If you are going to read what I have to say, watch my videos and buy my products, then it’s important that you understand my core beliefs and values … so this is what I believe …

This is what I believe about you as a contest surfer…

• I believe that you have talent, and that when your mind is right, your true surfing potential will show in your contest surfing.

• I know that it is impossible for you to be focused during your heat unless you know what it is that you should focus on.

Mike Martin

• I believe that your mind controls your body.

• I believe you become what you think about yourself.

• I know that you have a free will and that therefore every thought during your heat is wilfully chosen.

• I understand that contest surfing is not all in your head—but that a good bit of it is.

• I know that you must take personal responsibility for how you choose to think about and respond to situations you find yourself in during a heat.

• I know that you must learn the difference between talking about being a committed contest surfer and acting committed on a day-to-day basis.

• I know that your commitment on a sustained, day-to-day basis is crucial for turning your dreams into reality.  Those who only dream are usually living in a world of fantasy.

• I know that every problem you face in your surfing career has a solution, but you may have to exert effort and time to find it.

• I know that it is best to respect the other competitors, but believe in yourself.

• I know that competitors help you get better.

• I know that you’re either getting better or get worse - there is no middle ground!

• I know that there is no one personality common to all great surfers and that you must learn to trust yourself enough to be yourself if you wish to excel.

• I know that you learn different things about your attitude when facing failure, adversity and success - but that all are equally valuable experiences.

• I realise that you know in your heart whether you surfed the way you are capable of surfing and that this is ultimately the only measuring stick that really matters.

• I recognise the importance of you finding out how good a surfer you can be and how many of your contest surfing dreams you can make come true.

And this is what you need to know about me as your surf psychologist…

• I emphasise the importance of mental training for contest surfers because I believe that confidence, concentration, composure, and commitment are simply skills that can be taught, learned and practiced.

• I believe that long-term success is better than short-term success.

• I base my teaching on a well-thought-out philosophy, practical experience and science.

• I strive to teach you the advantages of a positive, optimistic attitude over a negative, pessimistic one.

• I teach that your perceptions of yourself as a contest surfer are more important than the opinions of others.

• I love to help you and your coach strive to reach your fullest potential.

• I am never critical of your coach or those who you are working with.

• I know that sometimes you must be given an answer and that other times you should be allowed or guided to figure out your own solution.

• I always try to remember what I am trained to do and I bring in other specialists to do what they are trained to do - I see this as a strength rather than a weakness.

• I know that when competition begins, it is better to be too confident than not be confident enough.

• I teach you that competition demands a certain amount of mental toughness and emotional resilience, and that must be developed.

• I know that you never know for sure when it will all fall in place.

• I realise that process of creating heat-winning strategies is very important, but you need to agree to get into the process too, because you want winning results.

• I understand that patience and persistence are usually valued and helpful skills, but that it is sometimes best to quit and try a different approach.

• I know that you must accept that, being human, you will sometimes experience fear and must learn to fight through it and do it anyway.

• I love to listen and understand.

• I love to teach.

• I realise that anyone can have a great attitude once in a while or some of the time, but that it is difficult, yet not impossible, to have a great attitude all of the time.