Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

Big Wave Surfer Nic Lamb on Training For Risk, Making Choices, The Ocean

Dec 14, 2016

Nic Lamb, Mavericks winner and Santa Cruz big-wave pro, shares his lifelong obsession with the ocean and how he trains body and mind for extreme conditions. He talks about making split-second go/no-go choices, breath-holding through wipeouts, daily mindfulness and visualization, the costs of pursuing mastery, and how preparation and progressive testing make risk possible.

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INSIGHT

Risk Is Losing Authentic Clarity

Michael Gervais frames rugged environments as a laboratory for clarity under threat, not just physical risk.
He suggests the real risk is losing authenticity and conviction, not the physical danger itself.

ADVICE

Prepare Daily To Capitalize On Opportunity

Nic emphasizes daily practices: meditation, visualization, journaling, and optimism exercises to prepare mentally.
He pairs mental prep with fundamentals: sleep, nutrition, and tailored physical training to capitalize on opportunities.

ANECDOTE

Mavericks: The Scariest Playground

Nic Lamb describes Mavericks as "Niagara Falls meets Mount Everest" and says a wipeout leaves you alone underwater under massive water pressure.
He calls it the scariest place on earth but also his playground for testing limits and progression.

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Nic Lamb surfs very large waves. He’s a professional surfer on the Big Wave Tour, and was ranked number 4 in the world last year. A native to the Santa Cruz area in California, Nic is no stranger to a wave called Mavericks. It’s legendary for how heavy the conditions are. At 14 years old, Nic Lamb became one of the youngest surfers to ever charge Mavericks and was one of the youngest competitors in the event in 2014. He won the Mavericks contest in 2016 — you need to take a look at this wave (see below). I wanted to interview Nic to better understand the concept of thinking clearly in rugged environments. We all have real or perceived threats — we can learn from those who excel, on the world stage, in conditions that are very dangerous. More importantly I hope people take away a new way of thinking about risk — maybe a new– way to re-design risk-taking; it’s not about physical risk (which could be a mistake for those who didn’t tune in because they’re not sure how to learn from surfing) — the real risk is to have the clarity and conviction to stand for something that you love, that you believe in — and this conversation get’s into ways to train your mind, body and craft to excel when risk is required – (recovery, imagery, mindfulness) — and — this conversation is a solid a reminder to be in nature, and to progressively prepare and test yourself as often as you can. Nic is intense, thoughtful, and is charging toward his passions and goals. It’s a fun time to know Nic and watch him push his craft to limits, and the industry.

In This Episode:

• What’s it’s like to surf Mavericks

• Learning how to act from those who came before him • Why he loves and fears the ocean

• What happens when he’s trapped under a wave • What drives him to crave victory • Managing relationships with limited time

• Implementing a daily mindfulness practice

• The importance he places on strength, conditioning, and recovery

• Why preparation is key to risk taking

• Finding something to obsess over as a starting point for mastery

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