Young: The strength that she showed through her struggle was the most inspirational thing I’ve ever seen from anyone. Lookout: But the time you got to spend with your mom must’ve been invaluable. But, not being away and competing, I just definitely missed it. And without surfing going on, it was like I was supposed to be here. (Because of the COVID break for the WSL), I was able to be here with my mom through all of it. Young: I really realized how much I love what I do. Lookout: To be able to go through what you were going through in 2021, your mom passing away, your daughter being born and then still re-qualifying … what an amazing accomplishment. It was hard to travel and take off for these events for a few weeks at a time with my mom living here by herself. Young: Yeah, if my life was perfect outside the water and the worst thing in my life was that I was losing heats, I’m sure I could’ve come back quickly.
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Lookout: Well, your mind had plenty of heavy stuff on it while trying to be a pro surfer while watching your mom battle cancer. And, after Hawaii, I felt so much more in the moment and like my mind isn’t like somewhere else while I’m surfing.
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I read a couple books about how to be more present and all that stuff. My friend Shaun Burns is pretty big into meditation. Young: Yeah, it helps you figure out what to try to control and the things you have no control over. It sounds like you’ve found an important piece of the puzzle. Lookout: There is a lot outside your control in a surf contest. It puts you more in a state of, ‘If a wave comes, it comes. I feel so much more in the moment and not like my mind is somewhere else while I’m surfing. So I’ve continuously kept meditating every day since. Even though I fell short, I still felt really good and clear-headed. I actually felt really good, ended up surfing well. It was the end of the season, I was close to qualifying. Young: I started meditating a lot two seasons ago in Hawaii. Lookout: So what was the gamechanger for you? But she’s like ‘It looks like you’ve lost all your confidence.’ And that’s what it comes down to, being confident in your decision-making, just reacting off instinct. And I don’t think she could pinpoint why. Young: She thought I didn’t look like I was very confident in myself anymore during heats. Lookout: What was your mom’s advice as she saw this happening? So I was kind of like, ‘OK, maybe I’m overthinking everything now.’ I started questioning things I didn’t need to be questioning. And I did have some success with it, but then I fell off tour. It’s funny because the year I fell off tour, I started seeing a sports psychologist. Young: Yeah it was like I really needed to just go out there and do it by instinct. Lookout: There’s a fine line between being a thinker and an overthinker. I’ve been surfing heats since I was 12 years old. I was overthinking things and not letting it come naturally. But, it was sometimes a matter of just needing to get out of my own way. I’ve always known my surfing was good enough to compete for a win in every contest. I’ve learned a lot over the course of my career. Young: Coming on tour, and having success was definitely a confidence booster, being able to compete with the top guys. Lookout: You were WSL Rookie of the Year in 2013 and made three finals your first two seasons, so I guess those memories stuck with you. If I didn’t know that I belonged on tour, or that I was capable of competing with the best, it probably would’ve been different. Nat Young: I always believed that I would be back on tour because I believe in my ability to compete at that level. Lookout: What do you think the difference has been for you in this comeback?
This interview was edited for clarity and brevity.
So here’s a look behind the curtain at the man behind the comeback and what has driven it. With the feel of better luck in the air, it’s an exciting time to tune into Nat’s comeback. “I think Nat’s due for a big result at J-Bay,” says Burns, boldly adding that Young could find himself in the finals against South Africa’s favorite son, Jordy Smith. “Man, when you’re on a a wave out there, it’s pretty special,” he told fellow Santa Cruzan and WSL commentator Peter Mel afterward. 1 and two-time J-Bay champion Filipe Toledo in spectacular fashion. Nat Young kicked off action in Heat 4 of Round 1 with his self-proclaimed best performance ever at J-Bay.West Coast time last night and should be similar the next two days. They are nine hours ahead on the East Cape of South Africa so first-round action began at about 1 a.m.The contest kicked off Wednesday in perfect conditions with a building south swell that is expected to peak in the 10-12 foot range on Thursday for elimination-round men’s action and the women’s quarterfinals.How to watch the action live from Jeffreys Bay
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