"I want to compete on the WSL and win a World Title."

"I want to win an X Games Gold Medal."

"I want to compete in the Olympics."

But what if you really don't? 

Many young action sports athletes have big dreams (which we love) of winning major events just like the pro's they look up to. 

But what if along the journey of pursuing these childhood dreams they have a change of heart about which destination they want to end up at?

We LOVE it when this happens. 

Being open to how the journey can unfold it so important as an athlete (and as the parent of one!).

Sure, maybe the competition path is made for you and that is your destiny to go down in the books as one of the most winningest athletes in your sport. Congratulations, that is amazing.

And maybe, after spending years putting on the bib or jersey you realize that the competition path is not as fulfilling as you thought it would be.  Whether it is feelings of dread, fear, lack of passion or motivation, in your gut you are just not feeling excited about it anymore.  But you stay the course because you feel that you will lose sponsors, or support if you change direction. 

Sure there is a difference between falling out of love with something from time to time and finding your passion for it again, and then there is discovering another path within your sport that truly ignites your passion and motivation. 

When Professional Big Wave Surfer Ian Walsh joined us as a guest speaker in the Sports Management Mastermind Intensive he shared a similar story.  For years Ian was competing on the WQS aiming to earn a spot to compete on the World Championship Tour (now the WSL). He was following the typical path of professional surfers until one day he had the opportunity to surf big waves. 

Ian quickly discovered that surfing big waves gave him the same if not better feeling than surfing heats on tour and made the decision to change his path as a surfer and focus solely on honing his craft as a big wave surfer.  Today Ian is one the most accomplished and revered big wave surfers in the game. 

Rob Machado recently shared his story with the members of the Sports Management Mastermind Intensive about how he was sponsored by Op who wanted Rob to focus on winning a World Title in Surfing. They placed the highest value on competition surfers and his contract was structured around winning events. 

It wasn't until Rob's contract was up with Op and he was entertaining switching sponsors that he discovered he could be supported by a brand, Hurley, who just wanted him to do what he wanted to do, be a free surfer who went on boat trips, filmed video parts, and allowed him to be his truest self as a soul surfer. 

In order to know what you truly want to do or evolve into doing, athletes need to explore other aspects of their sports.  As well as be open to that there is not one road to success, happiness, and fulfillment as a athlete. 

Being open to how the journey can unfold is key and not keeping such a tight grip on how success is defined is also so important. 

Know that is ok to change your path in sports, to evolve from where you started, and to pursue what truly lights you up as an athlete. 

Because when you are doing what you TRULY love as an athlete and individual, that is when pure magic happens. 

Author: Sue Izzo