1st Surf experience and compeition

So for my blog I decided to choose talking about surfing over talking about the everyday life of a college freshman and the changes that took place from having to live away from home. I did this because I felt like talking about being a freshman was too unoriginal and something that I’m sure everyone at one point has read about and it becomes boring. To introduce myself if you haven’t read my previous posts my name is Daniel Mahmud im 19 and I grew up and still have a home in San Diego, California. More specifically my hometown is La Jolla which is would consider to be the hotspot for young and upcoming surfers in San Diego. At age 5 was the first time I was introduced to a surfboard, I remember going to the beach each and every day with my mom and brother and watching the surfers. I became fascinated with the tricks they could pull off and couldn't figure out how they managed to stay on the board without anything holding their feet on. At age 6 I started in a junior youth surf class and immediately I could tell that I would be in love with it. The surf instructors would take us on their boards catch a wave and have us stand up with them while these weren't mammoth waves they seemed pretty big to me at the time seeing as I was 6. Many people ask me if I was in the least bit scared on intimidated by being out in the open without anything keeping me afloat besides a board but I can say it wasn't intimidating in the slightest. Sure maybe before you get in many fears can come across your mind like sharks, drowning, jellyfish stings, etc. but once you get in adrenaline kicks in and you have no thoughts or fears. By age 8 I was learning how to stand up on the board on my own and how to feel the swell coming by putting my hand in the water. Fast forward two years age 10 and I enter my first surfing competition.

I still remember my first surfing competition like it was yesterday. The day before the competition I got no sleep and hyped myself up on a bunch of candy. I was so tired by the time it came around I didn’t think I would even place. So my mom bought me a bottle of honey and told me to eat it which I did, once I got out into the breaks I started feeling energized and ready to go. The first wave I caught was about 3-4 feet and I rode it out for a good 20 seconds, however those 20 seconds felt like a minute. Once I caught that wave my confidence grew and before you knew it was in the top 5 on the leaderboard. I finished the day in 3^rd place and got a medal which I still have to this day. And funny enough I still consume an entire bottle of honey before I go surfing. I don’t know if it works or if it might be just superstition but to me it’s an extra edge up on the competition. Today I still surf when I can but seeing as I’m In Hobbs one of the most opposite towns from San Diego culture It probably won’t be for a while. In my next blog I will be talking about the places surfing has taken me. And in future blogs I will be posting other competitive events I’ve taken part in and what surfing has done for me as a person.