SURFERMAG.COM CURRENT ISSUE: VOL 44#1

The Chemistry of Fear (con't)

Looking forward, it's surprising that, considering the multi-million dollar athletic performance supplement industry, no serious research is apparently being done on "fear suppressant." Working as a biochemist consultant, I have come across a number of compounds that have the potential to help reduce the negative effects of fear without compromising athletic performance. None, however, have ever been investigated for this particular use. It seems that the idea of "courage in a bottle" is still some years distant.

In the meantime it can benefit just about any surfer to better understand how one weighs in on the macho surf scale. Of primary importance is to learn what sort of sensation seeker you are, "risk averse" or not. Accompanying this feature is a thirteen-question quiz adapted from one developed by Dr. Zuckerman. While by no means definitive, it will at least give you some idea of how high you rate on the SS scale. Of course it goes without saying that honesty is essential-your first session at macking Teahupoo is no time to be confronted with the truth about oneself.

One thing to remember, according to Dr. Zuckerman and some of the most accomplished extreme athletes in the country, is that risk is relative. One man's death-defying feat is another's day at the office. And while, for example, I might be comfortable enough in double-overhead Ocean Beach, I realize I'm a long way from paddling out on a big day at Waimea Bay and pulling into a set wave. The point is that risk and the anxiety that accompanies it are moderated by experience and confidence in one's ability. As Flea said in a recent interview, confidence is everything. When you're absolutely convinced that you can do it, chances are you can-even if afterwards your hands might shake for at least a good thirty seconds.

Oliver Starr, 34, is a former extreme skier and professional bike racer, now addicted to surfing the biggest waves he can survive-although his 13 point score on the risk self-assessment quiz makes him a prime candidate for early retirement. When not attempting to injure himself doing idiotic things, Oliver does biochemistry related consulting work and writes occasional articles for magazines like SURFER.