EP#36- Life as a Professional Surfer with Ivan Villalba, Founder of Elite Surf Coaching

Φριστούσε μία τρέובתa γνώσα -- called and questions -- anos Days to день; ♪ σημαντίθε >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Για τι σας έγσια Rolling LIKE cuando проект bumped and realized that you loved it, and how do you think about sports? Like, was it for you. - I feel very happy that everything is so difficult hatte races, και είπε ότι δεν ένας μου μηκballs αλλά Exactly five사�owneds και ο μπορώ να ακούσα ένας μου; στη θέση μας βλέονσα συλληνικά και το Το ν Worlds. Αλλά, πώς εμπράζετε, είπε ότι είπε πολύ εμπράδια, είπε να κάνετε ένα νέο, να κάνετε ένα νέο, και ένα νέο, και όταν είπε πολύ νέο, αλλά στον πιο πρόκλημα, οι ποιο είναι ότι είπε ότι ο ένας μου, όταν είπε ότι οι ποιο είναι να μείνει; Όταν είπε ότι δεν είπε ότι, πως είπε ότι, μετά το νέο, είπε ότι είπε ότι το νέο, και είπε ότι είπε ότι, μετά το νέο, Παστε για 30 χρήματα, αλλά θα χρησιμοποιήσω σε τον στραφότημα. Θα χρησιμοποιήσω σε το δίπερβα, το βασιλυέο, το βασιλυέο, παρανιωμένος, το βασιλυέο, το βασιλυέο, το βασιλυέο, το βασιλυέο. Δεν το βασιλυέο, το βασιλυέο, το βασιλυέο, το βασιλυέο, το βασιλυέο, το βασιλυέο. θέλω να το πειραβάζω, θα φασίμαστε βασιλυέο. Θα χρησιμοποιήσω σε 30 χρήματα, θα χρησιμοποιήσω σε το δίπερβα, θα χρησιμοποιήσω σε το δίπερβα. Θα χρησιμοποιήσω σε το δίπερβα, θα χρησιμοποιήσω σε το δίπερβα. Αν так καρ cemetery μanyς φιλенных ηλιοξησ survivor absolveds, elementos foundationalsเหκέτοια, νορτιά μας ε два χρόνια, γκανανれない το 2006-200 advertising, διγοάνερα και πλάλα πρέπει να ειδείστα Congressman σε νορ insights. Claro, ειναι εrimολισ lethal σπίτι είναι εινχτειά τα συγκεφ матери τωνρίου για την προσδογbirth�ία. Υφορίζω τα όχι στους σημερές νορ microfως. Θα μας σου δω, δεν ξεκιθήσεις τη περιοχή και מסγκειπέτε. לפhongtzέ Hindu ciao. Είναι ότι σχέλο σε κάθα μια κουταντία να seeσκετε μια αδικ vandaag για να να ψήσει πέρα σκέψετε ένα κλεύρο με στη φίλ Elekt wissenenged restless Η προθέρωκα δεν θαютсяσχηuggήνει επ guru από Formula 9 ,за τα τοντρόροτα buddy glaube με την παρότητα και να δηλαδή με πάντα να δηλαδή με τη σκέψη, να δηλαδή με τη σκέψη Τι πως θα δηλαδή με τη σκέψη, να δηλαδή με τη σκέψη και να δηλαδή με τη σκέψη, με τη σκέψη, με τη σκέψη Είναι πολύ σκέψη και με τη σκέψη, σκέψη, σκέψη και είναι πολύ σκέψη, σκέψη και είναι πολύ σκέψη, να δηλαδή με τη σκέψη, για, για, για 50-50 μπ. κατά ταντιά όλους ceremonialy, الحύριραhabιιίεηΧ. Από τα Ιικουρά είναι,же για να τέλ Pred Compact, και να θέλω να καταθίνεις μια período, να παράγεσαι την σύς είναι τέλος, αλλά η χιάfounder και την κατά σου είναι κατά που χ προσω κανη significεδόabyrinσα είναι ότι όλοι οθηκε είναι η μகρύτη σαν ολθ believe des c climberals, αυτό κατά ο Really, δεν υπονχ назад άνθρωποι του κον beschτατήνταregularς τελ zehnσЯροσιαία εσωτερία ειντιγραWorkerority. που όμως μετωσίζει στο σημείο; ζαι δίτες στην σας σή Daten. ο κύριος μια π kilometres έχω υποθυγ biological πάνθα πέρα; που των μαλαιγ稱λα sharperσιων Marktια. Όώνrets που με μούσα Titan, θέλχoter DOO și ο πήγος του πbudδε arg patent Options. Όπως έχει δί dura βι hear. Τι τα τα τα αυται communal για say something that you don't realize. Όπως heeft από αυτές τις γηakra�� να μας να φ�ρουν τόλο, Όπως το ποteenaphος που χάνουν. Όπως αρφού θα φυλειώ, είναι όπως έχω το δόρο, το δόρο να φυλειώ και φυλειώ. Όπως αρφού θα φυλειώ, όπως αρφού θα φυλειώ, όπως αρφού θα φυλειώ, και φυλειώ, και φυλειώ, αλλά σε ένα καλύτερο, που θέλω να φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ. Φυλειώ, καλύτερο, και φυλειώ, και φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ. , για να φυλειώ, και φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ. Όπως αρφού θα φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ. Όπως αρφού θα φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ. Για να φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ. Όπως αρφού θα φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ, για να φυλειώ. Όπως αρφού θα φυλειώ. What should, yeah, if you say to me, okay, if you are going to live for everyone in one place, where do you want to be? Mentor why? - In Indonesia. - Yeah. - Well, so I tried surfing for the first time last week. And I was so afraid because I've never surfed before in my life and I'm always afraid to go further out into the ocean with the big waves because the hardest part is just getting in. Like right when they're crashing at the shore, you don't wanna get swept into that. So I had to just conquer my fear and go right under and then the surf guide took me out further into the water and something that I remember feeling was just so peaceful when all the waves had passed and you have maybe a minute or two of just stillness and it's so relaxing where you're just waiting for the next wave, it's very calm, it's very quiet. That experience kind of reminded me of a meditative state. Do you practice meditation or yoga or anything in that realm? I maybe I do it but not with knowledge of I'm doing meditation. Yeah, I think the day you were surfing I was there. In my opinion, if you fail, you have this time to relax. If you surf one more month or two more months, you are going to discover next level because you were in a place that was didn't stop. But if you go to a next level, you are going to have like a two minutes, one minute, that moment waiting for the, we call it set of waves. Set of waves, that's the terminology for it. So there's like a handful of waves that come and then you have the stillness, which is called the set of waves and then the next batch comes in. Yeah, we were surfing. The waves felt really big. I did not feel like it was a beginner place. Yeah, that place is perfect because the waves break in the back. A big wave, but when you were, it's a reformed wave. I know that you think a lot of power, but in that place, that the wave was always powerful. It's a beginner place. It did not heal the kid. It was crazy because I think a lot of the experience I felt was fear, trying it out. And once you try to put that in the back of your mind and really be present in the experience, when the surf instructor was telling me, okay, now get up. Now you just have to get up. And I think I was still a little afraid because I was able to get my foot far in front enough to be able to fully sand up and have my arms out and have proper balance. But in the moments where I was partially sanding up, it's so freeing. It's like a rush of endorphins. And the feeling when you are in the wave moving. Yeah, so what's it called when the wave comes under and you can. Barrel. Yeah, that's, I mean. That is, I think that is what you say the meditation. But it's like usually is two seconds, between two seconds. And if you get a 10 seconds barrel, it's like, wow, next level. But that moment is like everything is passing. It's like you are inside the barrel and it's like, wow, like yeah, you can know, I think there is one brand, Bilabon, and they say, only an assurfer knows the feeling. That feeling, I think you can know explain when you are in that moment in the barrel and when you finish the barrel, like, wow, did you release all your, everything, like, wow, I make it. Yeah, no, it seems like such a beautiful experience. And you used to work for Bilabon, right? So you've seen surfing from so many different perspectives, from more business perspective, from actually being out in the water, and now also a different business perspective with your company. What was it like working at Bilabon and how did that bring you further in your career? So for me, now I realize that many things I did in my life, filming, working in Bilabon, competing, everything now is connected together. So I have the knowledge of filming when I coach the people because I need to film them. The knowledge of Bilabon gives me a lot of confidence, knowledge when I give advice to the professional surfers about how to get a sponsor, how you need to be clean, everything, you are the image of a brand. So I know already when someone is looking for a sponsor, what the other side of the brand, the what they are they looking for, or when they ask for someone, I know already all the steps. Yeah, I remember one time, I recommend one guy in Spain, and I say to the marketing guy, Carmen, I have one kid, he's really good, and I think he's good for us. First question, she asked me, is he beautiful? So it's about the image. Yes, and I say, like this, I say, what? He said really good, why do you need to know if he's beautiful or no? And she said to me, is the image of the brand? So of course, I know if you bring me someone, he's going to be a good surfer. But the next thing I need to know is if he has a good image. So now I know, this is why when I give advice to the kids or people, you need to have good looking. You need to be a nice guy. You need to be polite. You need to say hello to everyone. You need to be like this, like that. Because I know the brands. Now, they are not looking only for if you are a good surfer. You need to be a nice person, humble. If you talk different languages, everything you can be better than surfing is going to be extra points when they want to sponsor you. So it's this whole holistic look at the individual surfer. I didn't even know that. That's crazy. So so much goes into it. You're training more than just a professional athlete. There's so many qualifications you have to meet, or at least really to maintain your own brand image. Because otherwise the brands won't want you. And did you experience that as you were training to become really professional at what you're doing? Yeah, when you coach-- in my case, I coach kids from nine years old. So I already coach them to be-- because if you don't tell these things to them, they think the professional surfer, they leave the life and they are doing whatever they want. But they know everything. Everything is-- I teach them even when they walk with a server and if one camera in that area, they need to walk with the stickers facing to the camera. Like us, like you do without thinking. But you need to walk. Or when you are paddling, and you know there is some one taking pictures from the boat, you need to know the nose of the server a little bit more higher. Because when he takes the picture, the sponsor is going to be in the photo. So it's more detailed that you need to teach the kids or the people for-- So when you're that high of a level of being a professional athlete, it's so much more than just the surfing. Yes, of course. It's so much where I didn't even think about how the people out on the boats are taking photos and videos and all these promotional materials of you and you need to position the board correctly and be mindful of that. So that's so much that the athlete needs to take in. I'm sure people must feel overwhelmed by everything that they have to do beyond just knowing how to surf well. In this case, is the next level or the difference in between average and excellent or professional surfers? Because you can be really good surfer. But the next level is those small details. I want to come back more to this idea around surfing and wellness and mental health. We already talked a bit about that meditative experience when it's the set of waves, when you're waiting for the next ones to come and when you're in the barrel and it's an experience like no other. But what about the lifestyle of being a surfer? I feel like you have to wake up pretty early to go out for a surf in the morning and you have to train not only your body but your mind. So how do you manage all of that? In my case, it's like a normal thing. I don't think about I need to wake up. I want to sleep thinking tomorrow. I want to be good early in the morning. I'm not thinking about I need to do this. I need to do that. Or even if you feel you have no power, maybe I need to do something. Yeah, it's my friends. If they are watching this, they say, you want to eat everything. Because I think when you are doing this for many, many, many years, you don't think about it's something natural. Something second nature. What about when you're training professional athletes? I guess they're already at such a high level that it's already maybe second nature to them, but the process of getting to that level must be so challenging and just a lot mentally and physically. So what are some of the challenges maybe you've seen surfer's face? And how do you help them overcome that or at least feel like they're more in control? So what I think, I don't know, 15, 20 years ago surfing was the professional athletes, it was like a rock stars. So if you are good surfer, what I'm telling you now is more last than years, maybe, and it's more real professional surfers, before they were, they call professional because they get money from what they are doing, but now it's more real professional because now people are real athletes. Star become real athletes now. So they are training, doing gym before preparing the competition. So now they are more focused and more, it's getting more difficult year by year. So what I told you about my first competition, my second competition, now is impossible. You are surfing for two years and we're in a competition, or three years. It must take now much longer to be a water. I'm coaching kids. Yeah, I'm coaching one kid now here at his seven years old. Rock 'em. from Italy and he's already getting barrels, things like you've even people with the 30 years old they look him and say "this kid is 30 kilos and he's getting bigger ways". So now everyone is preparing even sometimes the people said "Isn't this good, these kids doing this like this focus for competition?" I say "they like" it's okay and if when you see someone in any sport they are the best in the world it's because they start since they have three, five years old and from the beginning like this. Well you know Tiger Woods the famous golfer. I mean he there was a series I believe on HBO or some channel about Tiger Woods life story and how he started he was like the golf prodigy and he started at such a young age maybe three or five years old and he loved the sport but I think there was a lot of pressure in his family from his father and you know as he gained more fame there was even more pressure and so ultimately the story didn't end up the best you know he's been accused of a lot of different you know allegations and now I think more recently he's gotten in a car like so much is going on with Tiger Woods but there's something to be said about starting a very competitive sport early on at such a young age like how much choice do you have in that how do you differentiate between passion and like just sticking through with something because it seems enjoyable at the time. I think it's a thin line and difficult to know because for me sometimes I see the parents too much what to heart sometimes that I say what I don't know this this is going to be good or no sometimes I ask them do you think it's good to be like that but in the same time I met kids that the parents were like that and now they are really good surfers and they are in the competition in the top and sometimes you think okay maybe this pressure from the parents is the one when they are in competition they don't feel any pressure because they have that pressure from the parents for all their lives but yeah you never in my case say I never know what is the line in between too much pressure or too less because sometimes the parents I live then they can do whatever they want and you can see that sometimes if the parents don't push the kids sometimes the kid don't need that pressure and the kid really want or really want and you never know who is going to be good pressure from the parents who is going to be totally the opposite and when they are 15 17 years old they say I don't want to surf never again in my life or I don't want to compete sometimes they still surfing but they say I don't want to be in a competition never ever again right because the competition adds on all those layers and more pressure to you know to win and as we were talking about everything with the sponsorship and having the right brand image so I can only imagine how stressful that is but in your experience it seems like for you it's been this lifelong passion that you've been doing since you were so young and now you get to give back to the community and you get to coach people and you get to train all levels you know professional athletes and more novice beginner surfers and focusing more on their technique so one question that I also wanted to ask is what are some of the greatest lessons you've gained from the sport some life lessons that you've learned through surfing if you really want something you can anything in the life I always coach people surfing and I said if you know how to achieve this goal if you know how to fight this fear or this blocking this thing is blocking your mind in surfing you can do with your boss with your husband with your wife or any is the same feeling is the same way to achieve is the same yeah it's the same way so what I learn is if you want something really want you can do anything you want that's very empowering because it's you know the same idea if you put your mind to it you can do it you can achieve anything that you want in this in this world if you really work hard for it granted I mean there's always obstacles that come in the way but oftentimes we're our biggest roadblock you know we stop ourselves from really achieving what we want because we are self-critical or we have those thoughts in our head that say we can't do it but it's would you say you know it's about kind of silencing those thoughts and just keep you know having that self discipline fight work I was the the worst the worst of my friends but the worst they call me in Spanish robot in like a robot robot because it was like a robot surfing if you can take a picture of a group of when we were 15 years old and you said which one of those guys is going to be good surfer maybe this this this but that one for sure no and then you prove wrong yeah and I'm the only one still surfing no I think one is still surfing but yeah I'm only the only one I was a professional surfer and yet if because I was focused I want I want I really want having that drive and that motivation a combination I think of willpower and self-discipline and I mean I think those are lessons you can take from really any intense sport I would say the same for rowing even though I only did it for four years and there was no way I was going to be a professional like Olympic rower I think it instills this this discipline and this ability you know to work hard and put your mind to something and to not give up because once you start something it's important to follow through to the best of your ability I guess on the water you have no choice but to follow through because you're out in the sea but in rowing you could always get off the the rowing machine or something but having that that determination and go go go go work I always say there's people I don't know in English if you say don't like people they have they anything they do they are doing good they play basketball and first time oh yeah like a natural talent talent talent talent people and workers I was a worker not talent well I think there's actually a lot of research around this like growing up having this natural ability this natural talent versus those who work hard to achieve I don't think there's like any natural talent necessarily because at the end of the day like it's more about the work that you put in the effort that you put in because as you said I mean you're a perfect example like you didn't start out as an amazing surfer but you put in the time and the effort and you have the right mindset towards it you you know you were telling yourself that you were going to achieve this and you were bringing that into your own reality through thinking about it and bringing that energy into the world and that that act of just you know being very disciplined about it every day but I think sometimes I don't know if you know about a kelis later it's like I don't know the type of wood or it's the most famous surfer in the world he's still in the tour he's 40 47 48 I only know Quincy Davis okay from like Instagram okay to be honest kelis later is yes the one he saw to everyone he's still in the tour for who I don't know how many years always in the top top top top and he's 47 48 and he's still there and I think when when he's playing about him is I think he has natural talent plus work he has both things so when you mix natural talent and work you have kelis later yeah people like the odd ones out you know that I just have this extraordinary ability which is wild but I think it's so inspiring because knowing that if you put your mind to anything you can really set out to achieve what you want is really uplifting and gives you a sense of agency and control over your life and control over the success that you want to bring into into your own life and how you choose to define your success I also think is quite important thank you so much for for coming here today it's wonderful to actually be in a studio and record one question that I ask every guest before the episode finishes what is something that brings you a bit of endorphins I don't know how to the answer I don't know because even when you you told me I said I have no idea and I have two three days for thinking I say I have no idea so the answer is I have no idea well from what I've observed you love food you love you know going out to eat you love trying new restaurants and new dishes so what about exploring different types of food maybe maybe yeah maybe I think yeah maybe that yeah yeah yeah yeah because surfing for me yeah when when you start in the beginning any small thing you are doing wow you feel like wow but when you surf for 30 years you need to do something like yeah and super deep barrel or a super big wave something that I believe you but when you surf every day you have yeah you like and you enjoy but you don't feel something but yeah maybe yeah I think yeah it's the food it's the food in the top any particular type of food I think I enjoy enjoy it yeah well you love the pizza here in Bali yeah but I love the pizza here I love the breakfast there I love yeah and I mean people when they look to me they say do you really like food I have a friend I don't know how many years ago we were to ice cream and it's it's a can to this place I want to to show you the best ice cream here in in this island okay and when I try the ice cream I say oh I was but enjoying a lot oh and she looked to me super serious and she said Ivan do you like more food? sex. I mean you can't food is great you can't go wrong a good meal is incredible and I think I mean breakfast is my favorite type of you know I think I love breakfast lunch I mean yeah well I think that's good you know nourish your body nourish your mind and getting ready for a good surf but now I can't not surf because I have a desire yeah that's right that's right but this maybe this is why I'm enjoying other things like yeah this interview a filming for the YouTube channel food I have food I've always even a surfing or surfing but yeah I think maybe I'm trying to be focusing in different aspects kind of finding more passions besides surfing because we devote so much time to it for so long maybe as you were saying not that it gets dull but you're used to it you know it's part of your routine so now it's kind of maybe a blessing in disguise to get to explore and do other things where can my followers find you on Instagram or your website so nam's yeah until last month I was super super focused on Instagram and now because corona I thought I need to do something because I cannot travel I can't know coach people like usually I'm doing so I'm starting a YouTube channel and yeah Instagram YouTube even the website is the same is elite surf coaching so you can find in Instagram www.itselfcocin.com and in YouTube it's a same elite surf coaching channel great well I'll be sure to share that amongst my community thank you again so much for coming onto the podcast thank you for having me here thank you for listening and remember to like, rate and review this podcast on whichever listening platform you prefer don't forget to keep spreading endorphins and find things that bring you endorphins every day see you next time