Learning to Leave Your Comfort Zone

Written by the Wildchild

Over the years, having worked and participated in the action sports industry I've had an opportunity to meet a lot of great athletes both Professional and Amateur. I've learned so much in terms of the mindset behind how these athletes become so successful in such a variety of very difficult sports to master in the way that they have. What’s even more interesting is what we all can learn from these athletes by applying some very similar concepts in our own lives regardless of our endeavors.

It all starts with stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying to accomplish something that was initially intimidating or scary for you or maybe even seemed impossible at one point in time. By testing those limits you are able to push yourself to a new level and in many cases discover talents and abilities that you never thought possible.

You must also have a passion for that pursuit of progression in an effort to move towards mastering your skills or reaching your goals. Without that passion it would be nearly impossible to ever have the courage to step out of your comfort zone and even more difficult to step out again and again if you encounter failure. But remember that failure is feedback and strength can be drawn from that source as well.

Lastly, remember that whether or not you succeed or fail, the only way to go forward is by taking that next step. Thomas Edison summarized this concept perfectly. I quote, “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

So the next time that you are faced with a situation requiring you to step outside of your comfort zone, what kind of outlook and attitude will you have? Will you try to apply these concepts in an effort to have the strength to take that step forward and possibly enter into a new world of opportunities that you had previously never thought possible? Or will the fear of the unknown or the path less traveled be too overwhelming for you to see what could have been? As always, I wish you the best of luck with your passions, goals and endeavors but most importantly the strength to continue to move forward in a positive way in whatever you do!

Image courtesy of: seodesignpictures.blogspot.com/2012/05/action-sports-icons.html
Quote courtesy of: www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasaed109004.html

Face Your Fears... It's Good for You!

What almost kills you makes you stronger.Extreme sports and dangerous physical challenges boost your mental makeup, finds a new study in the Journal of Health Psychology.

Australian researchers defined extreme sports as those activities that involve “the potential destruction of the physical self”—basically, your ass is on the line. (Think BASE jumping, waterfall kayaking, and big-wave surfing.)

Travis Rice during the Art of Flight

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to jump off a building or surf Mavericks in order to experience the fulfillment outlined in the research. Whether you’re quitting your job to start a new business or simply signing up for a Tough Mudder, if the activity scares the hell out of you, fighting through that fear will provide psychological benefits similar to those observed in the study, Brymer says. Just don’t be reckless. “Do your homework, and make sure you’re physically and mentally prepared.” 

After a series of interviews with 15 experienced extreme athletes—that is, not dead—the study authors found that overcoming intense fear leads to “transformational” changes in confidence and sense of self. Put simply, overcoming physical terror increases life-fulfillment and psychological well-being, the study shows.

When you get down to it, fear stems from a lack of faith in yourself and your ability, explains study coauthor Eric Brymer, Ph.D., a psychologist at Queensland University of Technology. And so when you defeat your fears, you’re proving to yourself that you’re capable—an experience that has major psychological advantages that will ripple throughout your life, he adds.

(Courtesy of Markham Heid http://news.menshealth.com/why-extreme-sports-make-you-a-better-man/2013/04/14/) 

Dew Tour Announces its 2013 Dates and Locations

DEW TOUR ANNOUNCES 2013 DATES AND LOCATIONS Alli Sports, a division of the NBC Sports Group, today announced the dates and locations for the 2013 Dew Tour. Following a successful 2012 season, Dew Tour continues with three large-scale, premium events that will reach consumers across broadcast, digital and consumer activation platforms.

“The Dew Tour is about celebrating action sports and providing athletes and the industry with a world-class platform for progression and creativity,” said Kenny Mitchell, General Manager of the Dew Tour. “We want all of our fans – whether tuning in through broadcast, online, or on-site at the events – to celebrate with us and be inspired by the sports, the music and the action sports culture.”

The Dew Tour remains committed to working with athletes and industry leaders to drive progressive disciplines and formats while creating groundbreaking courses. This season, Dew Tour will debut The Dew Tour Showcases, a series of events that will recognize key lifestyle elements of action sports, such as art, photography and film, and celebrating progressive and transcendent work in each field. In addition, the Dew Tour’s exclusive Streetstyle discipline for Skate, BMX and Snow will continue in 2013, delivering an unprecedented platform for originality and innovation.

In 2012, the Dew Tour enjoyed the highest per event attendance in its history, while connecting consumers and action sports in an unprecedented way through the Dew Tour Experience. Dew Tour’s best in class brand activation platform will continue to host the event’s roster of blue chip partners and bring their engaging and relevant experiences directly to the fans.

For the 2013 season, The Dew Tour will return to its distinct Beach – City – Mountain format. The Dew Tour kicks off June 20-23, drawing inspiration from the East Coast beach destination of Ocean City, Md. October 10-13, The Dew Tour will return to the urban action sports heritage of San Francisco, Calif. for the second event of the year. The Dew Tour will wrap up 2013 from Breckenridge Ski Resort, in Breckenridge, Colo., December 12-15. Check out the complete details of the 2013 Dew Tour schedule courtesy of Alli Sports at: http://www.allisports.com/dew-tour/event/ocean-city-beach-championships-2013/news/dew-tour-announces-2013-dates-and-locations

TOP INFLUENCERS IN ACTION SPORTS - WHO DO YOU THINK IS #1

After much debate, the No. 1 spot was awarded to surfer Kelly Slater, the youngest and oldest world champion in ASP history. Though he fell just short of winning a 12th ASP World Tour title when Australian Joel Parkinson earned the coveted award in the second-to-last heat of the season at the Billabong Pipeline Masters in December, Slater still has 11 world titles to his name, which is a full seven more than the next-closest surfer, Mark Richards. Slater has the most event wins in ASP history (51), and in 2012 alone, he notched three tour stop victories. The ASP lists his career winnings at $3,425,705. Not bad for an action sports athlete.

On top of that, Slater is involved with international efforts to conserve ocean ecosystems, and he's donated time and money to help poverty-stricken communities around the world. Slater's list of competitive accolades is innumerable, but perhaps most poignant, at one month shy of his 41st birthday, he shows zero signs of slowing down. He continues to dominate at the highest level of surfing and proves year in and year out that age really is just a couple of digits

Slater may not be world champ this year, and even amid rumors that he's retiring, his influence over surfing and the broader action sports industry is undeniable. Visit a beach, a surf shop or a high school in Southern California, Florida or Brazil, and you'll see hints of Slater's reach. Long after he's done competing -- if that ever happens -- Slater will still be the one people are talking about, the one setting the benchmark for others to follow.

You may not agree with everyone on this list. And certainly, there are names we are missing. But hopefully, we can all agree on this: Action sports would not be the same without the presence of these 50 talented and inspiring people. (Huge shout out to ESPN X Games for creating this list) To check out the full list of action sports athletes visit: http://xgames.espn.go.com/article/8793102/50-most-influential-people-action-sports 

Thanks for the Shred Tom!

Longboarding - Smoothest Standies I've Ever Seen!

This Video speaks for itself. One of the smoothest riders I've ever seen!

Trick Tip: BIG stand up slides by Kyle Chin



Powell Peralta

Such an amazing quote by Stacey Peralta:

"I cannot overstate how important it is to learn how to get up off the floor when you’ve been knocked down. .. But if you come to realize how connected failure is to success then it eases the blows and you begin to realize it’s normal to fail. " 

                                                            

 – Stacy Peralta

Longboard your way to Success

I had to throw up another video of the WCS Crew bombin hills here in AZ. This is our playground... Enjoy!

"So basically it's up to you mentally whether or not you are going to up your game. If you want to land that trick  on your longboard or win more games, think it out and visualize every aspect from the approach, the takeoff, movements necessary during the trick or game and a perfect execution. It doesn't matter whether you compete in action sports or mainstream sports, mental imagery will increase your chances of success." ~Kyle Bingham~

And most importantly, remember:

"From every wound there is a scar, and every scar tells a story. A story that says, I survived."

- Fr. Craig Scott

Mental Toughness in Sports - Up Your Game with Mental Imagery

How Mental Imagery Works

When an athlete imagines himself performing to perfection, he is physiologically creating neutral brain patterns that are similar to small tracks engraved in the brain cells. This enables the athlete to perform certain stratgies, moves, tricks, etc. by mentally practicing those tasks first in his mind. Mental imagery is intended to train the athlete's mind, thus showing the body exactly how to react or perform when during practice or competition

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Practical Application of Mental Imagery

It’s true that we move closer to what we focus on. If an athlete imagines missing a shot, or how good the other team is, or even fears injury, it harms his game concentration and affects the outcome. It’s absolutely essential that athletes visualize success and victory.  Steven Balzac, a psychology professor and former nationally ranked fencer says, “If we imagine success, we prepare ourselves for success because that’s what’s in our heads.” Remember that we if don't beleive in ourself and our abilities, no on else will for us.

It’s important to remember that athletes use imagery in different ways. Their imagery may not involve just visual images, but sounds, smells or touch. It really depends on the person. Another important aspect of mental imagery is for the athlete to watch and study his sports heroes and imagine that he is making those same shots with precision. Does this mean the athlete will always perform at top level? No…we’re human and we all have bad days on occasion. But visualization and mental imagery increases the chance of increased and sustained success.

Results of Mental Imagery

Of course physical practice is always the best way for an athlete to improve his skill level and race to the top of his game. However, mental imagery is better than no practice at all and, incorporated with physical practice, is the best way to see optimal results. Continuous studies are always being conducted to determine just how much mental imagery plays into the increased success of athletes. And, for the rest of us, imagining ourselves more successful is never a waste of time if we are also spending equal or more time physically developing our skill set. The time spent in mental imagery is beneficial not only to the athlete but to the business person, the student, the entrepreneur, and anyone else who desires to develop and increase their level of play. The more mental imagery is studied; more effective techniques can be developed and adapted by athletes…and the rest of us.

 

"So basically it's up to you mentally whether or not you are going to up your game. If you want to land that 1080 on your snowboard, think it out and visualize every aspect from the approach, the takeoff, movements while in the air and a perfect landing. It doesn't matter whether you compete in action sports or mainstream sports, mental imagery will increase your chances of success." ~Kyle Bingham~
 
(Portions of article courtesy of Michelle Hill http://www.winningproof.com/)

"Winners do what Losers won't!"

"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision."
Muhammad Ali

DogFunk - The Dump

I gotta give a shout out to the crew at DogFunk. I've been snowboarding "the greatest snow on Earth" for years and have always looked to them for advice for all my snowboard gear. And most importantly, DogFunk helps to support the underground brands. I remember the first time that I started my first action sports company and rarely do you see retailers even talk with underground brands. Fellas keep up the good work and thanks for the continual supply of the best action sports gear out there! Go check em out!

SMP Skatepark - Insanity

Despite my years of skateboarding and longboarding I had never come across the SMP Skatepark.

SMP Skate Park is an enormous outdoor park spanning 44,936 square feet and represents China’s largest skate park. Each year SMP holds an international skate competition known as “The Showdown.” If you’re a skater, its hard to think of a more fitting place to compete. Not a skater, not a problem! Enjoy the activities from a 12,300 square foot viewing deck and plaza!

Tony Hawk - Definition of Skateboarding

"I consider skateboarding an art form, a lifestyle and a sport." ~Tony Hawk~

Image courtesy of http://www.tonyhawk.com/

                             

The Good Ol' Days

Longboard Skateboard only $79 at RazorReef.com

I was going through some old longboarding videos and had to post this one on the crazy good group of longboarders that we have here in Arizona. I loved watching the sport progress so much here in Phoenix and I know that the longboard scene is only going to get bigger and better. WCS for life!

Shaun White... Perfection!

Shaun White scored the first perfect score in Winter X Games history in Men's Snowboard SuperPipe finals on Sunday, winning his fifth consecutive gold medal -- a first in Snowboard SuperPipe. The victory comes after a left ankle sprain that plagued him earlier in the week forced him to miss the Slopestyle event he had hoped to compete in.

"It's unreal," White said, after scoring 100 out of a possible 100 points on his final run. "I've been wanting that 100 forever. Thank you so much, everybody, tonight. I came here on a mission: I couldn't compete in Slope and it kind of broke me. I didn't know what to do. I was sitting around icing my ankle wondering if I could even ride tonight, and I kind of took out a little bit of that anxiety and anger that I couldn't compete in Slope in the pipe tonight."
White had already sealed up the win in Run 1 after posting a score of 94.00, beating out Swiss rider Iouri Podladtchikov, who came close with a 93.00, and Japan's Ryo Aono. But White was determined to unveil his newest trick, a frontside double cork 1260. He fell attempting the trick in Run 2, then nailed it on the final wall of his victory lap in a run that included a massive 18-foot backside air, a fronstside double cork 1080, a Cab double cork 1080, a frontside stalefish 540, a double McTwist 1260 and the frontside double cork 1260. White is officially the only person to have ever landed a frontside double cork 1260 in competition.

 

"I was a little upset with my first front double 12 tonight because it just wasn't there and I put my face in the wall," White said. "I was just trying to shake that off and get back up and do it again, and it happened."

White has now won the Snowboard SuperPipe every year since 2008, bringing his total Winter X Games medal count to 17 -- 12 of them gold. He also has five X Games medals in Skateboard Vert, two of them gold, and topped the Skateboard Vert podium at X Games 2011 in July. And, of course, he's best known as a two-time Olympic halfpipe gold medalist. He's now looking forward to the Sochi Games in 2014, where he may have an opportunity to compete in both Halfpipe and the debut of Slopestyle as an Olympic medal event.

How will White top a perfect score and a five-peat at Winter X Games? "There's always next year," he answered. In snowboarding there's always room for progression, even after achieving perfection. (courtesy of http://www.espn.go.com/)

Nothing captures the ability to take it to the next level like Shaun's last comment:

How will White top a perfect score and a five-peat at Winter X Games? "There's always next year," he answered. In snowboarding there's always room for progression, even after achieving perfection.