I have always lived for adventure, exploring the unknown without expectations. You never know unless you go and are willing to go with the flow. Of course, we all have visions of getting the best conditions, whether it be waves, wind, snow or sun. But, it's really more about the journey and how to adapt to the unpredictable that makes for a memorable adventure. Plus, my addiction to travel is a hard one to kick.

It's been a crazy life-changing year for all of us as we’ve had to navigate these uncharted waters of uncertainty, fighting a pandemic, confined at home with family and no freedom to get up and go.On the flip side, it's also been a blessing to spend more time with my family and loved ones doing creative projects, pulling out old board games, cooking, organizing, home remodeling, even building a garden with the kids. It's been fun inventing new ways to stay healthy, motivated and train in our backyard and helping our neighbors with groceries and trying to stay positive.

Finding comfort in the great outdoors is one of the best ways to experience a touch of positive normalcy and maintain our need for adventure. With air travel restrictions worldwide and Hawaii flights canceled, I was chomping at the bit to escape and fuel my wind sport addiction, exploring the many hidden gems only a short drive from home.

Hydro foiling has evolved into the realm of wind sports such as windsurfing, SUP and kiteboarding and with the addition of the wing, “wing foiling, wing dinging, wing surfing”, (whatever you want to call it) was born. Wing foiling has grown rapidly on the island of Maui and has spread like wildfire throughout the windy regions of Hawaii, Hood River, Oregon, California, the East Coast, Australia and Europe.

Bitten by the wing foiling bug after several weeks of riding under my belt on Maui last fall, I was in dire need to expand my skill set and stoke for the sport. Spring and summer is prime time for good winds and warm weather in California, making it the perfect time to escape the confines of home and chase down some windy conditions with a fun-hungry, adventurous crew. I checked the wind forecast daily and there it was, an epic 2 day window of solid winds out east in the Mojave Desert on Lake Mohave, one of my favorite high wind getaways.

One of the highlights about this windy desert lake is that the air temperature hovers around 100 degrees Fahrenheit with water temps in the mid to upper 70s which makes for perfectly refreshing riding conditions all day long and with camping only a couple feet from the water's edge. A couple of phone calls later, I managed to round up a bunch of fired up friends who were all foilers and had just started wing foiling, along with my girlfriend Trish, who was eager for an adventure and amped to shoot photos. Hours later we were packed up and ready for a 4AM morning departure. Summertime is high season here so it pays to get on it early and stake your claim on some valuable waterfront real estate before the masses take over.

After a long 5-hour drive, we found ourselves navigating down a long, dusty desert road that emptied into a royal, cobalt blue mirage. The AC was blasting as the outside temperature already read 105 degrees. Off in the distance, we could see lines of white caps blowing across the lake as the wind started to fill in.

One by one, the rest of our caravan pulled in as we strategically parked our trucks and vans near the shoreline, leaving just enough room to set up our gear and campsite. Most of us couldn’t get out of our cars fast enough to hit the cool refreshing water and kickstart the day of amazing conditions. It's ironic to think how awesome it was to escape the world's craziness in the middle of a scorching hot desert and find our own private paradise with only a couple of boaters and fishermen nearby.

Shortly after regrouping and a much needed swim, we all scattered to set up our foil boards and pump up our wings. Choosing the right equipment for the conditions can make all the difference between having a great session versus a frustrating one. Living in Southern California where our winds are pretty light the majority of the time, my go-to wing size is a 6.0 meter Naish S25 which works perfectly for my weight (218 lbs) in winds from 16 mph on up and when the wind strengthens past 25-30, I will downsize to a 4.6 meter wing. The innovative aspect about the new wings on the market today is the incredible range and power they have in both low and high winds. Changing the foil and mast sizes can be super beneficial to create more speed, lift, glide and maneuverability for turning, pointing upwind and control. Board size can make a big difference as well when learning to wing. A larger board with more volume creates better stability and float which is easier for learning. As skills and confidence improve, you can downsize to a shorter, lighter, low volume board which allows you to take your riding performance to the next level. With desert winds blowing just over 20 mph, I chose my regular Naish set up: the 95 liter 5'7" Hover Wing SUP board, 85cm mast, 1800 HA front foil and a 6.0 meter S25 Wing-Surfer wing.

Fueled up on a protein bar and water, I grabbed my sunscreen, a hat and walked down into the water with my board and wing. I waded out into deeper water to prevent my foil from hitting bottom before flipping the board over and setting up to fly. The wind was on the rise and the waves continued to build as the sand started ripping across the shoreline. Once I positioned myself into the wind line, I grabbed my wing and took off upwind outside of the cove in search of some fun, rideable bumps. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew launched, worked their way off shore and started zipping back and forth, practicing jibes and turns while getting into the flow. An hour or two passed and muscle memory and rhythm came together, where jibes, hand positioning and board control suddenly seemed effortless for everyone.

As the heat over the Mojave desert reached 112 degrees, the wind started slowly backing off, making it the perfect time to get out of the sun, hydrate and break for a late lunch. There is nothing better than the simplicity and convenience of having your truck steps away from the lake for quick and easy equipment changes, repairs and a perfect shaded hideaway for lunch and shooting photos. One thing we learned the hard way and now do religiously is deflate our wings every time we take a break, to prevent the wind from blowing the wings back into our foils or any unforeseen sharp objects as well as protecting them from the hot sun. It's always better to be safe than sorry as it only takes a minute to blow up a wing.

Lunch break was short lived as the afternoon thermal reached an all time high that none of us could resist. The building wind conditions allowed for smaller wings and foils and a perfect chance for the crew to try foiling some larger downwind swell. Within two short tacks, we made it about a mile upwind where we could chase down and drop into perfectly manicured rolling liquid mountains, gliding and carving back and forth on the foil for hundreds of yards.

It was like organized chaos watching everyone connect and link wave after wave, criss-crossing with one another as the swell reformed over and over. This went on for hours. We couldn’t get enough of the downwind perfection.

Special moments like this bring out the camaraderie between friends especially when everyone is pushing each other to the next level. The hooting and hollering when someone goes by or punts an air, and the cries of laughter when someone crashes hard with a big splash. This is what makes learning a new sport so good.

Sunset comes early when the hot desert sun dips behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the lake. Then, the race was on to set up camp and get food cooking before the mosquitos owned the night. Campfire grinds and laughter among the crew wrapped up an action packed day on the water. Slowly melting into our chairs, staring up at the starlit sky, we were exhausted, yet excited for what the next day might bring.

Waking up to the sound of loud, crashing waves and nuking winds, I knew today was going to be off the charts. Breakfast was no longer an option after looking at the size of the whitecaps. It was go-time. The minute we stepped out of the tent it was obvious we needed to break down camp in a hurry to avoid losing gear to the wind. With everything packed up and secure, we set up our gear once again as fast as we could to take advantage of the smoking wind conditions and launched back out of the cove. We thought the previous day was the best day ever, but this was a whole other level. With wind speeds topping 40 mph and shoulder high wind swell, it was time to push our boundaries in high wind riding and take to the air.

I live for days like this. Days where you ride overpowered and push your riding skills through the roof. Speed, power and flow was my mantra. It was like playing a game of chess, ripping upwind through the bumps, looking for the perfect ramp to pull the trigger, commit, and send it to the sky. Timing was everything. These conditions demanded stomping the landing perfectly as the higher I went, the higher the stakes. A couple full body slams later, the lightbulb switched on and I started to stick my landings and ride out cleanly. The challenging part was loading up the foil through the bump with the right speed and getting a solid pop using the power of the wing to get the altitude needed to fly high and then nail the landing and continue the glide. Trial and error isn't for the faint of heart, but it's served me well in everything I've ever tried to master.

How you handle mental and physical exhaustion while adapting to nature's elements and letting go of ego is a battle we all face. Watching others around you makes it look so easy even though they've been doing it for weeks, months or years longer than you. The true athlete tends to be harder on themselves than anyone else. You find yourself talking yourself down off the frustrated edge, powering up the energy to get back on the horse - in this case, the board - and charging harder with more determination than ever. You fight the urge to take a break or even give up, but the inner fire burns hotter than the Mohave heat. Every personality handles the crush and disappointment differently. But no matter which way you handle it, giving up is not an option.

Watching everyone evolve with the wing over the weekend made this a monumental trip, one we won't stop talking and reminiscing about for years to come. From hand positioning and foot placement in executing flawless jibes to rebounding turns off a rolling windswell and downwind glides, this crew pushed their skill and confidence to an all time high.

By afternoon, we were still as stoked as we were the moment we woke up. I think my mouth was more sore from smiling than any other part of my body. Nature came through for the boys. I'm grateful every time I get to play in the waves, on the slopes, the trails or in the air. But man, this time, nature wasn't just beautiful, it went off. As we packed up our gear, I couldn't help but think how lucky we are. It's up to us how we choose to spend our time "stuck at home". It isn't so bad. Family, friends, work, and play are the blessings we often forget to count. Adventures like this are a fast reminder of how amazing the journey of life can be. As the last board was locked and loaded, we all rallied back home with perma-grins and stories to tell. Now to pull out the map and figure out where to go next.