Ever had a perfect wave where everything just clicked—but couldn’t figure out how to recreate it?
That magical state of surfing where time slows down, decisions happen effortlessly, and your body flows without overthinking? That’s a flow state. In this deep dive with elite performance coach Nam Baldwin, we unpack the science of getting "in the zone"—and how you can train your body and mind to access it more often, even in average conditions.
Discover how flow states unlock not only better performance but faster learning and deeper enjoyment.
Learn the specific warm-up strategies and mental triggers that elite athletes use to consistently access peak states.
Understand how your breath, posture, and self-talk can either guide you into—or pull you out of—your best surfing.
Hit play now and learn how to harness the power of flow to surf with more confidence, clarity, and control every time you paddle out.
Key Points
Nam Baldwin, named as the Elite Performance Specialist for Surfing Australia heading towards the 2020 Olympics.
Nam explains the concept of 'flow state' or 'being in the zone' as a mental state where one's attention is fully focused on the present moment, allowing optimal performance without distractions.
Nam discusses the factors that contribute to an individual's ability to enter a flow state, such as genetics, neural chemistry, and consistent practice from a young age.
Nam emphasizes the importance of finding one's optimal state of arousal and regulating attention through techniques like proper warmup and breath work.
Nam suggests using triggers or anchors, such as posture or self-talk, to help re-enter a flow state after falling out of it during a surfing session.
Nam highlights the role of managing expectations and simplifying goals to avoid overthinking and anxiety, which can hinder the flow state.
Nam recommends recovery strategies after experiencing a flow state, such as rest, proper nutrition, and mindfulness practices, to replenish the hormones and chemicals involved.
Nam suggests resources like the books 'The Rise of Superman' by Steven Kotler and 'The Edge Effect' by Dr. Eric Braverman for further understanding of flow states and hormonal balance.
http://www.stealingfirebook.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1MHyyWsMeE
https://www.bravermantest.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)
https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow
For the passionate surfer—whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer—this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we’ll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we’re here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more—so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced.
