Wooden Passions

The local Star News here in Wilmington just published a really awesome article today about ...well... me. Brian Tucker, of the former Bootleg Magazine, interviewed me a few weeks ago and then I met up with one of their staff photographers at Wrightsville Beach a week or so later. From the very front page, to the main section, to the web version the title implies that I live both of my passions, which is completely and unabashedly true. I neither take this fact for granted, nor do I fail to recognize how a life such is mine is carved by hands completely outside of myself. I am convinced that it is not without the constant support of family friends faith and community that one can live a life such as this. Honesty, accountability, apologies, constant self reflection, aspiration, discipline, successes and failures are all parts of the equation but I also find it important to try as hard as you can to not be a jerk, which I've done many times in my life unfortunately, don't panic, and never leave home without your towel. But never mind that...I'm getting off track...

Everyone, from my all 4 of parents, to my wife Jada and sister Danielle, to my employer Rick Civelli and the WB Surf Camp family, to my friends like Matt Scheier, Russell Brownley, Josh Eddings, Luke Pearson, Evan Vetter, Josh Garrels, Bonnie Monteleone, Richard Prause, Julian Kehaya, Tommy Mann and Joey Connolly (just to name a few) give me the opportunities and everloving support to be able to do these things. So from my little sub-atomic particle of cyberspace, I just wanted to say thank you to them because I feel like this article and this story is just as much about them as it is about me.

I'm blessed, I'm stoked, and in my 30th year of life I think I'm at a place where I can recognize and appreciate that fact more than the actual article itself. But thank you, Brian, for the opportunity and hopefully there will be more to come.

www.starnewsonline.com