The Beauty and the Bull - by Shawn Alladio
> 05/10/2008
The Beauty and the Bull
"The two most powerful warriors are patience
and time" - Leo Tolstoy
The journey continues, Carlos Burle and Maya Gabeira's Red Bull Waverunner
is finally on it's way to Hawai'i! Tow surfing isn't just about being
on the wave itself and enjoying the freedom of the ocean, it's a concerted
effort shared by the masses who have to organize, plan, and prepare.
The effort is sometimes overwhelming with transits from car, plane,
train, equipment and a myriad amount of telephone calls and internet
mail. The final destination is bolstered by a great relief of hard work
behind the scenes.
"If you want to be happy,
be.” - Leo Tolstoy
The Waverunner had finally received its baptismal iconic Red Bull branding.
The day before the XXL Big Wave Awards in Anaheim California, we were
celebrating Maya's 21st birthday with Carlos and I in tow to Santa Barbara
to get the Waverunner loaded, secured and shipped. True to Murphy's
law, the plan was vacated, so we decided to go for a Jet Ski ride up
the Gaviota coast to Hollister Ranch. We hooked up with Paul Schulte
and off we went, a bit discouraged, but then when we all came together
on the Pacific Ocean, the brilliance of its beauty took center stage.
We parked our disappointment and celebrated life. A very easy thing
to do with a simple choice. But it wasn't over, we still had to purchase
supplies, a trailer, and secure paperwork, plus attend the XXL Awards.
It became a 750 mile driving adventure during a heat spell in Socal
that blasted 104 degrees. The time together was hectic, but fun.
'True life is lived when tiny changes occur.”
- Leo Tolstoy
A month later we are playing groundhog day. Maya is
flying back from Brazil, we meet at our home, hook up the Waverunner
that has been sleeping in our driveway, drive to the shipping company,
lunch and back to the airport for her flight home to Hawai'i.
Life has an ebb and flow just like the tides and moods of the moon and
ocean's pull. My mother always reminds me of this, and women's bodies
are connected to this well enough. The feminine aspect of life is one
of growth, birth and caretaking. I also prefer risk taking. Thank you
very much, and so does Maya, and why not? You just have to give yourself
permission from time to time. We pulled up at Hawai'ian shipping in
Compton to get the Waverunner prepared for its first overseas journey,
by a big shipping tanker. It appears it will arrive in a fast clip of
five days. Wow!
Why are ships always referred to as 'female' in respect? Was it because
sailing men in the days of old missed their women and gave credit to
saving their lives in harrowing storms? I guess that sounds romantic
enough. The Red Bull Waverunner will soon be put through its paces as
Maya begins her training for the upcoming winter season off the waters
of Oahu. I'm going to come over in July and we'll spend some time getting
in step with the ocean's pulse, it is going to be great fun and an incredible
time to learn. Their Yamaha FX 140 is a great ocean going boat, it is
going to love to go to work for them!
"Woman, you see, is an object
of such a kind that study it as much as you will, it is always quite
new.” - Leo Tolstoy
Titia Maya; our little Shaniah has lost her newest best friend to a
Waverunner, boo hoo! Shaniah crawled right into Maya's lap and introduced
her to her favorite Dora the Explorer children's DVD. We spent the night
at home listening to Shaniah not wanting to go sleep unless she and
Maya could have a slumber party. Unfortunately mother ruled and Shaniah
fell asleep after many protests. It is great for our daughters to see
our sisters and mothers going out and treading their dreams, going the
distance, and changing the world. More women need to give themselves
permission to do the right thing, not the acceptable thing and do what
you are afraid to do! Of course within reason. A Jet Ski is a good reason.
"Boredom: the desire for
desires” - Leo Tolstoy
The end for California and the beginning for Hawai'i, the first Waverunner
for Gabeira, but certainly not the last. She and Carlos arrived at Morro
Bay in California on December 5th, right after the big swell that hit
Ghost Tree in Carmel, and we trained for 4 days straight in storm surge
waters. That was the launch and now the load is next. What Burle and
Gabeira are doing is what I call 'Professional'. They are creating a
program to ensure success, reduce potential liabilities, so they can
excel and enjoy with assurance their abilities and to compliment them
when the ocean wakes up with a personality that gifts us that seek big
waves, or maybe bigger waves. It is the Ride of Your Life, and it won't
end until the end.
Oh yeah I want to say hello to Mae and Papai back home in Rio, your
kid is doing great!
See you soon Sister!
Shawn Alladio
TheLivesYouSave.com
