Road Trip, Surf, and a Humbling Lesson

In my last blog post, I talked about going back to my roots and how surfing has always been the one thing that’s stayed with me through every chapter of my life. I ended that post with the words “Just have fun, Arun,” the same words Bob and Mike told me before my very first surf contest as a kid. A week later, those same words would end up echoing in my mind again as Kelly and I packed up the van and drove down to San Diego for a trip that ended up being good for my soul in more ways than one.

Kelly and I hit the road early and took our time heading south. No rushing. No stress. Just music, snacks, long conversations, and that familiar feeling of freedom you only get when the road is open and you’ve left all the noise behind. We both said it more than once… San Diego just feels like home for us. The vibe, the lifestyle, the slower pace, the connection to the ocean. Everything about it fits who we are.

When we arrived, we were so stoked to meet up with Kelly’s family, Ricky, Nova, their son Elisha, and their daughter Shiloh, who’s only 13 and already making a name for herself in the surf world. She’s a ripper. Watching her surf and being able to paddle out with her before the contest was special for me. Her excitement, her energy, her pure love for surfing brought me right back to when I was her age. That spark she has… I felt that same spark all those years ago.

Kelly and I always talk about how different kids in San Diego seem. More connected to the outdoors. More tuned in to the ocean. At the contest we saw kids talking, laughing, running in and out of the water, surfing, playing, just being kids, and the parents were right there with them, actually present. It was rare to see anyone staring at a phone. The whole atmosphere, the ocean, the camaraderie, the energy, felt refreshing. It felt beautiful.

Then came the contest.

I entered the Legends Division for fifty and older. Even saying that still makes me smile. Legends. That’s a big word. I don’t think of myself that way, but I was excited to challenge myself again.

My first heat went great. I got first place and went straight to the finals. I didn’t have to surf the next heat because of that win, and I’ll admit, it felt good. Not in a bragging way, but more like a quiet, internal nod, like yeah, I can still do this at fifty.

Then the finals came. And the ocean had a different plan for me.

We were out of sync from the moment I paddled out. The rhythm wasn’t there. Every decision felt one second too late. I went from first place in my first heat to sixth place in the final. Talk about being humbled.

Yeah, I was bummed. Anyone would be. But it didn’t take long for the disappointment to fade. Because that final placing doesn’t define my surfing, and it definitely doesn’t define me. In the finals, everyone is pretty close in skill level. It mostly comes down to who gets the waves and who gets lucky. Except for our friend Rick Takahashi, he’s on another level. But besides him, it was a pretty even field.

What the ocean reminded me of that day is simple. We’re never in control. We can prepare, show up, do the work, and still end up with whatever the ocean decides to give. That’s what makes surfing so addictive and so humbling.

But even more than the contest, I’m just grateful I challenged myself. I stepped back into something that used to be a huge part of my life. I took the risk. I showed up. And I’m proud of that. I’m going to do it again. Not for a trophy, but because it feels good to push myself and grow. And because being surrounded by good people and the ocean makes everything better.

That trip to San Diego reminded me of something important. Life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it to. Some days you win. Some days you get humbled hard. But when you slow down enough to look around at the ocean, at the people you love, at kids laughing and splashing in the water, at your partner smiling on the beach, you realize those are the moments that matter. Those are the moments that feel like home.

And as beautiful as the whole trip was, a part of me kept thinking about my own kids and how much having them there would’ve added to everything. Watching the younger kids down there brought me back to when my kids were little, and I imagined how special it would’ve been to share that moment with them, the energy, the ocean, the simplicity, the sense of community. It would’ve made an already meaningful trip even more special.

But even with that, I left feeling grateful. That trip reminded me that I’m still on the right path. Home isn’t always a place. Sometimes it’s a feeling. Peace. Simplicity. Doing what you love with the people you love. Surfing, laughing, road trips, sunsets, and little reminders from the God that say, “Hey, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”