| The 10 to 16 foot waves that pounded | | | | it is to let someone experience it for themselves, |
| Maine’s coastline as a result of category 1 | | | | but that is about as easy as hitting an arrow with |
| Hurricane Bill seemed to serve as a beacon to | | | | another arrow while you are on horseback in the |
| surfers from all over the Eastern seaboard. | | | | middle of a hurricane. |
| Although there were unfortunate casualties that | | | | So for the lack of a better way to explain stoke, |
| resulted from nature’s romp through the east | | | | one has to turn to using metaphors that hopefully |
| coast, it seems that the old addage that a silver | | | | correspond to some reference point that people |
| lining lies somewhere holds true … at least for | | | | can relate to. The difficulty is that stoke defies |
| surfers. | | | | definition, for the simple fact that it varies greatly |
| Despite the damages brought about by the | | | | from one person to another. Although most refer |
| hurricane, surfers were lucky enough to | | | | to it by the same name, the experience that an |
| experience some “pipeline” sized waves | | | | individual goes through is definitely unique within |
| that rolled through some of the eastern | | | | each person. |
| coast’s beaches, like in Montauk new York. | | | | Stoke is, by all intent and definition, an |
| Although swimmers were not allowed to enter | | | | individually personal experience that has no |
| the water, the excited surf crowd paddled out to | | | | prerequisites – small waves, big waves, |
| consistent sets and pounding waves. The scene | | | | surfboard, body board, solitary, or surrounded by |
| reminded me of the North Shore of Oahu during | | | | friends, it happens at any given moment in time. |
| the consistent winter swells, as crowds gather in | | | | It is about your state of mind, and state of being. |
| increasing droves to gawk and stare at the | | | | Someone once said that the secret to life lies |
| bravewatermen who paddle out into | | | | in one thing, and one thing alone. Once you find |
| monster-sized waves. | | | | that one thing, you should spend all your energy |
| | | | and effort ensuring that everything you do and |
| Call them crazy, call them adrenaline junkies … | | | | strive for is devoted to that one thing. When |
| whatever they can be labelled as, they are out in | | | | questioned as towhat that one thing is, the |
| the waves for the same reason as every other | | | | answer was simply “I don’t know. It (the |
| surfer: the stoke. The ever mysterious, and | | | | one thing) is different for everyone.” Go, and |
| elusively indescribable “stoke”. | | | | find your stoke … your one thing! |
| What is “stoke”? The best way to explain | | | | |