Never Give Up On Your Dreams

Looking forward to more water time!

Is there something that you always wanted, but didn’t think you could have? After my injury, I lost all hope in my bodyboarding dreams.  However, there is a famous quote, “second chances come when you least expect them.” Well, I believe my second chance just might have come.

Official Poster by BZ and Churchill

As I grew up in my bodyboarding world, there was one rider that I ALWAYS looked up to and wanted to be like; that rider is Jeff Hubbard.  I still remember the first time I actually met him.  I was 15 years old and drove down south to Dana Point, California to get his autograph at a shop promo for Alternative Surf.  My friends and I packed into our friend’s mom’s mini van to make the drive together.  We were all excited to meet our hero.  Jeff represented a board brand called BZ bodyboards.  Every poster in my bathroom and my room was of Jeff Hubbard doing crazy airs all around the world.  He was my hero at the time, and I wanted everything he had.  The vision of BZ was burned into my mind.  My dream was to one day have BZ as my sponsor and be on the same team as Jeff Hubbard.  I fell in love with the board shape that Jeff rode.  What was cool is that when I signed with Wave Rebel bodyboards at 18years old, they allowed to have all my custom-made boards like the HUBB model.  I rode for this board company for 7 years, and had the best relationship with them.  Wave Rebel stuck with me while I got my education and throughout my injury.  I am forever grateful to Mike and the 360inc crew.  Nevertheless, when I was approached by my dream sponsor, things started to change..

Filming for a new edit for August Frame Grab by My GF Vanessa

BZ pro boards and Churchill got a new marketing and team manager whose vision aligned very similar to mine.  When he got the job, he reached out to me and hooked me up with their boards and fins right away.  It took two months of negotiating a contract where we were able to find a balance that allows me to focus on building my business and do what I love which is BODYBOARDING.  I mean you can’t be all business all the time; you need some balance and fun...right.  :)  Now I am locked in for a year of fun, traveling, magazine and video trips, surfing sick waves when I can, and getting to follow my passion in the water while building a business.  GREAT COMBO!

Out with the old boards.

If there is something that you really want to do:  compete in a contest, run a marathon, go on a surf trip, start a business, travel.  Whatever it may be, I say, “Go for it!”  Create a plan, have a deadline, work at it everyday, and make it happen. You only have one life, so go big and have fun!  Better your best!

Shot by Jeremy Philips