Catch Waves, Carry Water
There is a Zen proverb that says to “Chop wood. Carry water.” It suggests that true enlightenment occurs when we can do the necessary, everyday things with full presence and awareness. It also hints that spiritual growth is a continuous journey, requiring continuous attention and effort.
At Albatross, we have adapted the phrase to suit our lives just a little better: Catch Waves. Carry Water.
Surfing demands full presence as well. It demands that there be no hesitation on the part of the surfer. Wave riding allows no room for contemporaneous thoughts. You must be in the moment, harnessing this literal force of Nature, or you will fall.
Some may suggest that the act of surfing differs greatly from that of chopping wood. “Chopping wood,” they say, “is a mundane act. The enlightenment comes with finding purpose in doing the mundane.”
“Surfing,” they go on, “is exceptional. It’s exciting, stimulating, invigorating... adrenaline generating.”
It’s true: surfing is fun. It can be pretty invigorating too, especially on those really big days. But as a pursuit itself it really is so much more. For most surfers, surfing wasn’t really that fun in the beginning. You need to be prepared to go 20 times before you’re really going to have a chance at shredding, and even then, you’ll probably be just standing up at that point. Yet, folks persist. They continue through humbling trials and tribulations. And, in time, they emerge as capable of dancing on water, surfing not just waves of water, but waves of raw energy itself.
Riding these bands of energy, referred to in some places as the Sport of Kings, connects us to so many components of life that it’s hard to talk about without seeming like a crazy fanatic.
Let’s start at the beginning: Surfing is inescapably an individual sport. From the second the most inexperienced grom enters the water, they are becoming self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency is a must because that big wall of water is coming your way, and no one can stop it. YOU must do something; you must take control of your own life and do something.
This situation, obviously, lends itself to different life skills than video games. By forcing a certain recognition of reality, surfing cultivates an intuitive understanding of truth. Ephemeral wave rides come and go, but connection to the ocean remains constant.
Surfing, much like chopping wood, becomes a form of meditation when done with full presence. There’s no room for ego, no shortcuts, no guarantee of success. Just like the steady swing of the axe or the patient carrying of water, each wave requires focus, discipline, and humility. It's an act of showing up, again and again, even when the conditions aren’t perfect or when frustration mounts.
The beauty of this process is that it teaches us to let go of expectations and surrender to the rhythm of nature. In surfing, you learn that total control is an illusion—what matters is how you respond to the moment, how you position yourself in the chaos, or discover the grace that’s immediately adjacent. The same applies to life. Just as we carry water to sustain ourselves, we must catch waves to tap into the flow of existence, learning when to paddle, when to pause, and when to ride.
And so, while surfing may appear to be an extraordinary, adrenaline-filled act, at its core, it is a practice in patience, resilience, and mindfulness—just like chopping wood. Every wave caught, like every log split or bucket carried, brings us closer to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
At Albatross, we’ve embraced this ethos in everything we do. Whether it's designing sustainable products, connecting with our community, or pushing the boundaries of ocean-inspired creativity, we are always "catching waves and carrying water." Both literally and metaphorically, we are on a journey that requires both thrill and diligence—learning from nature, embracing the grind, and finding joy in the process.
In the end, whether you're riding a wave or carrying water, it’s not about the destination—it’s about the practice, the persistence, and the presence. Keep showing up. Keep catching those waves, and keep carrying that proverbial water.
