Finding a lost love in San Sebastian
Have you ever been travelling and re-discovered a love for something that you hadn’t realised you had lost? Something that you had been so passionate about that you would do anything to get your next fix?
Growing up my life was all about surfing.
Every day after school I would beg my parents to drive me to the local beach for a wave. Once I had my own car all my spare time was spent along the coast.
My vocabulary actually consisted of very little apart from surfing terms. Sick, gnarly and stoked punctuated every sentence. Posters glittered on my bedroom walls and my hero’s were Patrick O’Connell and Robert “Wingnut” Weaver from the movie The Endless Summer II.
Unfortunately as with most things in life other priorities began to take over. I moved away from the beach for University, pursued other sports and started travelling. My passion for surfing slowly dwindled to the occasional chance when I would grab my board to re-spark that fire for a day or two.
For three years we have been travelling the world and in that time I have probably surfed no more than 10 days in total.
Until now. Over the last week we have been staying at the Stoke Travel San Sebastian Surf Camp in the northwest of Spain. It has been here that I have rediscovered that lost love.
Adela surfing in San Sebastian
Every day since we arrived I have been pursuing that perfect wave that every surfer seeks.
I have been pursuing the feelings that only a surfer can understand. No other sports, adventures or activities can come close to producing the feelings that surfing can. Even if you are having the worst day in the world and then surfing will always relax and reinvigorated you.
There is just something about surfing that always makes me happy.
Sitting on my board gazing towards the horizon watching as the swell lines slowly pulse towards the shore. Each wave begins to take shape as the swell pushes against the sea floor bringing a rush of adrenaline into my muscles. Holding my breath as I flick the surfboard around and begin to paddle as the wave rises beneath me.
Springing to my feet I can feel the raw power of the sea as I glide down the waves face.
White water crashes behind my surfboard fins, spitting and sucking at me trying to pull me under. Even as I pull off the wave as it closes out around me I find a grin plastered across my face. It’s all I can do not to run up and down the beach skipping like a madman after each wave.
Rediscovering my passion for surfing over the last week has made me realise that I don’t want to lose this feeling. This is my vow to make sure I continue to travel for the things I love.
Have you recently re-discovered something that you used to love? Tell us below.
Disclaimer: Stoke Travel have been helping me re-discover that lost love at their San Sebastian Surf Camp. However, as always our thoughts are our own.
Category: Adventure Travel, Europe
We have been wearing out our jandals (Kiwi slang for flip-flops) on our travel adventures around the world since 2009. We love all types of adventures that make us step outside our comfort zone, in comfort, including surfing, skiing, snowboarding, diving and cruising on our bikes. You can find out more 
I haven’t recently rediscovered anything, but I too used to spend a lot of time in the sea, canoe surfing the reef waves on the island I grew up on. I also used to sail a lot, and not too long ago I had a blast learning to windsurf. I should try doing those again… I just need to find some tropical beaches as I’m not a fan of the cooler waters around here…
My brother is a huge surfing nut, but I have to admit I’ve never gotten into it
I’d like to try one day….stories like this give me motivation. But while I live near the beach (Cancun) there’s not much in the way of breaks for surfing here, so maybe in the next destination I head to!
Hiking, trekking and camping, on the other hand…that’s something I love sinking my teeth into
Give me a chance to head off into the wilderness for a couple of weeks and I’m there!
I tried surfing once and it was intense!! Granted, I was on the Oregon Coast… and even wearing a full wetsuit I still couldn’t feel my legs. I’d love to try it again in warmer water, and with a lesson or ten.
I’ve never surfed once in my entire life. However, I do understand. Growing up, I loved college football. It’s one of the MANY reasons I love Autumn. However, it only dawned on me last year to put my two greatest passions together – sports and travel. Last year, the College Football Travel Tour was born combining the world of sports AND travel. I only wish I had done this sooner.
I’m glad you rediscovered your passion for surfing. For me I think traveling just reminded me how much I love to travel. I went 8 years in my 20s without leaving the country, and when I finally decided to plan a trip to Greece I wondered what I had been waiting for. It snowballed from there, and now I can’t get enough.
I can see how surfing would stay in your blood (and water) for life.
For me, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with my love of having spare time
Turtle recently posted..Visiting the origin of the Olympics
We’re stoked for you, dude! Rad post!
Karen @ Trans-Americas Journey recently posted..100 Years of the Calgary Stampede – Calgary, Canada
I love surfing too, and it is easy to forget the love when you haven’t been on a board in a long time. something about the surge of the waves and the energy is so powerful!
jade recently posted..5 MORE Travel Bloggers Find #Love Abroad #expediafindyours
I am not that into surfing, but someone who is told me to Watch Endless Summer. Great film, but I suck at surfing
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Foto of the Week from … Tarija: Street Food
Never been surfing, but have a great respect for the sport and LOVE photographing surfers. So excited for you that you were able to reconnect with your long-lost love. i kind of feel the same way about playing music, which I haven’t done since I gave up performing improv last year. I definitely miss it.
Bret@ Green Global Travel recently posted..Top 5 Australia Ecotourism Destinations
We haven’t rediscovered things as much as discovered for the first time all the amazing things there are to see and do around the world. Neither of us has the nerve to get up on a surfboard, though. I’d like to keep that as a romantic vision watching others rather than a crashing, too much sea water up the nose personal experience
I love San Sebastian! The two beaches there are fantastic and the alleyways of the old town are fascinating.
Spencer recently posted..Ten Top Hotels in St Louis
Beautifully written, Cole – and awesome to hear you’ve rekindled a passion from your youth. Some day way into the future I plan on doing the same thing with Lego
Tom recently posted..Dutch Bicycles: Awesome Facts & Kick-Ass Photos
Awesome post! I recently taught some impromptu English classes at a village school in Thailand and they handed me a guitar to play some songs to help the teaching along. When I saw how much the kids loved the music element to their class, it brought back all my memories of teaching myself to play guitar years ago. Now I’m resolved to start playing again when I get back home – all thanks to those kids
That’s such a fantastic story Flora! So glad you are going to start playing music again. Really need to pick up a guitar one day and start learning as well.
Born and raised in Maui and I don’t surf! Blasphemy I know! One of these days I will concur my fears and get my ass on a board! Glad to see you rediscovered your love!
Aloha
Alexandra recently posted..iPhoneography Fun
That is blasphemy! Would love to surf in Hawaii but would have to be on a small day than some of the videos I have seen
Hi, It’s great that you like San Sebastian, as it will be The European Capital of Culture in 2016 as well as Wroclaw in Poland. See you in Wroclaw:)
greetings Michal:)
We will definitely visit you in Wroclaw in the near future Michal!
See you in Wroclaw:))
best regards
Michal
Wow nice article! Never surfed before but always wish I could…maybe one of these days I should! I found my lost love for dancing in Bali, I used to dance Balinese when I was a kid then stopped in high school. Being in Bali this summer made me realised how much I miss it!
Aggy recently posted..Poland: A Wedding, Popitka and Milky Bar
That is so cool that you re-found Balinese dance! Hope you find a way to keep doing it when you return home
We love windsurfing (not plain surfing) and recently found it during our adventures in Aruba. Love this post! Kudos to you for going with your passions…
Charu recently posted..Southern Belle: Western Kentucky University Museum Houses “Ordinary Objects” by Extraordinary Americans
I used to try wind surfing but was never that good. Always wanted to try kite surfing too! Something I need to follow up on
You describe your passion for surfing beautifully. While we’re not surfers, we do have a passion for water- ocean, lake, river. Being around water give us peace and rejuvenates us. Thanks for sharing your story of re-discovering a lost love
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..The Country of Jordan, the Middle East & Our Culture of Fear