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By Mitch Varnes -- Write me at [email protected] Ever since the video clip of him surfing and surviving one of the heaviest waves ever ridden went viral in the mid 1990s, Laird Hamilton has been the face of big wave surfing and placing him in a juggernaut bid with 11-time world champion Kelly Slater as the world's most famous wave rider. While Slater has focused on traditional surfing, Hamilton has become the waterman of his generation excelling in surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, outrigger canoe racing, kite boarding and paddle racing. Now, at age 55, Hamilton continues to be seen out at the legendary Maui break of Jaws on those days where waves can reach the height of four-story buildings and again at the Portuguese break of Navarre when swells can easily reach 60-feet in height. How does he do it when his contemporaries are either surfing smaller waves or riding longboards on Honolulu's waist-high rollers? Simple, says Laird: Diet, flexibility and strength exercises and being married to elite volleyball star Gabby Reese. Together, Gabby and Laird embody middle-age fitness and together with their children enjoy an enviable oceanfront lifestyle on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The couple have individually and collective created -- among other thing -- lines of clothing, surfboards, paddle boards, coffees and fitness drinks. Key to all this is the physical appearance and fitness of both these two. While Gabby is still famous for her past, Laird continues to be the most prominent face of the watersports world's power couple. Yoga and regular weight lifting are key to Hamilton's look and ability to stay in the water with others decades younger than him, but it all comes down to diet and discipline. Admitting that he long ago eliminated most sugars from his diet and limited his eating of fruits, Laird focuses on veggies, fish and meat for protein. A look at one of his daily meals include: Breakfast Tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in water Espresso with coconut oil During the day Kombucha Turmeric juice Lunch Fish with roasted cauliflower and arugula salad Dinner Beef vegetable stew So, there you go.....Good on you, Laird. I will get right on this and see you in the water at Jaws next winter........Keep up with Laird here: www.lairdhamilton.com |
AuthorMitch Varnes is a lifelong surfer, promoter of the biggest pro surfing events on the US East Coast and for 10 years was East Coast Editor of Surfing Magazine. His favorite waves are in Fiji, South Africa and his hometown of Cocoa Beach, Florida. ArchivesCategories |