Week of Dec. 18-From SURF to STABLE
I just returned from our annual trip to the Billabong Pipe Masters on Oahu's North Shore in which I happily reciprocate supporting my husband's "lifestyle" sport just as he is fantastic about supporting my equestrian endeavors. In equestrian terms, this event we attend could be likened to a cross between the East Coast indoor circuit in the hunter/jumper world and the FEI World Cup, as all of the best surfers from the World Surf League convene through qualification in the same location.
My husband, Tim, has surfed since he was a small child and it remains his passion and the culture in which he enjoys, much like I cherish my horses. He has always been more of what you call a "soul surfer", one who rides more at rhythm with the waves, and over the last few years he has focused even more of his energy to capturing the lifestyle through photography. He continues to enjoy traveling to various breaks around the world, but if he is not on his board he is very content concentrating through his lens.
This trip was much more fun as I am finally starting to understand how the contest is run, who to watch, and the general terminology. Imagine attending a horse show and not knowing the difference between hunters and jumpers- that is how I previously felt at this event! Additionally, we are both improving at navigating through the basic logistics of the North Shore as it is not the easiest to get around during contest time. As an added bonus, Tim and I both had a super time connecting with entrepreneur Molly Mattson, founder of the Little War Horse, and resident of the North Shore of Hawaii. Although the weather didn't totally cooperate, my husband was animated in his element and it was a great reminder to me to always support my partner's passion. I am filled with gratitude that we are fortunate enough to know what we love and love what we do!
Aloha
I. SHOP FOR HIM
LITTLE WAR HORSE/ WORLD WAR ONE T
How does an amateur hunter rider in Idaho connect with a well-known hunter/jumper trainer currently residing on the North Shore of Oahu? Social Media, specifically Instagram.
The Little War Horse clothing and accessory company was one of the first “cool” Instagram (@littlewarhorse) accounts I started following due to the gutsy images that are meant to remind us of the impact the horse has had on civilization throughout history. I had the opportunity to visit with founder Molly Mattson and by chance my husband, Tim, bumped into us and joined us for coffee. It was a collision of cultures as Molly and I chatted about the hunter/jumper industries, Tim and Molly discussed surfing locations, and all three of us discussed business practices.
My husband is quite a supporter of my passion for riding, but he is easy to locate at horse shows because of his non-equestrian wardrobe consisting of flip-flops, shorts, and t-shirts. Molly to the rescue. She was incredibly hospitable and without even knowing Tim would be present, she brought him an ultra soft men’s t-shirt that is part of Little War Horses World War One Series. To my surprise, my non-horse husband thought he was very cool and changed into his new shirt when we returned to our cottage. I have a feeling I will need to stock up for future horse shows.
$40
Shop at LITTLEWARHORSE.com
Stay posted on our future story in our regular column “Entrepreneurs to Admire” featuring Molly and the story behind Little War Horse.
II. DRINK/NOURISH
VEGAN BULLET COFFEE
I’m always touting that equestrians are athletes and we need to cross train and fuel our bodies with healthy ingredients. I am neither a nutritionist nor a trainer, but I do work diligently at staying in shape, even when on holiday. When the opportunity presented itself to try vegan bullet coffee with a former world champion surfer and ultra health nut at a small coffee stand on Sunset Beach, I jumped at the opportunity. I loved the flavor and had energy for hours!
To best describe Bulletproof coffee, I turned to OneGreenPlanet.com for the following explanation,“…it involves making a clean, non-toxic coffee free of pesticides, herbicides, etc. and blending it with medium chain triglyceride (MCT) fats which increase energy and possibly performance, and are said to ward off hunger. Dr. Frank Lipman even says these fats have been shown to improve digestion and lead to a higher metabolism. Once coffee is blended with a source of MCT fats, a rich, frothy beverage results that’s consumed first thing in the day. (1)" I have been deterred from this beverage in the past because the traditional recipe typically incorporates grass-fed dairy butter, which usually does not agree with my digestive system.
To download the recipe provided by One Green Planet, that includes organic coffee (or chai or green tea), organic (raw) extra virgin coconut oil, non-dairy milk (i.e. coconut milk or unsweetened almond), ground vanilla and a few other optional ingredients, CLICK HERE.
(1) onegreenplanet.com
III. WEAR
MADEWELL BACKPACK
I first spotted this soft Italian leather backpack with subtle equestrian details in the form of stud closures on a girl next to me during a layover at the San Francisco airport. I seem to be a frequent traveler again and I wanted a cool rucksack that didn’t scream “I am late for school” or “my horse is in the next class” and that would fasten so my contents would not spill over when the bag is tipped. The dimensions are just large enough to expand to fit my laptop and other accessories when in route and I then tighten up the drawstrings for a smaller bag to cruise around almost any locale.
$198 (25% with code LATEBIRD)
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