Newsletter
The Conditions of Success
1/28/26
1/28/26
HALF / LIFE
December '25
Today's email: ~ 520 words | 2.5 min read
10,000 Hours.
Sometimes you know what you're training for.
A 70.3 Ironman, a mountain climb, a specific goal with a date on the calendar. And sometimes you don't.
This past fall I went to French Polynesia to advance my free diving skills and swim with humpback whales. It was an amazing trip that is available to all Half-Life members. The free diving was at an undisclosed location but I knew we'd be on or near water, so I brought my wing foil and tow foil gear in the off chance I could use it. We were consumed during the week bell to bell with chasing sea life and free diving. Each day we'd leave the inner waters, go through a reef that encircled the island, to the deep water to find the whales. Each day I'd look at the break of the reef and assess viability for tow foil.
On Saturday, the group went on a hike to a waterfall. It was my chance to get on foil.
My Only Chance
There was an old school panga boat available and I asked Coco Shu to pull me. I had brought a tow rope. He'd never towed anyone before so we needed some time to get used to him pulling me up and speed management. The backdrop, the green mountains of Tahiti. While being on flat water was novel and fun, I wanted to get into the surf.
"Coco Shu, please take me to a deep break on the reef."
I sat in the boat with a smile on my face as he took me where he thought was best. I almost shit myself when that place was Teahupo'o.
Teahupo'o, pronounced "chop-pu," is Tahiti's world famous, notoriously heavy, and dangerous surf break. Incredibly thick, powerful waves that break over a shallow, sharp coral reef. It was featured in the Olympics. And while nervous, this was my chance. Likely my only chance in my lifetime. So I hopped in.
To get dropped onto the wave, I had to ride heel side on the wake. This is atypical for most riders. Then I had to coach Coco Shu how to drop a foiler into a wave. He had never towed someone into this break. Then I had to ride the wave heel side knowing that if I made a mistake and fell, I'd be on essentially bare reef.
We made 8 drops, progressively more critical. Nothing inside the tube but legit wave rides that drew whoops from the local surfers. When Coco Shu was asked later by my fellow divers what the size of the waves were that day, he said 6 meters. 18 feet. He was the French surfing champion back in the day, so his credibility is solid.
The Work Before The Wave
It was a session I'll never forget. It was also one made possible by 10,000 hours of preparation.
I always include heel side riding on my wake foil sessions. I've towed into yacht waves, freighter waves, north shore of Maui waves. Together with Johnny, we've towed into waves at all angles and have spent countless hours heelside, crossing wakes, and increasing our wave IQ. It was the training and preparation we did without knowing what the physical challenge would be.
In this case, it was foiling one of the world's greatest breaks. A feat likely done by less than 10 people.
Sometimes you don't know what you're training for. But you train anyway. That's building season.
What's Happening on the Channels
HALF / LIFE on YouTube:
Also Popular on YouTube:
The Best Women's Ski 2026: Reviews & Comparison
In this full review and comparison, we break down the top-performing skis of the season — tested and reviewed for every type of skier. From carving groomers to chasing powder, find out which model fits your style and terrain best.
We put the Stöckli Nela 88, Armada Reliance 88C, K2 Mindbender, Völkl Mantra (formerly Secret), Nordica Santa Ana 92, and Atomic Maven head-to-head to see how they perform on snow, their flex and feel, and who each ski is really made for.
Whether you're an advanced skier or just upgrading your setup for 2026, this guide will help you choose your perfect match for the mountains.
HALF / LIFE on Instagram
Follow @halflifet.5 to stay in the loop.
Tag us in your next session and we'll repost the stoke.
Closing It Out
This is building season. The hours that don't make the highlight reel. The skills you sharpen without knowing when you'll need them. Keep building.
See you next Thursday.
All the best,
-Tim
HALF / LIFE
P.S. If you know someone you think would really enjoy this email,
click the link below, fill out the form, and send them your kind of stoke!
Copyright (C) 2026 HALF-LIFE. All rights reserved.
HALF / LIFE
December '25
Today's email: ~ 520 words | 2.5 min read
10,000 Hours.
Sometimes you know what you're training for.
A 70.3 Ironman, a mountain climb, a specific goal with a date on the calendar. And sometimes you don't.
This past fall I went to French Polynesia to advance my free diving skills and swim with humpback whales. It was an amazing trip that is available to all Half-Life members. The free diving was at an undisclosed location but I knew we'd be on or near water, so I brought my wing foil and tow foil gear in the off chance I could use it. We were consumed during the week bell to bell with chasing sea life and free diving. Each day we'd leave the inner waters, go through a reef that encircled the island, to the deep water to find the whales. Each day I'd look at the break of the reef and assess viability for tow foil.
On Saturday, the group went on a hike to a waterfall. It was my chance to get on foil.
My Only Chance
There was an old school panga boat available and I asked Coco Shu to pull me. I had brought a tow rope. He'd never towed anyone before so we needed some time to get used to him pulling me up and speed management. The backdrop, the green mountains of Tahiti. While being on flat water was novel and fun, I wanted to get into the surf.
"Coco Shu, please take me to a deep break on the reef."
I sat in the boat with a smile on my face as he took me where he thought was best. I almost shit myself when that place was Teahupo'o.
Teahupo'o, pronounced "chop-pu," is Tahiti's world famous, notoriously heavy, and dangerous surf break. Incredibly thick, powerful waves that break over a shallow, sharp coral reef. It was featured in the Olympics. And while nervous, this was my chance. Likely my only chance in my lifetime. So I hopped in.
To get dropped onto the wave, I had to ride heel side on the wake. This is atypical for most riders. Then I had to coach Coco Shu how to drop a foiler into a wave. He had never towed someone into this break. Then I had to ride the wave heel side knowing that if I made a mistake and fell, I'd be on essentially bare reef.
We made 8 drops, progressively more critical. Nothing inside the tube but legit wave rides that drew whoops from the local surfers. When Coco Shu was asked later by my fellow divers what the size of the waves were that day, he said 6 meters. 18 feet. He was the French surfing champion back in the day, so his credibility is solid.
The Work Before The Wave
It was a session I'll never forget. It was also one made possible by 10,000 hours of preparation.
I always include heel side riding on my wake foil sessions. I've towed into yacht waves, freighter waves, north shore of Maui waves. Together with Johnny, we've towed into waves at all angles and have spent countless hours heelside, crossing wakes, and increasing our wave IQ. It was the training and preparation we did without knowing what the physical challenge would be.
In this case, it was foiling one of the world's greatest breaks. A feat likely done by less than 10 people.
Sometimes you don't know what you're training for. But you train anyway. That's building season.
What's Happening on the Channels
HALF / LIFE on YouTube:
Also Popular on YouTube:
The Best Women's Ski 2026: Reviews & Comparison
In this full review and comparison, we break down the top-performing skis of the season — tested and reviewed for every type of skier. From carving groomers to chasing powder, find out which model fits your style and terrain best.
We put the Stöckli Nela 88, Armada Reliance 88C, K2 Mindbender, Völkl Mantra (formerly Secret), Nordica Santa Ana 92, and Atomic Maven head-to-head to see how they perform on snow, their flex and feel, and who each ski is really made for.
Whether you're an advanced skier or just upgrading your setup for 2026, this guide will help you choose your perfect match for the mountains.
HALF / LIFE on Instagram
Follow @halflifet.5 to stay in the loop.
Tag us in your next session and we'll repost the stoke.
Closing It Out
This is building season. The hours that don't make the highlight reel. The skills you sharpen without knowing when you'll need them. Keep building.
See you next Thursday.
All the best,
-Tim
HALF / LIFE
P.S. If you know someone you think would really enjoy this email,
click the link below, fill out the form, and send them your kind of stoke!
Copyright (C) 2026 HALF-LIFE. All rights reserved.
