Life Makes More Sense in Retrospect

Sometimes life, and careers, make more sense in retrospect. Thanks to termite tenting, I moved some stuff and found some old clips of my first adventure column circa 1999. I was a 19 year old, hot-shot journalist who wanted to cover adventure, and there was no job description, but the San Diego Community Newspaper Group, which published five weekly papers, liked my enthusiasm and gave me a shot. I made about $30 a story ,and I was stoked.

Turns out… I’m still writing about wild ideas… people who biked across America, set records, and are surfing for a cause.

Finding these clips made me laugh. When you read my book, it will all make sense. I’d even called my column GOING WILD! My only wish is that I’d known this origin story myself before I wrote a book. I’d forgotten.

I’d pitched the idea to cover an adventure and surfing section in 1999 to the New York Times, CNN, LA Times and San Diego Tribune. They all liked my enthusiasm and writing, but didn’t think a whole section on adventure was warranted. Today, it’s so cool to have a friend who writes a surfing column for the OC Register, OC Beaches, and even an acquaintance who covers surfing for the New York Times! My 19 year old self is happy to see it all come full circle!

And yes that’s Kelly Slater and Lisa Andersen with Izzy Tihanyi and I in 99. Scroll right for more gems! Including Craig Hollingsworth, Gerry Lopez, Randy Strunk, Alex Lanau, Ryan Levinson, the twins who are amazing adventurers, and more!