Going through some old footage brought back an incredible memory, the day back in 2019 when I caught my very first wave. What’s wild is that surfing was never part of my world growing up. Being from Queens, the ocean wasn’t exactly in my daily routine. I admired it from a distance, but I never imagined I’d one day be out there actually riding a wave.
If you don’t know Will, he’s one of the most respected big-wave surfers in the world. He’s ridden giants in places most people only see in documentaries, Jaws, Nazaré, Mavericks and he brings that same level of passion to coaching and community work. Will isn’t just about chasing massive waves. He’s about lifting people up, welcoming newcomers into the water, and creating experiences that stick with you long after you’re back on land. After knowing him and working with his surf camp for about four or five years, he finally convinced me to give surfing a shot.
I figured I’d paddle out, fall a few times, have a few laughs, and call it a day. Instead, something unexpected happened. I got up on the board. I stood. I rode my very first wave all the way to the shore. Apparently, I wasn’t half bad for a first timer.
The footage also included an interview with Will and Nick Kosir at Fox Studios. Nick is a meteorologist and television personality who’s become a social media favorite thanks to his energy, humor, and those viral dance videos that always find their way across the internet. He brings a fun, hype-man vibe to everything he does, and seeing him chat with Will added to the memory.
During the interview, Nick asked Will about his most memorable wave. I expected Will to talk about some monster he tackled in Portugal or Hawaii. But Will’s answer surprised me. He joked that his most memorable moment was watching me catch my first wave. Hearing him say that was one of those things that hits you in the best way, a reminder that the moments that stick with us aren’t always our own victories, but the joy of watching someone else experience something new.
Looking back, that first wave wasn’t just a ride. It was a spark. It connected me to the ocean and to the surf community.
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