Getting back on board, as a pro

Strangely enough, my home sounds even more quiet than normal. It’s as if time is standing still on a cold clear night with the stars out in a full array.

In this moment, I feel lonely and everything seems so very surreal to me and I can’t help but wonder what the next 12 months of my life are going to be like.

Nearly three years to the day after my last stint with OP, Ocean Pacific surf wear, burned like a blimp and crashed to earth, I have agreed to the terms of a one-year deal with them.

I’m back.

Yet again I’ll be surfing and being paid for it, almost as if the last three years never happened -- years in which I started a successful surfing school (Aloha School of Surfing) but did not collect a monthly check for surfing professionally from a sponsor for the first time in over 13 years.

Now, once again, that has all changed.

Even at the roughest of times in the transitional phase of my surfing career, from professional surfer to surf instructor, I always knew I would get one last chance.

If it was Vince Lombardi who said that it doesn’t matter if you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up, then I am one of many who epitomizes that telling statement.

Once again my dream is alive and well.

I cracked a little grin just thinking that at 35 years old, I still do not have to get a conventional job.

My dad will love that.

Just the thought of being able to continue to enjoy the path that I have chosen, of living this surfing lifestyle, is still special enough to make my fingertips tingle.

Even better is that part of this new deal will see me further developing the OP environmental awareness program through my surfing, travel and the all-mighty power of writing -- along with my support of local environmental issues.

Sleep will come easy tonight; the thought of having one last chance will make it even easier.

One last chance? No, this is one last hurrah -- better yet, maybe a new beginning.

Peace.

* James Pribram is a Laguna Beach native, board member of Clean Water Now and founder of the Aloha School of Surfing. He can be reached at jamo@alohaschoolofsurfing.com.

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