July 12th 2022: The luck of the Irish

The notion of luck seems to be a very willing servant of the tall poppy syndrome set, and those who choose to define their world by the lucky and the unlucky. One of my favourites is when someone attributes another's success to luck. That used to really irk me. Until the day a motocrosser put me straight.

I remember scrambling around a motocross track photographing Darryll King in my very early career as we captured some images for his World Motocross Championship-chasing team gear and sponsors. We got on to chatting about the sport and achieving at the highest level (Darryll had been in the world top 10 for about five years then and oozed professionalism). In my view, it was only a matter of time before he won a World Championship.

We talked about Australian racer Jeff Leisk running out of fuel with a lap to go and losing the World Motocross Championship as a result (it would have been Australia's first). We talked about luck.

"Do you believe in luck?" I asked him.

"Yes, but I believe you create your own luck," Darryll replied. "The training I do today, the photographs I'll send to my sponsors, the self-belief I generate from eating well, traning hard, resting and living healthily ... that will generate my luck."

There it was as clear as day – a description that put luck in its rightful place. A thing you earned, a collection of good decisions, and that self-belief.

And this past Saturday night when Johnny Sexton and his men took on the All Blacks in the second test of the 2022 Steinlager Series, we witnessed the true luck of the Irish ... and we also know that luck had nothing to do with it.

See you at the beach ... Derek

PS Feel like staying surf fit over winter? Want to retain your flexibility for those big reos you've always wanted to do? Well, every Monday night at 6pm Christian is holding a 1-hour crossfit-inspired surf fitness session at the clubrooms down at the beach. We've been to a few and they are really fun with a good crew. Then on Wednesday nights at 6pm Lauren Jane runs a pilates and meditation session (also comes highly recommended). Both are held at the South Coast Boardriders Club rooms on St Clair Esplanade and both ask a small koha in return for the session. So good ... do both we reckon.