Wingfoiling in the Keys
I have jumped into the wingfoiling pool. As a lifelong small boat sailboat racer, I felt I already knew how to swim, so how hard could it be? One year in I’m still very much on the steep part of the learning curve. Yet I’m as excited as I was on day one.
My learning journey has introduced me to awesome new people, taken me to sunny and windy places in Florida and Mexico, and caused me to think hard about how to learn something new and complicated.
Nothing focuses the mind like a good wingfoiling crash. And, unlike other parts of life and work, no amount of mental gymnastics or optimism can change a crash to anything other than a crash. I have learned volumes about myself and about learning. Here are a few lessons I don’t want to forget:
It’s About the People
Everyone says surround yourself with great people -- because it is important and true. My wingfoiling journey started because a friend inspired me and shared his time to get me started. From there I met people in the industry that went way beyond just selling me stuff. Then I found peers to travel alongside me, and now I am even teaching others. I can barely believe there are newbies that know less than me, but giving back is super fun too. Every part of life should be like this. Challenging, demanding, difficult, but also exciting, all consuming, full of spectacular fellow travelers and fun. If your boss is a nut, get a new one!
Learning is Always Happening
There have been many days when things did not go as I expected. I talked to everyone, I watched the videos, I worked on conditioning, and I got out on the water whenever I could. But some days I had to wonder if my plan even mattered. I still believe that planning is important in any project, but the universe doesn’t follow the plan. Despite the meandering nature of the project, I can see that I was learning things along the way. The struggle somehow generated progress almost miraculously. Learning was happening all the time!
No Easy Street
Wingfoiling is much harder than I thought it would be. I have had to learn multiple interrelated things at the same time. Like riding a unicycle while eating a bowl of soup! It may look like standing on the board while it flies through the air – but believe me – disaster can strike at any moment. Now I am starting to jibe (fly the board through a turn) and I am completely amazed each time I make it. I would not have it any other way. The difficulty brings me back each time. I know I am never going to master it and that is the biggest gift at all.
I hope my wingfoiling journey never ends. When looking for a new challenge, pick a hard one!