Question: I’m a pretty good surfer. Why can’t I do well in contests?
Answer: That’s a good one. The problem is that surfing is first an art and second a sport, so you may be creative and inspired when allowed to freely express yourself, but stiffen up when limits are put upon your surfing. Are poets timed as they write? Are painters frightened by air horns after their 20 minutes are up? The easy answer is that some people love the pressure of competition. Some fold under its weight.
