Things I Learned Along the Way — Huck’s Fiftieth Anniversary Special collects lessons learned and creative advice from fifty of the most inspiring people we know. Each day we’ll be sharing a new excerpt from the magazine. Today, Kassia Meador shares how she found fulfilment and happiness in the California desert, by letting go of the idea that she should have only one career.

#30 – Kassia Meador

Kassia picked up a longboard for the first time in Malibu, aged fourteen, and quickly established a name for herself by winning her first-ever contest, the Roxy Wahine Classic at San Onofre, California in 1997. Having just turned thirty-three, she can now look back on a glittering surfing career; her effortless cross-stepping and nose-riding have won her respect and admiration as one of the best longboarders, male or female, in the history of the sport. Six or seven years ago, Kassia remembers hitting a big brick wall. Surfing and travelling weren’t fulfilling her anymore.

Meador wrestled with herself, but one pivotal trip to the desert helped it all make sense. It was New Year’s Eve and she was with her brother and her two best friends at a house party in Oceanside, California. After just drinking coffee all night, at 4am she persuaded them to jump in the car and drove them out into the desert. They hiked their way past wind caves to the summit of the tallest peak in sight.

“The sun was starting to rise on one side, the moon was setting and we were watching both of them. I just had that moment when I knew there was so much more out there. It really was a defining moment which put me on the path to where I am today. I will always be a surfer, it’s inspired so much of my life, but that’s when I really started to push all my other inspirations and realised I shouldn’t feel guilty about not surfing all day, every day.”

“Some people just really put their head into one thing, but I know now I’m not that kind of person. I feel like having all my passions leaves me more inspired. Surfing, photography, design, travel… all those parts make me who I am. Exploring things in other ways made surfing that much more vibrant to me, you know. All those things contribute to making everything else that much more powerful and that much more beautiful. You’re creating all these different experiences and everything becomes three dimensional, rather than one dimensional.”

This is just a short excerpt from Huck’s Fiftieth Special, a collection of fifty personal stories from fifty inspiring lives.

Grab a copy now to read all fifty stories in full. Subscribe to make sure you don’t miss another issue.

Inside Lower Duck Pond, the nicest town on the internet

/r/HaveWeMet — With a population of 2,500 and no fixed location, the subreddit is a space for roleplaying citizens to solve mysteries, host fictional events and ultimately connect. In an internet that’s often divided and toxic, Vicky Jessop hangs out in one of its most wholesome corners.

Written by: Vicky Jessop

A desert sunrise helped everything make sense for surfer Kassia Meador

#30 – Kassia Meador

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#30 – Kassia Meador

You might like

In photos: Black Texas life since emancipation

Youthful joy & end-of-era poignancy at a London school prom

Harry Gruyaert’s vintage, kaleidoscopic scenes of New York

In the pit at one of the UK’s last stock car & banger speedways

Inside Lower Duck Pond, the nicest town on the internet

A major Nan Goldin exhibition is coming to London

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