Whether you want to make it as a serious athlete or just need a dose of #fitspo, Tanika Hoffman’s your girl. Here, the successful surfer and traveller extraordinaire talks success, taking it easy, and that Instagram account.
Tanika Hoffman Is Super Chill
No, seriously. When we asked her about the pressures of, you know, being a competitive athlete in highly unpredictable conditions like the ocean, she just shrugged her shoulders. “I think with surfing it’s very unpredictable because you’re relying on the ocean,” she says. “I know with a lot of other sports, as much as you rely on your own ability, the court stays the same, but the ocean is forever changing. […] I just take it as it comes and try and learn from every experience.”
She Accepts Losses
“I think all athletes have that drive to win – otherwise they wouldn’t be competitive athletes,” she says. “I think it’s important to know that you’ll most likely will have more losses than wins, and a lot more losses will happen before you get to your big break.”
She Ditches The Diet
“I’ve never been a huge believer in a diet,” she says. “I believe in a healthy lifestyle and everything in moderation. I try to live a healthy lifestyle; good breakfast, good snacks throughout the day, and there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself every now and again.”
She Loves Life
Sure, her life is way more amazing than the average desk jockey’s, but the trick is being happy with the life you live. Despite not having the best run of competitions lately, she’s still at it. “I’m still at it and I still love what I do. I think it’s just always opening doors, traveling to cool places, meeting new people and always just doing what I love, regardless of getting or not getting those results,” she says.
It’s Not All About Instagram
It’s all palm trees, clear blue water, sun-soaked surfs, bikini’s… but there’s more to her life than the idyllic Instagram account. “I’m more than just surfing – there’s more to life than just surfing,” she says. “I try to do as much as I can along the way to utilise everything that life has to offer.”
Want more? Read about how Serena Williams won the Ozzy Open – while almost two months pregnant, or about these six sportswomen who totally changed the game.
