There is no greater feeling than the thrill of surfing for Simon Coles. The power of a wave pushes against his board and he lifts his arms as though he was flying. Feeling the air between his fingertips and the sprays of water on his face, the taste of salt on his lips, hearing the break of the waves crashing ashore and the sounds of the birds that flap by is an adventurous and liberating experience. Riding the waves of the deep blue sea brings out the best in him.
He describes the sea as his private getaway to relief stress and to clear his mind from the hassle of everyday life.
For a period of time in his life nothing was more important than the bliss of riding a wave and he even travelled across the hemisphere to compete against other surf-loving dudes.
However, Simon said that it was hard to make a living from surfing and as the years went by it became difficult to acquire sponsorship. Soon the aquatic phase slowly faded into memory as his contracting business, Nomis Limited grew, and he became a father. Neglecting his passion, he put his family and career first, but this led to a disastrous attack on his individuality.
“When I was a little boy I loved to surf. I grew up in Hoytes Hill and I use to run down to Sandy Lane or ride my bike after school to ride waves. It got so addictive that I would even skip school at times,” he said, laughing.
“I found out about surfing when I was six years old. I saw some children at Mullins trying to ride on a fridge. I ran out to the reef and tried to copy them, I got it done and that was it for me. When I got home I told my dad I wanted a surfboard and kept telling him that every day until I got one.
“When I saw Robert Kelly Slater, the greatest surfer, I took surfing as a profession, focused on getting proper equipment and represented Barbados in regional and international competitions.
“When I was 14, I ranked third in the world after competing in the Sprite Caribbean Cup and from there I surfed full-time. I wanted to travel and compete for a living because I was obsessed.
“When you are out there it is a different world, it’s just you and Mother Nature. I was able to disconnect from what was going on in my life and escape situations that weren’t the happiest. Some of the best memories of my life came from surfing and I did it every single day.
“It also was a healthy lifestyle and it gave me the opportunity to visit almost every country in the Caribbean chain.
“I surfed until I was 27 and eventually reality hit me. The quality of life I wanted was really hard to sustain; surfing is one of the most expensive sports. Luckily I began working at one of my father’s companies and then I branched into my own.”
As this point Simon’s life started to change. He was still going to the beach and competing but on a part-time basis. He said he had to prioritise his career to make a steady income to support his family.
“I became a workaholic and was stuck in an unhealthy lifestyle,” he said.
“When you start your own business you want it to flourish so bad that it becomes your sole focus; it is all you think about day and night. So eventually I stopped surfing and gained an enormous amount of weight.
“I did not feel good about myself and after reaching 293 pounds I decided I had to do something about it. I tried a number of weight loss programmes and diets and they did not work. My friend Marcia Jones encouraged me to go on the HCG programme offered at Donna Matthews’ Caribbean Weight Loss Clinic and Spa.
“When I met Donna she told me I was obese and that I needed to shed 114 pounds. I realised that the programme was a team approach in that I needed a nutritionist and psychologist.
“At first I was really miserable and complaining. I was losing weight but I was vex that I could not eat what I wanted to. But after dropping 100 pounds I began to change mentally.”
When Simon dropped the weight he was able to surf again and spend more quality time with his family. He said life was more than about making money. He told EASY that after completing the HCG weight loss programme the happiness of life reemerged.
“When the conditions are right for the perfect waves I help rally up sports photographers with the guys in my surf group and we host small events.
“I am now into swell chasing. In addition to surfing I like to track storms for the best quality of waves. Barbados is ranked 12th in the world in terms of the best quality of waves which makes our island a huge destination in sports tourism.”
The 41 year-old told EASY magazine that his entire outlook on life changed as well and he realised the HCG programme not only helped him to lose weight but he became more conscious.
“I came here to lose weight but I also developed mentally. I literally lost a whole person and a new one emerged.
“Some of my relationships in life folded for some reason, I realised people didn’t want to see me do well. I had friends who weighed the same as me and when I dropped the weight they did not want to be friends anymore.”
When Simon dropped the weight he was able to surf again and spend more quality time with his family. He said life was more than about making money. He told EASY that after completing the HCG weight loss programme the happiness of life re-emerged.
So look for Simon riding high on the waves and high on life.
weight but I was vex that I could not eat what I wanted to. But after dropping 100 pounds I began to change mentally.”
When Simon dropped the weight he was able to surf again and spend more quality time with his family. He said life was more than about making money. He told EASY that after completing the HCG weight loss programme the happiness of life re-emerged.
“When the conditions are right for the perfect waves I help rally up sports photographers with the guys in my surf group and we host small events.
“I am now into swell chasing. In addition to surfing I like to track storms for the best quality of waves. Barbados is ranked 12th in the world in terms of the best quality of waves which makes our island a huge destination in sports tourism.”
The 410 year-old told EASY magazine that his entire outlook on life changed as well and he realised the HCG programme not only helped him to lose weight but he became more conscious.
“I came here to lose weight but I also developed mentally. I literally lost a whole person and a new one emerged.
“Some of my relationships in life folded for some reason, I realised people didn’t want to see me do well. I had friends who weighed the same as me and when I dropped the weight they did not want to be friends anymore.”
So look for Simon riding high on the waves and high on life. (SB)
