interviews RSS

One of the great job benefits of working at gabbyandlaird.com is being able to routinely train with Laird and his Malibu mob, as well as periodically tag along for some good adventures. Over the past few years I have experience a couple of big adrenaline rushes, including following Laird off a major cliff while heli-snowboarding in Canada, paddleboarding with Laird in Hanalei Bay, and recently getting to catch a ride on the maxi-trifoiler Hydroptere while Laird foilboarded behind it, and that’s just to name a few of the perks. However, if you hang out with Laird long enough, you are...

When I accepted the invitation from Captain Jacques Vincent to go for a sail on the experimental multihull hydrofoil and speed-sailing world record holder Hydroptere, I didn’t fully realize the experience I had signed up for, but it was an epic adventure I will never forget. For those of you unfamiliar with the sport of speed sailing, Hydroptere is a one of a kind, ultra-extreme trimaran, that doesn’t ride on the water but fly’s above it on 3 giant hydrofoils. Just the kind of yacht you would expect to attract foil-boarding expert Laird Hamilton. Extreme Athletes Attract Each Other  This...

Mind & Body Master the art of standing entirely on golf balls. Train to tolerate pain and you’ll become a better athlete. by Laird Hamilton The reason the saying “No pain, no gain” is so common is because it’s true: If you never feel discomfort when you exercise, you’re not getting all the benefits. What separates great athletes from mediocre ones isn’t only talent and training — it’s also how well they can handle discomfort. When I’ve helped out-of-shape friends get back into shape, the first thing we do is get them more accustomed to struggle. You train hard, which...

Laird Hamilton believes breathing deeply and exhaling consciously will improve your sense of well-being. Whether you’re surfing, climbing, or skiing, deep breathing calms your body and readies your muscles for movement. by Laird Hamilton People don’t think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one — even though it’s our main source of life and energy. When I started focusing on my breathing, I became a stronger athlete and was better able to control my levels of effort and pain. One of the best ways to become more conscious of your...

With his debut column, the big-wave surfer wants you to do the opposite of everything gym rats tell you. by Laird Hamilton I’ve been hanging upside down a lot lately. Nothing decompresses me more or has a better overall positive effect than that. It stretches and elongates my spine, gets blood flowing to my head, and takes pressure off my organs. Being upside down is the ultimate counter balance to the repetitive motions we do in our vertical lives — walking, standing, paddle-boarding, sitting upright. There’s a saying among yogis that a man who can stand on his head 20...