting something new in front of other people
• Fear dressed up as excuses, and the Costco foam board that ended them
• Why getting from zero to one changes everything
• Consistency, impatience and trusting the process
• Making room for other people in the water
• Clint going from a fear of water to surfing
• Why a coach saves you trial and error, in the water and in lifting

Starting is the cost of entry. Feeling like you suck is part of the price, and confidence is on the other side.

Chapters:

• 0:00 Hook: Confidence on the Other Side
• 0:39 Intro
• 1:01 Mic Check and an Elephant Fun Fact
• 2:16 Surfing Every Single Day
• 2:53 New Muscles From Surfing
• 4:31 Why Variety of Movement Matters
• 5:25 Too Sore to Lift Our Arms
• 7:22 A Word From REBUILT
• 8:08 Not Lifting While We Surf
• 9:18 Starting Something New in Front of People
• 11:20 Nobody Has Told Us We Suck
• 12:18 Not Wanting to Get in Other People's Way
• 14:13 From Zero to One
• 14:43 Fear Dressed Up as Excuses
• 15:38 Smashing the Ego and Buying a Board
• 16:15 Our Goals for the First Sessions
• 17:24 Learners' Waves and Glassy Water
• 18:25 No More Excuses
• 19:19 Consistency and Impatience
• 21:36 Applying It Beyond Surfing
• 22:45 How Do You Feel When You're Done
• 24:22 Making Room for Learners
• 27:33 Where to Find REBUILT
• 28:37 Practicing in the Living Room
• 29:42 Starting Something New in Our 40s
• 31:10 Why We Love Surfing
• 32:16 A Double Rainbow
• 33:16 Clint's Fear of Water
• 35:13 Graduating From White Water
• 36:07 Surfing's Version of RDLs and Deadlifts
• 38:13 Why a Coach Helps
• 41:10 Our Obsession
• 42:25 Apply It to Your Life
• 43:19 Wrap-Up: Do the Thing

Starting something new and sticking with it is the point. REBUILT guides you through the first 12 weeks of a habit you keep for life, with lifting you can do at home.

REBUILT for Men: Build Muscle. Own Your Strength. Rediscover Your Power. 2awkward.com/rebuilt-men

REBUILT for Women: Build Strength. Trust Your Body. Reclaim Your Power. 2awkward.com/rebuilt-women

More conversations like this, twice a week: 2awkward.com/#newsletter