Sally Fitzgibbons: Olympian & World’s Greatest Surfer
In this interview, I speak to Sally Fitzgibbons who has etched her name in the annals of surfing history as one of the most inspiring and accomplished athletes the sport has ever…
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In this interview, I speak to Sally Fitzgibbons who has etched her name in the annals of surfing history as one of the most inspiring and accomplished athletes the sport has ever…
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Our relationship with the ocean is beautiful – you frequently see people at the shoreline, just in prayer or meditating… connecting with the ocean, letting the waves wash over them… Being around the ocean is our connection to something bigger- you can just lay in the ocean and let your worries wash away.
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor
I fell in love with the process first – they sometimes call it the grind. I fell in love with movement, with training, with everything between the competitions – and falling in love with that was instrumental to me because now, when things don't go right, and I feel vulnerable or emotional, I can dip into that state.
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor
There's just enough in your control where you think you should be able to perform or deliver on any given day – but when you really sit and think about it, you're basically trying to be predictive text for the ocean.
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor
When you step off land into the ocean, you're at the mercy of the most powerful energy source there is – you can paddle out into the water with a picture in your mind of what the surf might be like and what waves might come, and things can change… the wind… the tide… the swell… in Hawaii, I've paddled out into a 2 feet swell in the morning, and a few hours later, it's 20ft, it's really something to behold.
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor
The reality is – you can't accomplish anything unless you're all in emotionally, physically… you have to put it all on the table. You can't just put a little part of you out there in case you get hurt… guess what… everything about competition will hurt. The losses hurt… a huge wipe out hurts…. Breaking a board and getting hit on the head, that hurts. The more you do it – the more you build a mental scar tissue that you can lean on – That's the 'stuff' that lets you pick up the pieces and go again.
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor
I fell in love with the process first – they sometimes call it the grind. I fell in love with movement, with training, with everything between the competitions – and falling in love with that was instrumental to me because now, when things don't go right, and I feel vulnerable or emotional, I can dip into that state.
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor
You're basically trying to be predictive text for the ocean. You could be sitting out there – you've warmed up – you've mapped the line-up – and you've mentally prepared for where waves are going to break – you could have all that knowledge, but when you paddle out – everything could be completely different.
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor
The reality is – you can't accomplish anything unless you're all in emotionally, physically… you have to put it all on the table. You can't just put a little part of you out there in case you get hurt… guess what… everything about competition will hurt.
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor
The more you do it – the more you build a mental scar tissue that you can lean on – That's the 'stuff' that lets you pick up the pieces and go again.
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor
You are the king (or queen) of your castle. When you step off land into the ocean, you're at the mercy of the most powerful energy source there is – you can paddle out into the water with a picture in your mind of what the surf might be like and what waves might come, and things can change… the wind… the tide… the swell…
— Sally FitzgibbonsProfessional surfer and multiple-time world championship competitor