I want to surf better tomorrow. I want to surf better in 10 years. When I'm 50 I want to be a better surfer than I am now - for me it's a lifelong journey.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of continuous self-improvement and lifelong learning in any pursuit.
Kelly Slater expresses his desire for ongoing improvement in his surfing skills over time, highlighting that the journey of self-development is never-ending. This perspective encourages individuals to embrace the process of growth and mastery rather than fixating solely on immediate outcomes.
In practice
A coach might use this quote to inspire athletes to focus on long-term growth rather than just immediate results.
A lot of times I'll see guys who are nowhere near the level of the board they're riding. They might love surfing and love how it looks, but you really have to work your way up. It takes eating a little humble pie at first, and stepping back to equipment that might be a bit slow, but do it.
There are so many different elements to surfing. Small waves, big waves, long boards, short boards. This makes it a sport you can share with people. It's not just a solitary thing - it's become a family thing, too. It's about exercising and passing something on from father to son, and from mother to daughter.
I still feel like my best surfing is ahead of me.
It's a perfect wave when small and the most beautiful and scary wave on Earth when it's big, as the swell from deep water hits the shallow reef ledge. A ten-foot high wave and a 30-footer break in the same depth of water.
I wanted to be a shoe designer, but I never thought it could be a profession. But what was the alternative? Doctor? Too dirty! Air-hostess? Maybe not! Then someone gave me a book on Roger Vivier, and, cheri, instantly I knew that was it!
My greatest point is my persistence. I never give up in a match. However down I am, I fight until the last ball. My list of matches shows that I have turned a great many so-called irretrievable defeats into victories.
The fighters who give it all will be around for next year. Give it all you've got. Don't save anything.
Remind yourself that you're bound to get better. Don't get down on yourself. Don't beat yourself up. It's the next opportunity that matters, not the last one.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who want to get things done, and those who don't want to make mistakes.
It's a town full of losers_x000D_ And I'm pulling out of here to win.
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