SURFERMAG.COM CURRENT ISSUE: VOL 44#1

The Chemistry of Fear (con't)

The Cure for the Common Man

In his script for the 1999 Hollywood surf epic "In God's Hands," surfer-writer Matt George graphically addressed the role fear plays in surfing. During a more recent conversation, George presented me with a very intriguing question: If brain chemistry is a major factor in enabling people to perform well in fear-inducing situations like big waves, is it then possible to alter a more moderate sensation seeker's brain chemistry to be more like that of a thrill seekers? Put simply, could a drug or natural supplement turn a wimp into a waterman?

The answer is, possibly. As we begin to better understand which neurotransmitters differentiate sensation seekers from "normal" people and as we identify compounds, be they drugs or natural ingredients that can be used to manipulate these biochemicals, we may be able to create products that would help attenuate the negative aspects of fear while maximizing the positive ones.

Of course you could simply pop a few Valium and paddle out to Third Reef Pipe, but then drugs that tend to reduce anxiety also kill performance because their effects are so generalized. Natural compounds like the South Pacific kava root (piper methysticum), familiar to all Tavarua visitors, act similarly, but along with their calming effects also function as a muscle relaxant. You definitely don't want to charge big Cloudbreak after a few bowls of kava.