Head Above Water with Nikki Vandijk
[00:00:00] Tyler: Hello, and welcome to the Swell Season Surf Podcast. I'm your host, Tyler Brewer. Our guest on this episode is a real treat for all of you listeners. Nikki Van Dyke was a major threat on the Women's Championship Tour. Her best season on tour was in 2017 where she reached number 7 on the leaderboard after claiming her maiden first CT victory at the Cascades.
[00:00:27] Women's pro in Portugal. Her style is smooth rail surfing shaped by her years of honing her approach on Phillip Island, a remote little enclave that's a day trip away from Melbourne, Australia. She inherited her passion and froth for surfing from her surf crazed dad, and in 2012, during her final year of school, she raced off to Bali just before her final exams to clinch the World Junior Championship.
[00:00:57] And then later joined the tour [00:01:00] in 2014. After years spent with her main sponsor Rip Curl, she left them to partner with Waleen Wetsuits as an ambassador where she has gone on to co create an exclusive collection of high performance wetsuits. with a focus on optimal comfort, style, and environmental mindfulness.
[00:01:20] We are fortunate enough to have met Nikki while she was in New York for the UN General Assembly New York Climate Week, where she was on a panel with former guest of the show, Chris Nelson, to discuss the film The Big C, the investigative documentary exposing the hidden links to Cancer Alley in Louisiana.
[00:01:39] And, the wetsuit world's toxic addiction to neoprene. Nikki is here, in our studio, in Rockefeller Center, and I am so stoked to welcome her. Nikki, thank you for being here. Oh
[00:01:54] Nikki: my gosh, it's great to be here. I am right now, this is amazing.
[00:01:59] Tyler: It's [00:02:00] a cool little studio, right?
[00:02:01] Nikki: Yeah, I I was just walking around outside on my way in.
[00:02:05] It's just like, where am I? This city is unbelievable. It's
[00:02:09] Tyler: crazy. And this particular area, this is where like they film all the shows and news program. Like you are literally in the media capital of the world right here, which is wild. And I can't believe there's a surf podcast that is in here, which is trippy.
[00:02:23] Oh,
[00:02:23] Nikki: I know. I was walking around Rockefeller before and I actually know of Rockefeller through a movie Factory Girl. Yeah. I used to watch when I was a teenager. Yeah. I had Rockefeller in the back of my mind, I was like, oh my gosh, I'm fully in Factory Girl right now.
[00:02:38] Tyler: How has your trip been to New York?
[00:02:40] You've been here before, I assume, though.
[00:02:43] Nikki: Yeah, I've been here once before and had an amazing time. I came here with friends last time and then this trip has just been, yeah, unbelievable. It's been amazing to be here for Climate Change Week. And there's been so many events on and it's just, yeah it's hectic at the city.
[00:02:59] [00:03:00] And yeah, it's great to be here. I'm very honored to be here actually.
[00:03:04] Tyler: So let's talk like how you ended up here for climate week here in New York. You work with a WETSU company called Waleen out of Holland, Amsterdam. Correct. Yeah. How did you connect with them? How did that, that come about?
[00:03:19] I imagine you have Dutch roots, so I imagine there is something to do with that. Yeah, there's something there. But
[00:03:25] Nikki: I'm curious. Yeah I'm half Dutch. My dad's Dutch and my mom's Austrian. And I was born in Australia, fully grew up in Australia. But it wasn't until, yeah, a couple of years ago they contacted me.
[00:03:37] And. Yeah, wanted to sponsor me, and I just was I adored their brand I adore, both the owners Oliver and Madeline, and, yeah, they feel like home, family to me and it's very fitting, and I just feel like I saw so much potential in their brand, and yeah, I just, I really felt at home yeah, it's worked amazingly well.
[00:03:57] And I couldn't be more proud to support, and [00:04:00] work for a brand that actually has. Just beautiful values and totally aligns with my values and yeah we've built a beautiful little friendship as well. We feel like family. And yeah, so I've been writing for them for, I think this is almost the third year now.
[00:04:15] Gosh, it's gone quickly.
[00:04:17] Tyler: It's interesting. You grew up basically sponsored by Rip Curl, your whole grommethood, which has quite a legacy to it as well. It's beautiful. And. I was curious is it difficult going from like a company that has like a big profile in surfing to a smaller company that, that hasn't the bigger footprint and what are like some of the advantages and disadvantages with that kind of
[00:04:40] Nikki: switch?
[00:04:41] Yeah, absolutely. Great question. Yeah, so I was with Rip Curl for 15 years. And gosh, it sounds like I'm so old when I say that, but I've been doing this
[00:04:52] Tyler: for a while. You're still young, don't worry. I swear I'm still young. You're a grommet heart, that's all that matters.
[00:04:59] Nikki: [00:05:00] Yeah, so when I made the shift I think, it's completely different because you've got this big brand that actually we, I think what the most, like what I value most surfing for Waleen is being able to be so involved in, the design process and have an understanding of, what actually goes into making these suits.
[00:05:25] And it took us, I think we worked on these suits for maybe a year and a half. And it was, the turnaround was unbelievable. And I think when you have a team that is Just so inspired and in it for the right reasons and just it comes out of love and that's when the magic happens and it's just, yeah, it's been really beautiful to have, input because I just, I love design and I love, the function and being able to make these suits as comfortable and as possible, but also looking really cute at the same time, I think [00:06:00] I've always wanted to, yeah, just have more input.
[00:06:04] And. I've, yeah, definitely gotten so lucky because I'm working with a brand that, is really allowing that and listens to me and values my opinion. Yeah, it's, yeah, honestly, again, I just feel like they're family. So it's yeah, it's been an awesome ride.
[00:06:20] Tyler: There's something about being able to have a say in the creativity, right?
[00:06:24] And I imagine with Rip Curl, like they have an incredible roster of surfers and it's easy to get lost. And for this, you get to be really involved in you. One, I imagine it must be fun like learning a new skill set, right? Like you're not just a pro surfer for them. You are a designer now.
[00:06:44] You are a, someone who can really put your whole passion into it as opposed to, and this is, I'm not knocking Rip Curl. I'm a huge Rip Curl friend, fan, but it's I imagine you, it's they're not going to let you be as involved, because [00:07:00] McFanning's got to be involved, Tyler Wright's got to be involved, all of them, and it's probably really difficult to manage, and it's easy to get lost in that shuffle.
[00:07:08] Whereas here, you can be like, your real self, too. And I imagine they, they have a marketing program, like Rip Curl, the search and everything, so they control that whole kind of image, and this seems like something where you can
[00:07:21] Nikki: and I think I've really learned in the last couple of years is I've, I actually love that side of work as well. And I think because I always love creating, I love like doing, different stuff outside of surfing. And I feel like that kind of has shaped the person I am and the surfer I am today.
[00:07:39] So yeah, it's so nice to be able to tap into that and Actually just trust in, in, the knowledge that I've learned over the couple of the, my whole career basically. Yeah, and just tap into that and share
[00:07:49] Tyler: it. I imagine many of your peers are probably jealous, actually.
[00:07:53] 'cause of that. Oh, I
[00:07:54] Nikki: mean, I think jealousy. I wouldn't say I just, I feel like envious.
[00:07:58] Tyler: Envious or [00:08:00] Admir, they admire you too, I'm
[00:08:01] Nikki: sure. Yeah. I think what is amazing is that, The older I get, I just, I really, I'm so thankful for the people around me and, like all of my friends, I'm like everyone around me, I'm so inspired by I don't look at anyone and I'm like, Oh, I'm, envious of their life.
[00:08:17] I just, I like to take little sprinkles of everyone and, and share what I've learned as well with everyone as well, because I just feel like. We are one here. Yeah. Yeah. Look at this city.
[00:08:29] Tyler: Seriously. Then, Waleen, what's interesting about them is they found out about where the neoprene comes from or the base material, which is chloroprene and where that came from and its links to Cancer Alley through this film, The Big C.
[00:08:46] That you were on the panel with, and I was curious what happened, like, when Waleen found out about this? Because it sounded like a very abrupt change, too, because They were like, Oh, we have [00:09:00] to change this right away. And I was curious what that was like when you found, when you and Madeline and Oliver found out about what was going on with the
[00:09:08] Nikki: neoprene.
[00:09:10] Yeah, it was it was a very quick turnaround. I think it was a couple of months ago now and I was in London, I think at the time. Oh, France mate. Anyway, I was in Europe at the time. . .
[00:09:22] Tyler: Let's just broaden it out. We'll pull it back a little bit. Europe's
[00:09:25] Nikki: big , . Oh, so much trouble. Yeah. and yeah, and they called me up and informed me on what was going on.
[00:09:33] And I think it was, it all happened really quickly. And then I feel like I was in on a flight two days later. I flew down to Cornwall beautiful little area in England. Yeah, I couldn't believe it. It was again, like another movie. And yeah, we shot the documentary that morning and it was more so I was coming from my, my experience in in surfing and what I feel like.
[00:09:58] Cause I've tried and [00:10:00] surfed in so many different wetsuits over the years and then we got a suit made out of Yulex and I had tried Yulex many years ago, and so it was basically me surfing the new Yulex suit, the updated, I should say yeah, to see how it went because I was really curious, to be honest, because I'm all about, like high function, high functionality.
[00:10:24] Surfing Wetsuits. .
[00:10:26] Tyler: Yeah. Who, yeah. Who, I personally like the non-functioning suits , but you know that, that's cool. . Sorry, it's Kelly .
[00:10:35] Nikki: But yeah, so I want the flexibility, I want functionality and I wanna be warm and I also Yeah. Wanna feel good in the suits. And so that was like our main target in making these suits.
[00:10:47] But I was, yeah, really curious to try the Yule suits. And yeah, I was pretty blown away by them. It was pretty cold there in England. Yeah, yes. So they're really warm. And yeah, it was awesome. And I think it was [00:11:00] just amazing to, I was just thankful to, to be learning. Like I feel like I have a responsibility to, to know and protect the ocean and understand what's going on and do what I can to help because I, yeah, I owe my life to the ocean and I'm very thankful for everything it's given me.
[00:11:16] So I just, yeah, I want to help in any way I can.
[00:11:19] Tyler: So when you saw the film or seen watched it and learned about like some of its, Reactions like what was like, what was your reaction to it when you saw it like it must have been pretty
[00:11:30] Nikki: shocking. Yeah, it's heavy. It's really heavy. I actually haven't seen the full documentary, I've just seen little snippets and I've done my own research into it because it's not finished yet, but yeah, when I found out about it, I was definitely shocked for sure, and I think I just, I've just been thinking about how, cause my dad taught me to surf and I've seen, the evolution of wetsuits over the years.
[00:11:53] And when I was eight years old, I used to surf with two wetsuits on when I was a kid, to stay warm, like [00:12:00] a spring suit and then a four three on top. As most
[00:12:02] Tyler: groms in colder climates have done before. I remember the same. Yeah.
[00:12:07] Nikki: Yeah, I've seen, how wetsuits have evolved and my dad and all the older guys used to surf in football jerseys back in the day.
[00:12:16] Yeah. So I just, yeah. I don't I'm don't, not wanting to harm anyone on this planet. So we, yeah. We gotta do what we can.
[00:12:24] Tyler: It's interesting so for our listeners I'll explain this film, big C, what it does is it links the factory that makes the base material for neoprene. Called Chloroprene, and it's made in, by this company called Denka, which is, has a factory in Louisiana in where they call Cancer Alley, where the cancer rates are about 50 times.
[00:12:46] the normal rate around the country. So it's crazy what's happening there, and the whole surf wetsuit industry, basically, for the most part, get their base materials from this factory. [00:13:00] And if it's not the chloroprene pellets, basically, if it's not that, it's limestone, which limestone is also owned by the same factory that is in Japan, and if you imagine limestone is not that great either because imagine trying to have to melt limestone rock, how much energy goes into that.
[00:13:20] It's crazy. So that's the premise of the movie for our listeners, just wanted to explain it. How, then, what do you let's pull back here then, like how has that development been then with the new wetsuits rubber because it's I found it personally when I first got my ulex earlier this year and we talked a little bit about this like it was a little stiff at first and then it takes a little breaking in but after four or five surfs it was like comfy and it's definitely the warmest material of I've ever worn as a wetsuit like it's crazy how I've been sweating in it so like I'm curious like your thoughts on it and how it can be [00:14:00] improved I guess
[00:14:00] Nikki: you Yeah, totally.
[00:14:02] It's really warm, isn't it? It's crazy, right? Like, When I surfed in England, I was like, Gosh I'm sweating. Yeah. But yeah I definitely think even, even, I think the first time I tried Eulex was four years ago. Yeah. And so it's improved so much since even four years ago.
[00:14:19] So I'm just keen to. To keep working and moving forward. And I just trust that, it's just going to get even better over time too. But yeah, I really enjoyed, I was definitely really surprised. Like I, even when I picked up the wetsuits, I was like, damn, this is, these have definitely improved over the years.
[00:14:35] Yeah, keen to keep working forward. And I feel like. Just from my experience, you definitely have to wear them in. I think it's, we're going to, try and manage thicknesses. And where the thicknesses are in the suits. Cause I feel like. That's going to be a huge game changer.
[00:14:53] Tyler: We were talking about this the other night. yeah. Like how, you don't, one, you don't need such a thick suit. Yeah, totally. With it. [00:15:00] And two, where the cold escapes is mostly through your leg extremities and not the shoulders. So you don't need it either. Not the shoulders. No. Please, no. Otherwise you end up with shoulders like mine.
[00:15:13] Yeah. Very broad. Or shoulders like mine. Yeah. Exactly. We don't need to wear shoulder pads, do we? I know. It's hard to get tailored clothing, isn't it? Yeah. It is and I'm curious like then when you found out about this stuff, like when you start to talk with some of your other friends who are professional surfers, what are their reactions to it?
[00:15:36] And, cause it, it's funny, like it feels like the surf industry doesn't want to accept. Like this material yet, like it hasn't made the switch and they're not, they don't seem really pressed to do it either. And I was curious, like what the professional surfers and your friends might have said when you started learning about this and started to talk to them about that.[00:16:00]
[00:16:00] Nikki: Yeah. It's all happened so quickly, to be honest. It's only been a couple of months. And I actually haven't. I've spoken to a couple of my friends about it, but no one knows, that's actually what's going on. And I'm like. It's crazy that no one knows, right?
[00:16:14] But it's there's so much that we can be doing for the planet. There's so much that's going on that we don't know about and it's just like anything, it's we're all guilty of doing things to the planet that we don't. No way doing it, driving in a car what are your shoes made out of?
[00:16:31] It's just endless. I think this is we just have to do the best we can, and that's, yeah, that's what I'm going to do. You've,
[00:16:39] Tyler: you've been like a big Proponent, like pushing environmental message as well. Now, like you, you did a whole thing with Porsche and the electric vehicle actually, which is pretty cool in itself.
[00:16:49] That must've been pretty, pretty awesome having to drive that around. It was
[00:16:53] pretty
[00:16:53] Tyler: cool. But I was curious then, like, where did that come from? That, was that instilled in you with your father [00:17:00] your parents? Curious, like, where that came from?
[00:17:02] Nikki: Yeah. I think. Just being, I grew up on an island and I grew up in yeah, it's a small little island and there's not many people around and the nature there is just, it's just unbelievable and I think being a surfer and being someone who's, quite spiritual and connected to Mother Nature, my whole life I think it's just who I am and I think I you over the years traveling and learning so much about the environment and my impact on the environment.
[00:17:33] It just, yeah, just, it's become a passion for me and something that I, care so much about. And again, like I said, I honestly owe the, my life to the ocean and and with that comes my responsibility and what I can do to help. But yeah, I think it stemmed from obviously my family and just, you the love and the care that they showed me just transforms into, everyday life, but yeah, I don't know.
[00:17:57] I would say also when I went [00:18:00] vegan 10 years ago, that was where everything changed for me. How did that happen? Yeah. I was in Fiji at cloud break. And. I ended up hitting the reef. I was
[00:18:12] Tyler: gonna the, yeah, this was on my list here. You, where is the scar?
[00:18:18] Nikki: You can't see. Yeah, it's very well hidden.
[00:18:20] Yeah, it's all down here. But yeah, ended up having plastic surgery after that one. Shout out to John, Dr. John. But yeah, that was pretty scary moment. So I ended up face planning the rave and I'd just gotten my braces off like the couple of weeks before that. And I was just like, Oh, my teeth.
[00:18:37] Okay. Oh my gosh. And the doctor was like, yeah, you look fine. But yeah. And so I ended up flying home. And I had a two week turnaround to heal up and head to Mexico to a another event there. And my doctor, family friend of ours, he was like come in and we'll redo it all. Cause I had like stitches from the doctors on the island at [00:19:00] Tavaroa and they did an amazing job.
[00:19:01] Yeah. Yeah. With what they have. Totally. Totally. No, they did an amazing job. But I ended up flying home the next day and he redid it all. And I would say that was. It's the game changer there. Like after that surgery and the recovery after that surgery, my doctor he recommended, he said, I think you should go plant based for this recovery to recover quicker.
[00:19:23] And I was like, yup, I'll do anything I can. And then at that time I was actually vegetarian. And I had been for the couple of years because I just, I had braces back to the braces, but yeah, I was just so freaked out by meat. I couldn't eat it, but I have, I've been brought up on meat and dairy diet.
[00:19:41] So my, my parents are European
[00:19:43] Tyler: and you're in Australia, meat pies are part of the culture, and all that stuff. And, lots of other meat products,
[00:19:51] Nikki: but yeah, so it wasn't, it wasn't a hard shift for me. And I ended, I actually started off with the juice cleanse for five days.
[00:19:58] And then, cause I also [00:20:00] couldn't really eat with my mouth. And then after that, I just, I never looked back, but at the beginning. I think for the first six months of going vegan, I I was actually a little bit scared and ashamed to tell people what I was doing because I just knew there was like, such a facade around it all.
[00:20:19] And I I really wanted to make sure that was what I was doing, like I, I wanted to learn and feel it in my body and and I think it just got better and better. And I just, after, that period of time, I was just like, I'm so proud of this. And I was learning so much about the environment and how.
[00:20:36] These decisions were helping and and how I felt and people always ask me like, why are you vegan? And I'm like, why? There's just endless reasons to be. Yeah. Yeah. And once you learn about, these reasons and how you feel and how it is for your body and the environment and yada, the list goes on.
[00:20:54] Yeah, it's you can't. Go backwards or you can't like unlearn that or unsee that or [00:21:00]unfeel it. And being an athlete, I've always cared so, or I've just obviously want to nurture my body and get the best out of it. And yeah, this has definitely helped. And that was the beginning of my journey in terms of having a sane control over, what goes in my body, what decisions I make and how that, affects our.
[00:21:23] Yeah. Environment and
[00:21:24] Tyler: so forth. And then it, of course, then I imagine then that makes your mindset like, okay, whatever put I put in my body, but then now it's like whatever I put on my body as well, and oh, and then you start to keep growing outwards from there. And it's imagine it's one, you're like the opposite of the stereotype of the vegan, where they're like, I'm vegan, constantly in your face, you
[00:21:45] Nikki: know, like everyone knows there's a vegan around,
[00:21:50] Tyler: but I'm curious then, like how difficult is it traveling?
[00:21:54] And being vegan, because I imagine like you are in a lot of places where certain [00:22:00]things, are mostly meat based in a lot of places, because they're, for whatever reason, culturally or just the location, what's available to them. I was curious that must be difficult, especially being on tour
[00:22:12] Nikki: as well.
[00:22:13] Yeah. Funny you say that. Actually, it's not. Oh, all
[00:22:16] Tyler: Let's educate. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:22:18] Yeah.
[00:22:18] Nikki: You would think so. And I, the hardest moment I've had was probably maybe eight years ago when I was in St. Thomas in the Caribbean islands and I was at an airport and the only thing I could eat was chips. And I was like, this is not so bad, it's not so bad.
[00:22:37] It's hardship. So there's, yeah, it's, I wouldn't say it's been hard to be honest. It's been a really fun little side hustle of learning and exploring and finding all, my sweet little cafes around the world and eating all, I also love eating foods of wherever I am.
[00:22:55] So what country I'm in and, eating parts of their culture. Yeah, that's been really fun as well, and I [00:23:00] think, I don't know, maybe it's fun because I'm passionate about it, and I love plants, but Yeah, it's, that's the hardest moment I had was in St. Thomas, and it wasn't too bad.
[00:23:09] Tyler: Are you a good cook then?
[00:23:11] Do you prepare a lot of your own meals?
[00:23:14] Nikki: Oh, I don't know who's gonna be listening, but yeah, people close to me probably wouldn't think so, but No I just eat really I guess plain healthy foods when I cook.
[00:23:28] Tyler: Just little beans and salads and like a little bit
[00:23:32] Nikki: of this. Salads and soups and depends what the climate is.
[00:23:36] I've been learning more about Chinese medicine and how what kind of foods have. affecting me at what different temperatures. And so yeah, I'm trying to take, eat more warmer foods at the moment.
[00:23:52] Tyler: Curious then how did Chinese medicine, like how did that come about for you then?
[00:23:57] Nikki: Oh, when did I've been going [00:24:00] for quite often the last couple of years.
[00:24:04] More so after, I got a head injury last year. And I, yeah, I just, I'm all obsessed with all things health and I've seen, yeah, a lot of benefits from it. I started going in 2020 actually. During COVID and it was just, crazy times and the whole world was anxious. And that's when I learned about anxiety.
[00:24:26] And yeah I love it so much. It's amazing. Can
[00:24:31] Tyler: we, can we talk about your head injury? What happened? It's interesting because in, in researching this and for you, for this interview, there's not a lot of stuff out there. There was just one article I could find in Trax, and they were actually talking about another surfer, and then they just mentioned you, that you had suffered an injury, and I think it was in Hawaii, was it?
[00:24:50] And what happened?
[00:24:52] Nikki: Yeah, it was I've had two, yeah. I've had one in 2020 at the start of lockdown. I got one at [00:25:00] home and I'd never had one before. Yeah. Not one that I'd, suffered severely from. Yeah. Not that I had known of. But yeah, I got one at the start of 2020 and I got. I don't know.
[00:25:13] It probably took me a couple of months to get over. I had symptoms. What
[00:25:16] Tyler: were you doing? Were you surfing
[00:25:18] Nikki: or? Yeah. I was surfing. Yeah. So I didn't hit my head. It was actually a wave at home that I was surfing. It's a beach break and there was a couple of barrels out there and we were just like pulling into, I was pulling into close out the barrels.
[00:25:29] As you do. Yeah, as I do. As you
[00:25:31] Tyler: do in beach breaks. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:25:34] Nikki: And, and yeah, it was just the pressure of the water and the energy of the water. It's a really powerful beachy. And yeah, I actually didn't know that I got concussed until the day after or two days later, cause I surfed again the next day and I was worn out and I just, I started feeling weird and then yeah, probably had symptoms for yeah, a couple of months after that one and then fully recovered.
[00:25:57] And then that's when I started getting [00:26:00] acupuncture after that. And then at the end of last year, I went home and I was surfing this wave again, pulling into these barrels again, and it was literally exactly the same thing. And so yeah, it didn't hit my head again. It was just the energy of the water and the pressure of the water.
[00:26:16] And then again, I didn't know that I got a concussion and it was the next day I went back out again. Cause it was. That was really good ways for two days and then I started losing my vision and I started feeling, like really unwell. And then I went in, I laid on the beach and I was just like, no, I'm not well.
[00:26:36] And then went home and I cried for 15 hours. I just remember like being in my room and I was. It was all day, I don't know if it was 15 hours, but it was all day. I just was in my room and all night crying. And I was like, nah, this is not normal. But I'd also lost a close friend of mine that a couple of weeks before that.
[00:26:53] So I didn't really know what it was, but I was just like, I don't feel right. And [00:27:00]then the next day I actually pushed on and ended up like. Doing a shoot and then I just knew from that moment on, I was like, this is not well, like I don't feel normal. And then after that yeah, I had symptoms for probably woof maybe eight months.
[00:27:15] Wow. Yeah, still, I'm still, I'm about 95 percent there but yeah, for about six months, it was like intense, everyday headaches nausea dizziness, irritability anxiety was just I couldn't even, I couldn't drive. I couldn't surf, couldn't exercise. I was doing, actually, this is a godsend, but I was, I was able to bike ride for 20 minutes a day and did heart rate monitoring.
[00:27:39] And I had a doctor that, that really helped me and I had so many people around me that were supporting me, but. The hardest thing was just not knowing what, what was going to happen, not knowing if I was going to get better. And everyone kept telling me I was going to get better because I wasn't feeling it for so long.
[00:27:59] I [00:28:00] was yeah, it was really scary, but and I've had injuries before. But, you can live a life with a bung hamstring or, one leg it's, you can't. You can't function without a brain. And so it was really, it was a really tough time, but it's taught me a lot about my body again, just because I need to keep on learning about my body.
[00:28:20] But yeah, I'm just so grateful to be out on the other side. And yeah, I honestly I'm probably at 95 to 97%. Sometimes I still get symptoms when I'm tired or overwhelmed and traveling is sometimes hard for that. Cause. Sometimes when you're in a plane the air pressure there's not a lot of oxygen going on.
[00:28:40] Yeah, I think, yeah, far out. I think surfing is a really dangerous sport and over the years I've probably had so many concussions and I think we confuse like all those little shakes of the brain, like all the, the days that we think that we're all surfed out and it's you get to the end of the day, you've been surfing all day and you're [00:29:00] like, ah.
[00:29:00] I just feel a bit funny, but I'm just so served out, I I actually believe that some of those are, little shakes of the brain and they just add up and then one's enough and too many, but yeah, I'm all better and I've come out the other end and I'm so grateful.
[00:29:15] Tyler: It's interesting I think a lot of people don't realize like how, like you said, you didn't hit your head, but your brain moves inside your cranium. And so any sort of. Jerky movements that are really fast and impactful, like when we fall. If we hit the water like you go from moving in one direction and completely stop and your brain is moving around inside and hitting the inside of your cranium.
[00:29:41] And I imagine there's a lot of surfers out there walking around with some sort of trauma, traumatic brain injury or we'll find out have c t e even potentially that's like. There's a lot of surfers like who have suffered depression over the years, and [00:30:00] a lot of that can be attributed to potentially the brain injury.
[00:30:04] Like I'm going out on a limb here and I'm purely suspecting like there's no evidence whatsoever, but Sonny Garcia has had multiple head injuries surfing pipe and he suffered from depression. And unfortunately. Had almost tried to take his life and and I think there's a lot of those stories that we were just unaware of over the history of surfing.
[00:30:26] And I think there seems to be some growing awareness around it now. I think Owen Wright has definitely helped put that front, front and center. I think Jed Smith and other people in the surf world have started to talk more about it. Koa Smith was another one who. Now wears a helmet more often than not, and used mushrooms for therapy, and other things of that nature too, so it's Yeah, I think it's really interesting and it's definitely it's scary.
[00:30:55] And it's really scary when you don't know, I imagine and the [00:31:00] anxiety you experience is how would you handle that, then? Like, how, what sort of stuff did you do to help treat it, if you don't mind me asking?
[00:31:08] Nikki: Yeah, no, totally. Yes, it is a wild ride. The head injuries. Owen actually, he at the beginning of my concussion, he gave me a call and he was the first person that I spoke to, apart from my doctor, that I felt like really understood what I was going through cause it was really hard for even my family and, the people closest to me that was seeing what was going on to relate that, all they could do is support me, but they're not feeling it.
[00:31:36] And so when I spoke to Owen, I was just like, wow, I finally feel heard and he just backed me. He was like, you're going to get better, Nikki, so yeah, huge shout out to Owen. I love him so much. He's a serious inspiration. And yeah, so one of the things I did I did a lot of breath work.
[00:31:52] Yeah. I did a lot of rehab again I ran and bike rided, [00:32:00] bike road? Yeah. Rode a bike. Yeah. Rode a bike. Heart rate monitored, of course. Yeah. For about four, six six months, probably. And then Yeah, it was just trial and error what was to help me, food again was a huge one, really clean foods.
[00:32:15] I was taking a fair few vitamins and then what else was I doing? Just, yeah, cold and hot therapy, saunas. Ice baths every day. Honestly. Anything you can think that would help. It's trial and error. Yeah. And then again, acupuncture was a huge game changer. Ga, game changer. Game changer. Changer.
[00:32:36] Changer.
[00:32:37] Tyler: Game changer. No worries, .
[00:32:40] Nikki: But yeah, it was a massive journey and I think all the things that I implemented into my recovery are things that I do, every day now still. Yeah, I heard
[00:32:48] Tyler: Some people even mentioned they've been using hyperbolic chambers
[00:32:52] Nikki: for that as well.
[00:32:53] Yeah, that was recommended for sure, but I think you needed to do 30 or 40 sessions for it to be... Effective. Yeah, [00:33:00] yep. I actually didn't opt for that one because there wasn't one close to me and it's exuberant in price.
[00:33:06] Tyler: It was Derek Dunphy was another surfer who had really bad brain injury.
[00:33:10] We had him on the show talking about that and he had his own hyperbolic chamber apparently that you could take with you. Wow, amazing. Yeah. So he was saying that. Where do you find them? I know, right? There's apparently some place in, in Northern California where they specialize particularly in that.
[00:33:26] Yeah. Which is. Interesting. Do you see a therapist as well? Do you talk to anyone?
[00:33:31] Nikki: Yeah, definitely. I think that was also a massive one. There was definitely points during the concussion where I was like yeah I'd never been in a place like that before and I would consider myself being, really happy go lucky kind of person and never really had any struggles with mental health.
[00:33:49] And during this concussion, it was definitely saw like a whole nother side to my brain. And I will say that it definitely, the concussion, brought that on. And yeah, I [00:34:00] think to be honest it's allowed me to have an understanding of. The depth of, my emotion and my brain and trauma and yeah, I can now say that I've gotten past a really tough time in my life and yeah, everything that I've learned from that period I'll, carry on and share and yeah, I'm just thankful to be on the other side of it though, because I know that with my first concussion, it was only a couple of months.
[00:34:22] And I remember speaking to my doctor and I was like, what? This is only a mild concussion. This is so severe, totally. And then the next one, I was just like, nah, this is serious. But then again, like I've made a, almost a full recovery and the human body is amazing.
[00:34:38] Yeah, I feel like I got really lucky and. Would you
[00:34:43] Tyler: surf with a helmet, do you think? Yeah,
[00:34:45] Nikki: definitely. In certain ways, a hundred percent. And yeah, it's amazing to see everyone wearing helmets in Hawaii and ways of consequence. I'm so stoked to see that because, gosh, it hurts my head to watch some of the [00:35:00] surfing that goes
[00:35:00] Tyler: on over there.
[00:35:00] It's crazy. Now, this also affected your campaign to get to qualify for the tour again. Is that
[00:35:09] Nikki: correct? Yeah. So it happened before. The last event of the season last year in Hawaii. And I think I was qualifying at the time or I needed one. I don't know what the position was. Yeah, I was very close.
[00:35:24] And it was funny when I got the concussion, it happened two weeks before Hawaii. And every day I was talking to the doctor and we were monitoring my symptoms and everything and I just, I was just getting worse and wasn't getting any better and I just knew in my body I just, I was never going to put myself and my brain, I guess when you go through something like that and you feel the way, I did I wasn't going to do anything that was going to, yeah, exactly.
[00:35:49] And it's a lot, it's a long life, it's not just all about one year on tour. And yeah, that was an easy decision for me. And I think as well during the recovery.[00:36:00] We were trying to manage how to get back in the water, even when I was like getting better. Yeah. And I was so scared to go surfing and I just, I, yeah, I was, I just didn't want to do anything that was going to take me back because during, the concussions are like you, you take one step forward and then two steps back and it's just a hard game.
[00:36:20] So
[00:36:20] Tyler: I'm so aggravating because you'll feel good one day and then all of a sudden it's you're like,
[00:36:26] Nikki: There's just no kind of, everyone's journey is different and what I was scared of was the fact that surfing, something that I love so much, I was so afraid to do and so scared to get back in the water and yeah, now thinking about it, I can't even believe that I was feeling those feelings, but it was.
[00:36:44] Definitely there, but yeah, it's just amazing to see, when you put in all everything you have into getting better and yeah the human body does repair and yeah, gosh, I'm thankful because I'm just, yeah, I'm in New York city at the moment. I'm just so keen to, to [00:37:00] surf. I'm like going to Europe in a couple of days and I just, yeah, I can't wait to surf and I don't have any of those.
[00:37:06] The way I approach surfing now is a little bit differently. No
[00:37:08] Tyler: more close out barrels.
[00:37:11] Nikki: We've got a couple. But, yeah, I think I'm just a little bit more aware of when my body needs rest and yeah, just in times of defeat, rest, and yeah, just be overly aware of, it's hard in surfing though, you,
[00:37:31] Tyler: You want to listen to your body. But at the same time, your froth level is contradicting what you intellectually know, but you emotionally don't feel, right? As I've gotten older and approached middle age, my body doesn't recover like it used to. It doesn't feel like it used to.
[00:37:50] And I... I can't do six, seven hours surf sessions anymore. It just, I'm wrecked if I do that. And so now I've had to adopt like a [00:38:00] mindset of like microdose surfing, where it's like a go for an hour in the morning, maybe an hour in the afternoon or two hours, maybe max, and try not to push it too hard and notice when my body, when I'm making mistakes, surfing.
[00:38:14] I'm like, oh, I should probably go in right now, otherwise I'm going to hurt myself. And it's so hard because especially when the waves are good, especially here in New York when it's not always that good, you want to like gorge on it and like totally overindulge. But you have to be like there'll be another day, there'll be another day, which is a really difficult thing to do.
[00:38:33] And I can only attribute that to wisdom, getting older, maybe. Is that what you're finding too? You're like, I need to listen to myself more.
[00:38:40] Nikki: Totally. Yeah. And that and being injured. And. Going through pretty severe repercussions of not listening to your body. So yeah, that's definitely the reason why I now, yeah, take a step back and listen to my body more.
[00:38:55] But yeah, it's definitely hard because surfing's pretty fun. [00:39:00]
[00:39:00] Tyler: Are you planning to, to go try to get back on tour? Is that part of your
[00:39:04] Nikki: plan? Yeah, so I Oh, it's been a pretty difficult year, this one. I, where I started off at Snapper, didn't do so well at Snapper, but after Snapper actually hit my head again.
[00:39:17] And so I was for the Sydney event, I was actually. Didn't know if I had another concussion or I was just get all my symptoms flared up and that was a really scary time. So Sydney was a bit of a tough one for me. And then US Open didn't do very well. And then I'm actually heading to Europe tomorrow to surf in the last, or not the last one I got.
[00:39:41] Portugal and Brazil. So yeah, it's honestly, it's been a bit of a rocky journey for me since the concussion last year. It's managing it. But yeah, I feel in full health now. I feel like I've been serving so much at home recently because it's been pumping and yeah I'm looking after my body, but I'm definitely like back with the, a good bounce of energy and yeah, [00:40:00] whole new level of appreciation for what we do and keen to get back there.
[00:40:04] Tyler: It feels with Waleen your relationship with them is not predicated on Contest results either, which is, must be really comforting, right? Like I imagine like a company, like a rip Curl or a Quicksilver or whatever.
[00:40:18] A lot of contracts are based on the competitive results as opposed to a relationship, and I'm curious, like you, Professional surfing and sponsorship has changed over the years and it's really from when you started, like you, you started at you went pro, you grew up in an age where surfing like golden age of sponsorships, right?
[00:40:41] And you were on a team and the marketing was controlled by the team manager or whatever, the marketing team. And then. You became pro almost like on the back end of that as it started to the industry descended a little bit and the rise of influencers and [00:41:00] surfers as influencers have started to really grow and I'm curious like your thoughts on the whole Sponsorship game and how it's changed since you started as a professional to now and how you look at it Big question.
[00:41:13] Sorry. Sorry. We go
[00:41:16] Nikki: really deep here. Yeah. It's a big question. Oh my gosh. I, yeah, it's when I first got on tour, I was 17 or 18, so 10 years ago. And the years before that yeah, I feel like we got the. The dream run on tour, we were surfing waves at Cloudbreak Honolua, Jay Bay, yeah, Jay Bay, yeah Karamus, oh my gosh, that was a dream run.
[00:41:40] You even had Snapper. It was so amazing. So I feel very thankful for those years on tour when we had all those amazing waves. And yeah, the sponsorship, the surf industry, it's changed a lot. In my time, and I'm 28 now, so I'm getting up there. But yeah, it's definitely changed a [00:42:00] lot and I, yeah, I don't really know what's going on because I feel like there's so many surfers and the industry is booming, but I feel like the surfers themselves have really been struggling.
[00:42:12] And yeah, it's a really, it's a tough sport to get around without sponsors and, everyone's having to. Be creative and try and find other lines of work and yeah, I've seen that on the QS, which is really, and even on the tour, to be honest, it's it's been a really challenging time for a lot of surfers, yeah, I don't
[00:42:33] Tyler: know. How do you approach it? Because you have now a non traditional sponsor in a sense, right? Wall E is not part of the, they're a surf industry, but they're not part of the establishment, and so it's a little different, I think, and I'm, forgive me, I don't know some of your other sponsors, but I imagine it's all, you have a really robust following on social media, which I think helps.
[00:42:56] You have to be very mindful of that. I imagine that [00:43:00] changes how things, how you view it, or do you have an agent or a manager that, that kind of helps with that?
[00:43:07] Nikki: Yeah, totally. I think yeah, the world of Instagram is a pretty crazy place and I didn't know that was, going to be a huge platform for me to earn a living through surfing and brands.
[00:43:18] And yeah, it was funny back in the day. I used to. Back in the day. My gosh, that's all right.
[00:43:24] Tyler: Yep. Yep. Welcome. Welcome to approaching middle age.
[00:43:28] Nikki: But yeah, no I definitely have gotten creative myself and had to work in ways and different ways to, get through and be able to surf every day and do what I love every day.
[00:43:38] I feel when you're a surfer and you love surfing in the ocean, you you find a job so that you could do that every day, and yeah, definitely working with brands that I align with and support and believe in has been a huge and just like honoring who I am as a person and my values.
[00:43:55] And I think when you can't, when you don't skew away from that, like you're always gonna. End up [00:44:00] at least doing something you're proud of and happy with. So yeah, I've definitely benefited and, work a lot on my social media and different brands. And I have a manager that helps me and yeah it's crazy.
[00:44:12] It's there's so many different ways to earn a living out there now.
[00:44:16] Tyler: It's so surreal. Like I look at people and I see the Ben Gravies or the Jamie O'Brien's and, and it's. To me, it's so weird, like, when people start talking into the camera or talking into their social media and they're like, Hey guys, how's it going?
[00:44:29] We're just doing this, or we're going here. And it feels so anti what we maybe grew up with in surfing, where In surfing, you weren't encouraged to talk about yourself. You weren't encouraged to talk about, what you're doing. You're supposed to not mention the surf spots. Supposed to not mention what you're doing.
[00:44:47] Supposed to downplay everything you do and be like, Oh, that wasn't double. Yeah, oh yeah, it's only like head high when it's three times overhead, it's we like that whole mentality used to be associated with surfing and it's totally changed. I imagine it [00:45:00] must be surreal having to adapt to that.
[00:45:03] Nikki: Definitely. And, but I feel we've been so blessed and so lucky to I will speak on behalf of myself, but yeah, be, able to have surfed on the tour for all those dream years and I think that's just life, isn't it? You've got to adapt to the change and yeah, what could you do?
[00:45:22] Anything to keep surfing. Yeah.
[00:45:24] Tyler: One last question, but do you ever think about what you'll do post tour, post pro surfing life?
[00:45:32] Nikki: Yeah, definitely. I've always been, it's been on my mind my whole career. I've always, my mom's a teacher and I think even when I was in school, she was always so encouraging of, my education and yeah, I don't know.
[00:45:45] I've always been, really interested in so many different things and outside of surfing, but surfing always been my main focus. And yeah. Yeah, I'm definitely exploring that a little bit now. And it's amazing to work with Waleen on [00:46:00] this because they allow me to navigate that and and also be a part of, like design designing and working like so hands on with, the process of these wetsuits and getting them to, For us to be able to surf in them.
[00:46:12] Yeah, there's definitely so many things I want to do and working on a few things at the moment, which are really exciting. And yeah, I don't know, balancing it all.
[00:46:20] Tyler: Where can our listeners find you and where can they find Waleen Wetsuits?
[00:46:24] Nikki: Yeah, head to
[00:46:27] Tyler: Shameful plug here. Here's your shameful plug.
[00:46:31] Nikki: I don't know, just find me on Instagram. It's my name.
[00:46:35] Tyler: I don't know. Listeners, we'll put links to all of that for you. No worries. Link down below. Yeah. Nikki, thank you so much for coming in, really appreciate you sharing everything and talking about all your personal stuff and it's been such an honor.
[00:46:51] So thank you so much.
[00:46:52] Nikki: Thanks for having me here. It's been amazing. The hot seat here and yeah, what a wonderful chat and thank you for having me.
[00:46:58] Tyler: No worries. And you're always welcome [00:47:00] back in New York and we'll happily next time we'll get you some way, hopefully we can get you in the waves next time.
[00:47:06] Thank you. Thanks for having me. No worries. And listeners don't forget to check us out at swellseasonsurf. com and at swellseasonsurfradio. And we are recorded here at Rockefeller center at the new stand studio. And just got to give a quick shout out to Joe, our engineer. Thank you for hooking it up.
[00:47:23] And we'll check you all down the line soon.