In this episode with Heather Cameron, we discuss how she uses local space and resources to create Cameron Fitness Beach Boot Camp, why baby buggies and boot camp do go together, growing from injury, her favorite surfboard, learning to surf the old school way, fear and motherhood, why strength training matters, and how to create a passion project. Heather reminds us that good things come to those who practice and train as a way of life.

Highlights:
[0:00 - 10:09]  Cameron Fitness Beach Boot Camp

[10:10- 13:20]  Growing from injury

[13:21 - 13:47]  Baby buggies and boot camp

[17:08 - 25:07]  Our surf session

[25:08 - 29:06]  Learning to surf old school

[25:08 - 29:06] Fear and motherhood

[29:07 - 35:02] Strength training matters

[35:03 - 38:26] Creating a passion project

Quotes:

“During all that alone time running on the beach near the pier. It just dawned on me, I should probably do some fitness by this beach. This beach is amazing! When you're in that flow state of running, all kinds of ideas come into your head.”

“I didn't have a wetsuit, so I would be freezing. It'd be the middle of winter and I would just be in my bikini. But I didn't even care. After, I would have to have somebody help me start my car because I could not move my hands.”

“It's empowering to feel strong, even when you're just doing something like changing your furniture around in your house, to be able to move things. If anybody needed you for something, you have the strength to do it. I guess it's just a way of life for me now.”

Get in touch with Heather

• Instagram cameronfitnessoceanside
• Facebook Cameron Fitness
• Website CameronFitness.com

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster

In this episode with Maleeka Manurasada we discuss her work with HEAL Food Alliance and working in right relationship with the earth, how her unconventional childhood taught her the importance of presence and capturing life with an artistic lens, how to polar plunge your way to a better mood and why the press up is everything when learning to surf. Come with me as we peek through Maleeka’s lens of joy.

Highlights:
National Organizer for Heal Food Alliance
Being raised by two wild hippie parents
Adopting a communal mindset
Art is the most practical career
Polar plunge your way to Enlightenment
“The Press Up” by The Surf Continuum
Body Healing with Art

Quotes:
“We have a planet that is very likely going to be unlivable in future generations. We have huge discrepancies in wealth and land ownership, especially when it comes to race. We have an abundance of food, but we waste a ton of food. But people are not being nourished by the food that they're getting, It's a very broken system but that implies that it worked in the beginning.”

“I really wanted to keep doing art. I kept getting pulled that direction. I want to go through life with a lens of seeing lines and shapes and colors in a beautiful way. Honestly, I think everyone should study studio art.”

“I always felt like I was doing things that might be dangerous to other surfers in the water. I also didn't want to look stupid. So I've been going to like a beginner break, where I feel like more comfortable my level. But it's more dangerous because there's so many people there that don't know what they're doing. And people are always telling me that I should go to some of the less crowded breaks. But I just felt nervous because the surfers are much better. It’s a moment to learn some things to build my confidence, really invest in something that brings me a lot of joy, which I feel more and more recently.”

Get in touch with Maleeka

• Instagram @maleeka.manurasada

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster

This is the first of a two part episode recorded on La Misión Surf Trip with the Surf Continuum. When I was in the very beginning stages of learning to surf, I was completely clueless about surf etiquette and all of the rudimentary steps that precede actually standing on a surfboard. Then, I found KookCast, hosted by the Surf Continuum and everything started to make sense. Coaches Chris and Ev do a fantastic job of breaking down the fundamentals of learning to surf and they teach you how to stay safe in the water. After following their podcast for a year, I jumped at the chance to join their Baja Surf Trip. It was spectacular. 7 days of 4 hour morning surf sessions in uncrowded lineups, lots of followup feedback, video sessions, and a local’s experience in Baja. In addition, we were only 7 students, the coolest group of people with whom you would ever hope to share this kind of intense experience. In the following two episodes I interview the other two women who were on the trip with me.

In this episode with Celia Mulderrig, we talk about embracing fear head-on by doing scary things such as improv, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Tough Mudder obstacle courses and of course learning to surf. We discuss how to set clear intentions before a surf session or any challenging activity, and the vital importance of creating community wherever you go. Celia will challenge you to be scared but do it anyway because more often than not, the stakes couldn’t be lower.

Show Highlights:

[0:00 - 5:14]  Doing Improv: The Stakes couldn’t be lower

[5:15- 9:42]  Muay Thai Kickboxing: Do I cry or throw up?

[9:43 - 13:47]  Tough Mudder: For the love of strangers

[13:48 - 16:29]  La Misión Surf Trip: Setting Clear Intentions

[16:30 -22:54]  Kookcast: The ultimate beginner tool belt

Quotes by Celia:

“The first Muay Thai class I did was an hour and a half. At the end of it, I didn't know if I was going to cry or throw up because it was such an intense workout and I was really hooked!”

“In Tough Mudder, we intentionally build obstacles where you would have to work together to complete them. There's something really powerful when you're doing it for a stranger. You reach out a hand and a stranger just grabs it and helps you over. There's no questions asked, like, who are you? What do you need? It’s just I see you and I help you.”

“I don't want to look back on my life and say I didn't do this thing because I was afraid. I think recognizing that fear has a purpose. It's to protect you and our bodies don't always recognize what is a real fear versus a perceived fear. Don't let it hold you back. Life's too short.”

Get in touch with Celia

• Instagram celia2001spaceodessey

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster

In this episode with Steve Lang, we discuss how his 30 years of work in law enforcement has profoundly changed how he sees the world, why he had to reinvent himself after retirement, how he learned to surf at 62, his commitment to yoga practice, surfing between the winter storms and how to surf like your 14 again. Steve is living proof that with perseverance and play, you can reinvent yourself at any stage of life.

Highlights:
[00:00] 30 Years of Work in Law Enforcement
[11:37] Surf Patrol
[12:59] Surfing Between Winter Storms
[18:50] Learning to Surf at 62
[24:12] Reinvent Yourself at Any Age

Quotes by Steve:
"Watch these kids and how they become instant friends with the water. When it's careening off the rocks, they'll take the softies and catch the waves going out. And boom, hit the wave coming in and launch themselves up in the air. You should do that! It is more fun than you can imagine. Instead, as we all do, get in a panic and try to get through the next wave. Don't do that. Just stay inside and let it pound you for a little bit. What that does is it teaches you that it's not that big a deal."

“Stay in shape, do yoga, be flexible. Don't get all nutted up, relax, and have fun with it. Be goofy. Be a goofball. You'll see people out there and they're all stiff and they're worried and they surf like hell. They're like wood. Relax. It's only water. Leave your ego on the beach.”

“When I started surfing, I thought, what do I want to do with the rest of my life? Well, when were you the most happy? What were you doing? I was hanging out at the beach. I grew up in Malibu. I didn't surf, but I grew up there, so that's what I did. And you can do that in any age. They say you can't go back. You can go back.”

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster

In this episode with Stephen Back we discuss his drumming for the Suede Denim Secret Police, facing addiction with presence, staying motivated to surf in winter, embracing your inner kook, and surfing naked. Steven bares it all with warmth and a good dose of humor.

Highlights:
[00:00] Drumming for the Suede Denim Secret Police
[2:54] Facing addiction with presence
[6:50] Drumming and surfing
[11:38] Staying motivated to surf in winter
[15:43] Embracing your inner kook
[19:45] Surfing naked


Quotes by Stephen:
"I would say that surfing is going to the gym, going to church. going to the bar and happy hour with your friends and going to see the shrink all wrapped into one little session. You gotta understand that it's meant to be all of those things wrapped into one."

"Drumming has been a really good therapy for me. I think people who generally drink too much, do a lot of other things in excess, whether it's social media or whatever. We're characters that go out of control with a lot of different things. It's been a true blessing to get back into it."

"The secret to being a happy kook is that you're gonna have a kook moment every single session. There's not a day where you don't do something stupid, but it's all in the attitude."

Get in touch with Stephen

• Instagram @stephen.back.7
• The band Suede Denim Secret Police

Mentioned:

• Sex Pissed Dolls

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster

In this episode with Heather Moreau we discuss her adventures with shooting international destination weddings, becoming the master of your own time as an entrepreneur, putting systems in place to get your trail running, backpacking, surfing, snowboarding, and yoga in, and weaving a family culture in the great outdoors. Come with me as we delve into Heather’s rich and meaningful life.

Highlights:
[00:00] Life as a professional photographer and entrepreneur
[12:27] Fine art photography
[13:29] Doing it all
[15:26] Motherhood and surfing
[17:18] A passion for longboarding
[17:56] Numb chins and hands: surfing in December
[21:35] Creating systems for success
[22:52] Her history of surfing
[27:04] Creating a family culture of surfing

Quotes by Heather:
"It takes a lot of deep thought and planning about what you want out of life and what’s important to you. What are your values and where do you want to spend your time? Because it’s so easy for time to just be frittered away with things that aren’t necessarily important to you. So, taking the time to think, what are my values, what are the things that make me thrive? What are the things that make me so happy and just trying to fit them all in."

"We have two boys. We want to introduce them to surfing because we think it's such a beautiful thing in the world. If you learn to surf young enough it becomes something that you can go do anytime. It's an escape. It's a built-in community. It's connecting with nature. It's having respect for the ocean. It's noticing the patterns in nature, through the seasons of winter and summer. I want my kids to have that. I want them to deeply understand that."

"I decided, this is it. I don't want to go to an office every day. I wanna work for myself. I want to be my own boss. I want to achieve and accomplish all of the types of photography that I've always loved."

Get in touch with Heather

• Vallentyne Photography
• Heather's Fine Art Photography
• Instagram @vallentynephotography

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster

In this week’s episode with Bamboo Bob we discuss the wide diversity and uniqueness of his nursery Pura Vida Tropicals, how he builds soil with local resources, how awareness is everything when learning to surf and learning to live well, his karma initiator, swimming with aliens and his 60 year history of surfing. You don’t want to miss this one, Bamboo Bob’s enthusiasm is electrifying!

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] A sample of the plants and edibles at Pura Vida Nursery
[06:45] Building soil
[13:48] Awareness is everything: Our surf session,
[16:07] His karma initiator and swimming with aliens,
[23:05] Sweet spots like Oceanside
[31:07] 60 years of surfing history
[33:52] Tracing a familial line

Quotes from Bob:
"Nature's phenomenal. I just love collecting everything. As you can see here, I haven't stopped yet and I'm 75 years old and I continue to put seeds in the ground, even though I know I'm not gonna be able to live long enough to accept its shade. I've had couples that come over here and brought their kids, and then I get a phone call later from the parents. "Hey, my son wishes you were his grandpa, so he could learn lessons." They come back and have started their own little gardens. I hope I'm doing good and that's the inspiration that I like to try giving."

"You gotta have releases where you can get out of that rat race of working and what have you. Find time for yourself and getting yourself centered. That's what surfing does. You have to have more of it, and then you find that euphoria."

"There's a lot of more life than what we think we know all the time. We’re like a horse with blinders, take those blinders off and inundate yourself with stuff and really find out what you want to do."

Get in touch with Bamboo Bob

• Pura Vida Tropicals Nursery

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster

Photo of Bamboo Bob by permission by Santos Sal Garcia of Global Photo USA

This week’s podcast is a special one to my heart because I interview my surf pal, the one who has consistently met me about once a week to surf together for the past year. We talk about the importance of a surf pal for commitment, enthusiasm, surfing year round, being the witness to one another’s growth, exploring new locations together, boogie boarding, running, motherhood, and finding liberation in your 50s to get your tomboy on. Emily is lighthearted, honest and you will wish she was your surf pal too!

Episode Highlights:
[00:00] Why you need a surf pal
[03:11] How to surf year round
[05:00] Surfing different breaks
[08:07] Being the Witness
[09:27] Remembering your boogie
[12:30] Running for mind over matter
[17:29] Getting your tomboy on

Quotes from Emily:
" It was such a flash that came flooding back of a memory. I had an orange boogie board, and I'd go out there with my little bathing suit, maybe it matched. I would just go out with the kelp and it was freezing cold. I did not care. The ocean would just hold me. 

"Don't forget you're that Emily still who loves to have fun,  you're still easygoing and light and it's okay to be silly even though you're a mom now. It’s okay to let go a little bit."

"I love that I'm doing this because it feels so good to my body. My body is responding. I'm old enough to know what that feels like now. I don't know if I would have known that, 10 years ago, but I've come this far and I'm so grateful. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Get in touch with Emily

• Instagram @emiliamaria13

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster

In this week’s episode with Riley Owens, we talk about surfing with women, her top rules for surf etiquette, how a lifetime of sports led her to pick up surfing as an adult, living in a trailer and living frugally to gain 5 months of freedom every year, and her love of mentoring the next generation of women surfers. Riley sheds grace on all of these subjects.

Highlights:

00:00] Surfing with women
[03:53] Her top rules of surf etiquette
[20:00] A diverse sports skill set
[20:41] Learning to surf as an adult
[25:48] Living in a trailer frugally for 5 months of freedom
[29:24] Mentoring the next generation of women surfers

Quotes by Rylee:
“I see these young girls in the water and I think they're so cool and love that they're charging and kind of sticking it to the man, because surfing is such a male dominated sport. I love when all the girls paddle out. I see them in that world surfing. And then I'm like oh my gosh, they send it on all these crazy waves and they love surfing hard. What would they be if we went backpacking or rock climbing or snowboarding? Giving them those first experiences has been so fun for me.”

“I would just take my board and sit in the car and watch people for 30 minutes; how they put their wetsuits on, where they're paddling out, how they're standing up on a wave. I got humbled a lot and surfing still humbles me. It's definitely the hardest thing I've ever learned how to do, and it's constantly changing, which I think is what I'm drawn to. It's kind of addicting to be in such a fast shifting sport. You're trying to catch a moving wave in the ocean. It's really difficult. It's thrilling. It's awesome, but also very frustrating. I've been doing this every day for eight years. You'd think I'd be a pro by now. There's days you feel I've got it, and there's days where you're like, have I even surfed?”

Get in touch with Rylee

• Instagram @ryleowens

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster

In this episode with Jeff Kraus, we discuss how he fixes and builds everything himself, his mini museum garage of old stuff, why he tells his kids to go for the scary waves, his move to a short board at age 40, and how his entrepreneurial work ethic has inspired his daughters. If you have any doubts about what you can learn and achieve, I promise that Jeff will encourage you to at least give it a try.

Highlights:
[00:00] Fixing and building everything yourself
[07:05] A garage as a mini museum of old stuff
[13:12] Go for the scary ones
[16:11] Moving to a shortboard at age 40
[21:20] A unique love story
[23:39] Doll Riot
[24:53] A budding entrepreneur

Quotes from Jeff:
"Anything breaks in my house. The dishwasher breaks. I go on YouTube. It's making this weird noise. How do I fix it? And sometimes it doesn't work and it ends up costing me more money and time. But for the most part, it works. It's not about trying to save money. I mean, it is a little bit but, the main thing is it just feels good to be able to fix something that you know nothing about."

"It’s good to get outta your comfort zone, or else you're never gonna get any better. I tell my kids when we go out, I'm like, go for the scary one. If one's coming and you're scared of it, go for it. It’s very rare that you're gonna die from this wave. You'll be fine. And it could be the wave of your life cuz the ones you're scared of are gonna be the good ones."

"I will go to longboards eventually. I did it backwards. Most people start with the shortboard when you're younger. When I was 14, I rode a longboard. Most kids that age, they have little tiny boards. And then as you get older you kind of slow down and you get the longer board. I got my shortboard when I was 40."

Get in touch with Jeff

• Instagram jeffkraus40
• Doll Riot doll_riot

More about Christine Foerster

• christinefoerster.com
• Instagram @christinefoerster