“The QS is a grind,” they say. But how much of a grind is it, really? Scrape all your money together, go to a few foreign countries, and surf (usually one foot) waves with your friends. At that point, hopefully, you win a little bit of money.
The best part is actually all the random happenings that occur on the sly, both good and bad. There was one time I got on a plane without my suitcase and ended up rolling commando the next three weeks. It doesn’t sound glamorous, but it still makes for a good story.
Admittedly, losing in competition can be tough. Like soul-crushing tough. I imagine, however, that someone shooting hot metal at you would be tougher. Sometimes I think “if I had money this would be so much easier.” Sure, money might make it all easier, but I know that doesn’t necessarily equate to better times. There is just something much more exciting about letting the universe take care of things. Whether it’s solo or with friends, the adventures can be pretty rad — definitely far more rad than working in a pharmacy for eight hours of every beautiful day.
Often it’s the people you meet along the way or the relationships that you deepen that really make a trip special. Most of the time, it’s certainly not the waves. Most waves on the QS are often more memorable for being so bad, so we don’t exactly bring high expectations for that part of the adventure. After a few years of this, you just might find yourself with some great friends all over the world. That alone is something the average person will be able to say about their life. Plus, more friends also means more people to split the bill with.
For the last event of this year, I was lucky enough to share a house with several golden ladies from different countries, where four different languages could be heard pinballing around the kitchen daily. From family dinners to the jams, the teaching of swear words in our respective native tongues to the drama of an impending qualification season. These are the times that will never be forgotten.
The QS is far from a magic carpet ride, but it’s not exactly an unbearable grind either. It makes me wonder what the CT is like.
