World No. 1 Griffin Colapinto and his brother Crosby have been giving American surfing fans a lot of cheer lately as they donned yellow leader jerseys for the WSL Championship Tour heading to Australia. And while chasing surf stars around the world and chasing titles is a glorious life, and the Colapinto boys are having the time of their lives, it’s how they embrace it. It speaks volumes about who he is.
One of the first things Colapinto, the son of an elementary school teacher in San Clemente, California, did after returning from a recent trip to Europe was to head to his alma mater, Shorecliff Middle School, to celebrate his win at the MEO Rip Curl. . Pro Portugal. Or maybe it was the other way around. The Shorecliffs Seahawks just won their record-setting 18th NSSA California state title just a few weeks ago. Either way, the Colapinto boys have made it a habit to give back to local youth. They also stopped by the school to inspire students before the start of the 2024 Championship Tour.
That’s Griff’s thing, in a world where everyone wants something, he responds to it. He doesn’t just show up, he takes the time to “be” as he pleases. The pressure could have eaten alive the No. 3 rated surfer and local hero at last year’s WSL Finals in Rowers’ backyard, but it didn’t. Ta. Because he is essentially a man of the people.
“There was so much hype before the event, people were making crazy videos, holding events, and just decorating San Clemente. It was pretty tough, but it was a lot of fun and I was just taking it all in. I feel like I was able to do that,” Colapinto explained in an interview in January. “I wanted to go and see all the people who supported me and really thank them. I just wanted to have fun and I didn’t want them to be stressed. Still in the heat and performing in Ethan. I feel like I was [Ewing] I came out too. Sometimes that’s part of the game, so that’s okay. ”
And therein lies a lesson we can all learn from Glyph. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but if you trust the process and put your passion into it, something meaningful will always come out of the experience. Of course, that’s easier said than done when you’re gunning for your first world title in front of all your friends and family, but that’s why Colapinto spends so much time keeping his head on the right track. From attending off-season meditation retreats, to journaling, to the countless techniques he taught himself, at just 25 years old he learned that a healthy mind and a healthy body can lead to competitive success. I was learning.
“I think the mental aspect of all of this is very important. In surfing, there are a lot of things you can’t control: the ocean, nature, your competitors. You have to get into that flow state. Obviously, when you meditate, you consistently find that flow state,” Colapinto explained.
Taking it one heat at a time, as is the saying in pro surfing, Colapinto was next up as the No. 1 seed for the prestigious Rip Curl Pro Bells, the longest-running contest on tour today.・I will be attending a beach event. Bells’ waves fit perfectly with his aggressive combination of turns and airs. Last year, he reached the quarterfinals there, the best performance of his career. He is on an upward trajectory at the moment and you have to love his chances at Torquay.
