JC: You were always super competitive when you were on tour, what have you done to replace that element in your life?
RN: It’s tough! Business helps a bit because it is very, very challenging on many levels that are similar. There is a lot of pressure. There is a competitive side to that and also the finance side. You are risking millions of dollars and that is kind of like going to a race and not wanting to lose. Maybe even worse pressure. Competition is one aspect of my life that I miss. Transitioning out of windsurfing was easy, because I slowed down and started doing the kiting and competing at that. I kind of dragged it all on for a long time. Now I am to the point where I am not doing anything. I would not say I feel castrated, but there is a certain level of aggression and wanting to conquer that isn’t there that I miss. There is no way to really replace it. I don’t want to start competing for fun in some other thing because when you are not good at something it is not as satisfying as when you are good at something and competing at a high level. It is not just competing I miss, it is competing at that absolute live or die level! I still push myself when I am out there riding. Riding with the guys at Ho’okipa is a big part of it. In my head I am still a pro, I am still trying to push hard and hit the lip hard, jump as big as I can. I am not completely stripped of it, as if I had a desk job and I am pushing my sailing harder now that I think I was a year ago.
There was a while where I think I was not riding that well even. Partly because I had an injury in my shoulder and my whole left side was screwed up. I have arthritis in my shoulder, I have kind of worn myself out, and it got to the point where I was having a hard time sailing. This last year I was on Oahu while my wife Katie was dealing with Cancer, it gave me a chance to really heal everything up. Now I am back to be able to hit the lip a lot harder. I had a bottom turn at Jaws two winters ago where in the middle of the turn my front hand just let go. There I was at the bottom of a double mast high wave and I had to let go with my front hand because it would not hold on.
Nerves were not firing properly, stuff like that makes you shake your head and is a big reality check. Luckily it is pretty much back to 100%. I am feeling really good and having a lot of fun on the water. When it stops being fun because you know you are not riding that well, really sucks.