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| Sage Erickson in the Riviera One-Piece. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
For Sage Erickson, a perennial traveler who’s either just returned from somewhere, or leaving tomorrow to someplace else, it's a luxury to just be for a minute. And how does this WSL-ranked surfer challenge herself during the stretches between competition? She plays outside of her comfort zone — on a longboard.
“I’ve been longboarding a lot more, which is so fun because I feel like a total kook at times!” Sage tells us.
We pushed the pause button on Sage’s on-the-go schedule and asked her, “What are you loving about life right now?” From drawing and riding different wavecraft, to the just spending time in real life with friends, Sage shared her thoughts on the present moment.
Why surfing without a judge watching is so liberating:
“I've been enjoying my time off tour. Competing on the championship tour all year definitely takes a lot of focus and determination to succeed. As much of it is surfing, ‘professional’ surfing is judged, so your performance is often decided through somebody else's eyes.
What types of boards she’s riding:
“I’ve been loving surfing all types of Channel Island shapes lately and not having the pressure every session of ‘performing.’
The way you ride the wave [on a longboard] and maneuvers you do are so different than your standard thruster shortboard. It’s always good to challenge ourselves in places we aren’t the best. I think that’s where we especially grow mentally.”
Why Hawaii feels like freedom:
“In Hawaii, being in a bikini is so freeing in and of itself also. Sunny days or rainy days with rainbows overhead makes the island lifestyle such a dream. The moments where sessions are effortless and it’s just me and the ocean is why I surf. Surfing has curated an amazing lifestyle for me. Lately I've been realizing as I'm getting older how blessed I've been and how excited I am daily to share my stoke with people.”
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| Sage in the Anglet One-Piece. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
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| Sage in the Anglet One-Piece while walking to the waves in Oahu. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
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| Sage in the sunlight in Hawaii. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
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| Sage in the Anglet One-Piece, waiting in the line-up. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
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| Sage's hand-painted board. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
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| Sage in the Anglet One-Piece. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
Fun fact: surfing is one of many mediums in which Sage expresses her creativity:
"There are so many outlets now to express yourself and what you believe in. I often draw things on my surfboard that symbolize characteristics I strive to have in my life. Art is one of my most self-reflecting times.
As humans, solitude is often where we get to hear out our own hearts desires and then out of that time we go into action. When I look down at the art beneath my feet I remember why I'm doing all that I do. Its pretty cool to notice that every person has a gift and how special that is."
One of the other mediums — film.
"I’m so stoked to be involved in the community at home lately as well. I have a few friends that are amazing photographers and seeing the way they capture images is really inspiring for me to take more pictures. I’ve been trying to get funky with film lately. I’m waiting on a roll to develop at the moment."
On balancing the quiet times with the adrenaline spikes of competition:
"My training will start up pretty soon here so I'm absorbing as much as I can before I have to put my head down and get ready to compete. Don't get me wrong I love competing, its just takes a certain mentality to be the best in the world. That’s only one little goal I have in my head."
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| Sage in the Anglet One-Piece. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
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| Sage in the Riviera One-Piece. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
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| Sage spraying buckets, wearing the Riviera One-Piece. NBD. Photo by Luki O'Keefe. |
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