A waterman since birth, Zane Kekoa Schweitzer holds 15 World Championship victories, including ISA World Champion, two-time Ultimate Waterman and four-time Master of the Ocean Champion. He leads a full and present life as he travels the world competing, chasing giant waves, teaching surf clinics to adults and children and talking story. Schweitzer is the author of Beneath the Surface, a book that weaves teachings with tales of his travels, competitions and motivations that all led to his InZane life.
I’ve had to continually adapt to a new daily routine due to my schedule and travels. The only practice I can confidently say that I’ve held over my professional career has been journaling. The rewards have been profound, and I owe so much of my success professionally and personally to this single practice.
I remember visiting my grandmother Diane Schweitzer before my first world tour circuit at 11 years old. She said, “Zane, one day you’ll be old like your grandfather and me, so write down your experiences with the world and its people. Then, they’ll never be forgotten,” and gave me a journal.
Fast-forward 15 years, and journaling has been a part of my daily routine ever since, no matter the time zone, the location, the state of mind, or intensity of tasks to that day. I have two journals on me at all times. One is for short-form gratitude and manifestation toward daily desired outcomes, and the others are for performance growth and wisdom: competitive experiences through wins and losses, training and diet. There is also room for in-depth, long-form journaling about skills, relationships, knowledge, lessons learned and ever-growing philosophy. Journaling has made me the man that I am today, the champion I have become and given grounding mindfulness to continue a relentless, purposeful pursuit of my dreams. Here’s how I do it.