8 ways to keep high vibes, with Dane Gudauskas

Interview by Morgan Williamson

The stoke is real. It lives and breathes! And you either have it or don’t. It’s what drives the endless supply of web edits that steer your motivation into two-foot cold water slop. The stoke is powerful, and ethereal, and its an ineffable phenomena to any poor-sap who lacks possession. Stab tapped the vibrations of the most stoked cat we know – Mr. Dane Gudauskas – for some cosmic words of stoke wisdom. “The stoke’s gotta come from inside,” he says. “I can’t describe it, it’s just sick.”

1. Tube therapy.
“Make sure you get barreled at some point in time. It takes your back to the primitive days of grom. You’re at mother nature’s mercy when you’re in one of those things. You lose sense of control. When I was in Fiji (for that swell) every time I took off, looking to get barreled, I got that same sense of vulnerability, but I’m just so amped to get it in there. The beatings were hellacious but you still come up like ‘FUCKKK YEAHHH.”

2. Cheer on your friends, but more importantly, cheer on strangers.
“How sick is it when a random person cheers for you? You’re like, I don’t even know you but that was awesome. You’ve got to cheer for your friends and strangers. It’s mental, they get that grin on them, that’s the feeling I live for when I’m surfing.”

Dane isn’t all big barrels and power turns. This cat tweaks with the best of ’em. Photo: Ryan Miller/Redbull.com/surfing

3. Fuel your body with whatever feels good.
“I just like to feel good. It could be a cheeseburger and fries or like a salad and a smoothie. I’m not a health freak, whatever makes you feel good, just do it, as long as it’s not killing you. I like to juice in the afternoon, like beets, garlic, jalapeños and stuff. If you feel good other people are gonna feel good around you.”

4. Stay in touch with all things living.
“We have a little garden in our backyard. Gardening is sick, it’s super therapeutic. If you spend a lot of time with things that have actual living energy in them, you share it. Whatever it is, trees, birds, people, the more time you’re around that, your energy will grow.”

5. Give back.
“My brothers and I have been creating this foundation called Positive Vibe Warriors. It’s a foundation for youth water safety programs, like junior guards and swim lessons for kids. The groms just get me so pumped, they’re all hooting for you and stuff, it’s super rad. Giving back to the next generation is something we’re psyched on doing.”

The traveling man goes tail high in Norway. Photo: Chris Burkard

6. Never stop learning, it keeps you inspired.
“With Positive Vibe Warriors we’ve been learning how to legitimise a business. For us, it’s cool because we’ve always worked for companies. You get this whole new appreciation, respect and understanding for every t-shirt you’ve ever been given. The business side is so fun, I look at a t-shirt we get from PVW, and I’m just like, ‘fuck that was insane’. The whole process that it takes to get it made, shipped and yada-yada-bing-bang is wild. We’re shipping out of my mom and dad’s garage right now. It’s insane that we have all the inventory. So, when an order comes in we box it up, take it to the post office and ship it. It’s pretty fun to see the whole spectrum of things. It makes you fired up on the company you ride for, too. You get a whole new respect on the whole process.”

7. Try and keep a clear mind.
“I normally don’t have the answers to a lot of the questions I have in my head. I think the more I can relax and just observe them, instincts will take over and you’ll make the right decisions by feeling. Just relax, be clear headed and try to just enjoy it. When opportunities come up you have to not be afraid, and embrace them. I can’t let it rattle me if I don’t know what I’m doing. I just try to enjoy being exactly where I am and good things will happen. Just let it flow, relax and stay psyched.”

8. Good times are had with good people.
“If you’re gonna go out and party it’s all about the crew you’re with. If everyone’s in the same headspace it just goes nuclear. Especially when the dance floor gets vibed up and everyone lets loose. I like the parties where everything just comes together in the right place. Spontaneous good times are the best times.”