Confessions of a kitesurfing procrastinator
The hardest part is getting started. The second hardest part is leveling up.
I love kitesurfing. I really do. The wind, the water, the feeling of freedom—it’s what keeps me coming back. And yet, for some reason, I often find myself sitting at home, staring at the wind forecast, coming up with the most ridiculous reasons why I probably shouldn’t go.
The wind might be too gusty.
My legs are a bit sore from yesterday.
It’s a 10-minute drive, ugh.
What if it’s crowded?
I should probably do something productive instead (like watching kitesurfing videos on YouTube).
Sound familiar? Welcome to the club.
And even if I do make it to the water, the second challenge kicks in: actually getting better. Even when I set goals for a session, I somehow manage to stay in my comfort zone, probably not trying as much as I planned. Ugh, why are we like this?
The mental battle before the session
I don’t know what it is about kitesurfing, but sometimes, the hardest part is just getting myself to go. It’s not like I don’t want to kite—heck, I built my whole life around it! But when it’s time to grab my gear and head out, my brain suddenly turns into a master negotiator, convincing me that staying home is the better option.
It’s almost like going to the gym. The hardest part isn’t the workout itself—it’s putting on your shoes and stepping out the door. And just like the gym, once I’m out there, I never regret it.
The post-session reality check
Here’s how it usually goes:
I finally convince myself to go.
I pump up my kite, still slightly grumpy about my own existence.
I get on the water.
I have an amazing time.
I actually try new things and make progress.
I wonder why I even hesitated in the first place.
I promise myself I won’t overthink it next time (spoiler: I always do).
The battle of progression
After finally getting myself out there, the second struggle hits: progression. I want to improve, but I also love my comfort zone where I know I won’t fail. Trying new tricks means crashing, looking ridiculous, and getting frustrated. It’s so much easier to just cruise around, enjoy the session, and tell myself, next time I’ll go for it (spoiler: I rarely do).
So why do we do this? Why do we hold ourselves back from what we actually want?
Fear of failure. No one likes to suck at something, and progression means eating water. A lot. Especially in front of the one person you really don’t want to see you wipe out.
Comfort is easy. Sticking to what I know means I don’t have to think too much or take risks.
Expectation vs. reality. In my head, I land that trick flawlessly. In reality? Faceplant city.
No clear goals. If I don’t have a specific goal, I can’t technically fail, right? Brilliant.
Breaking the cycle
So how do we outsmart our own lazy, excuse-making brains? A few strategies that (sometimes) work for me:
No thinking, just doing. The more I analyze, the more excuses I create. I try to treat it like brushing my teeth—just grab my gear and go. Same for new tricks: count down from 3 and just send it.
Set micro-goals. Instead of saying, “I’ll land a backroll today,” I tell myself, “I’ll attempt five.” Takes the pressure off. Also, if the wind is 17 knots or more, I have to check out the beach. No arguments.
Accountability buddies. If a friend is expecting me at the spot, it’s harder to back out. And if they see me chickening out, they’ll call me out on it. Peer pressure, but make it useful.
Remembering the post-session feeling. I always feel better after a session. That alone should be enough motivation.
Small wins. Even if I don’t feel like it, I tell myself I’ll just go and check it out. Once I’m there, I might as well kite, right? And hey, if I wipe out, at least I tried. The more I fail, the closer I get to succeeding.
Remember past wins. I used to be scared of transitions. Now I do them without thinking. Progress does happen, just slower than I want. Like that one session last week when I thought the wind was too light and still had an epic time? Exactly.
Soooo…
At the end of the day, kitesurfing is about fun, freedom, challenge, and growth. Getting started is hard. Pushing myself is even harder. But every time I actually do it? It’s worth it. And that’s what keeps me coming back for more.
So next time I start making excuses, I’ll try to remember: the hardest part is just getting started. And the second hardest part? Actually progressing. But that’s a battle I’m determined to win.
That said… it’s easier said than done. I’m getting better at it, but I still have my lovely moments where I completely shoot myself in the foot.
Ah well, at least I can laugh about it.
xox Berit