EP 15. Bonnie Tsui
Why We Swim / Why We Surf
So sliding right into our conversation… here we go. Episode 15 with Bonnie Tsui - Why We Swim / Why We Surf
25.04.2022
72:45:00
Hosted by Lawrence Stafford
Sound Design by John Sampson a.k.a CJ MIRRA
Listen Now
Moving from San Francisco down to San Diego through some of the countries most epic coastal communities..
..we caught up with cold water swimmers, ocean activists, big wave pioneers and more as we looked to bring you more stories from the sea to inspire and protect what we love.
As we touched down in San Fran, we took no time at all in getting in the cold waters of the Bay Area. There wasn’t a better person to show us the local spots than the incredible Bonnie Tsui (Soy) - swimmer, surfer, mother and author of the fascinating book, Why We Swim.
We spoke with Bonnie..
..on her introduction to the life altering practice of ocean swimming, her journey to becoming a surfer, water and wellbeing, the ongoing issues of inequality and access to swimming and how getting in the sea can even cure stupidity!
“Everyone there is very accepting of whatever your comfort level is with swimming in the water, but you are strongly encouraged to be just in your birthday suit and a bit of lycra.”
Bonnie Tsui
Shownotes
The push/pull relationship of surfing & swimming
Swimming & surfing through Covid
Breakdown: Open Water, Outdoor Swimming, Wild Swimming & Cold Water Swimming
Fear & confidence in the ocean
Presence and wellbeing
Burnout and overwhelming reactions to modern day life
The instrumental role of water
Mindfulness and flow state
Finding your tribe
Rowing crew at Harvard
Cold Water Surfing
Oceans 7 swim challenge
Water quality issues
Cold water immersion
Amphibiousness
Saltwater in the veins
Universal Swimming Education and access to the water
Deep effects of gender and race segregation
Universal swimming education
American Chinatown: A Peoples History of Five Neighbourhoods
Samurai Swimming
The New York Times
Mentions
Hong Kong, China
San Francisco
Keller Beach, SF Bay
Aquatic Park
Ocean beach
Pacifica beach
Hawaii
Jones Beach, Long Island, NY
Farralon Islands
Alcatraz
Costa Rica
People
Sarah Gerhardt
Mihàly Csíkszentmihályi
Kim Chambers
Beth French
The Outdoor Swimming Society - The OSS
Roger Deakin, Waterlog
Surfers Against Sewage
Chad Nelson, Surfrider Foundation
Easkey Britain
Guðlaugur Friðþórsson
Sophie Hellyer, Rise Fierce
Lewis Pugh, UN Ocean Ambassador
Matthew Webb
Nathaniel Cole, Swim Dem Crew
William Finnegan, Barbarian Days
Gerry Lopez, Surf Is Where You Find It
