Gerry Lopez is a national treasure. Photo: Tyler Roemer
Editor’s Note: This podcast is presented by our partners at Surftech.
I am not a cynic. I believe there’s always a way through. Or a better way, or a new way, or a different solution. Car stuck in three feet of mud on the way to the mountains? Where’s the plywood and a winch? On a remote surf trip with your rail cracked beyond repair? Get out the duct tape and deal. There’s always a way. That’s why I appreciate talking to Gerry Lopez.
For the past year, the world has been in utter chaos like never before in our lifetimes. A pandemic has ravaged the Earth and social unrest has threatened to unravel our democracy. During all the craziness, I couldn’t help but wonder what Gerry Lopez was thinking. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s always been such a calming force, easily able to turn a surfing analogy around to help explain things that impact our lives.
Gerry’s been laying low near his home in Bend, Oregon and we talked a bit about this beautiful place he’s settled in and all the world’s craziness. But as always with Gerry, things turned positive. He’s found himself relying on his yoga and mindfulness practices to get through the days more than ever. And how snowboarding has been such a light in his life lately, and how excited he is to see his son Alex shaping boards. Gerry Lopez is known the world over for his surfing. But to me, he’s always been a pillar of positivity for humanity. And in this day and age, there’s nothing more important than positivity. Even a cynic could admit that.
