As a little kid, Mike Stewart dreamed of being free to surf whenever he wanted to. He spent his time in school drawing perfect waves and then imagining how he would surf them. He learned everything he could about waves, what made them break, where they came from and why. When other kids were learning long division, he was deep in the tube about to get the barrel of a lifetime. Forced to learn long division, he would quickly learn the skill and then return to the Ocean he had created in his mind. Dependent on his parents for rides to the beach, he made full use of every minute he was in the water. He learned to surf in record time. He went from being a "kook" to a hot "shredder" overnight. As a seventh grader he moved with his mother to the Big Island. School was still an issue, however he was now able to explore new waves in the absence of crowds. Mike Stewart went from being a hot kid to the best kid in the water. Several attempts were made to break him of his obsession with the Ocean. The final straw was a private high school on the mainland. During this time he stayed true to his passion for the surf and won the battle of his education. Allowed to graduate from public high school in Kona on the Big Island, he was free at last to pursue his dream. He quickly established himself as the best body boarder in the world. Winning contest after contest, he traveled the world enjoying the sweet taste of victory while setting new standards for performance. Mike Steward became the World Champion and a successful professional athlete. Twenty years later and Mike Stewart continues to be at the top of the sport that he helped to define.

Mike Stewart has created the life the enables him to live his dream. Living on the Big Island, surfing on the North Shore of Oahu, doing business on the mainland, competing in 3 or 4 major contests a year and traveling to remote spots for 6 or 7 photo shoots a year. Mike Stewart is extremely busy and extremely successful. How does he do it? The answer is simple, he follows his plan, and this plan allows him to focus, to create the right amount of energy, to maintain the structure that gives meaning to his life and to continue to dream.

Focus
To focus is to combine a specific thought and feeling to produce a "state," i.e., relaxed, intense, etc. To focus is to think in a feeling sense; a skill referred to as sensualizing. To focus is to concentrate on the details (narrow focus) or to be receptive to the feelings at hand (broad focus). Mike Stewart has established a plan for each day that provides him with the time he needs to concentrate on the details of his business and be receptive to the feelings so important to his performance in the water. At a recent contest Mike Stewart demonstrated his ability to focus. The contest was being held at the Pipeline in waves that were huge and out of control. The officials decided to run the finals in spite of violent opposition from the competitors, Mike Stewart included. Once in the water, the conditions went from horrible to worse. Somehow Mike Stewart was able to find the lineup and catch enough waves to win the contest hands down. In conditions that were unrideable, Mike Stewart was able manage his frustration and focus on the job at hand.
In the words of Kainoa McGee, "I have competed against Mike since little kid days. His ability to focus is what set's him apart from the rest of the pack. While some of us have caught up with him in terms of talent and skills, it is the intensity of his focus that allows him to maintain his competitive edge and win on a consistent basis."

Energy
Mike Stewart follows a training schedule that allows him to create the energy he needs to perform at his best. He eats right, he drinks the right amount of fluids, he rests when he needs to, he gets the right amount of sleep, and he works hard to maintain his aerobic conditioning, flexibility and strength. At the age of 35 he looks and performs like a man half his age.
In the words of Bernie Baker of SURFER MAGAZINE, "Like a fish Mike Stewart has no age look. He is as good as he was from day one."

Structure
Mike Stewart has set up a structure for his life that allows him to work hard, play hard, have fun and spend quality time with his family and friends. He is able to balance the time he spends being productive, having fun and maintaining his relationships.
In the words of Mark Cunningham, former Life Guard at the Pipeline, "Mike Stewart is a World Class Athlete and a World Class Person. On the most crowded and intense day at the Pipeline he can paddle out and get waves. A result of the respect he has earned from everyone in the water. Mike is simply the best surfer and the best person to ever surf the Pipeline."

Dream
Mike Stewart continues to set new standards of what is possible in extreme conditions. Having pioneered riding huge waves on a body board he is busy pushing the limits. In a recent conversation I asked him why. "I love to put myself in situations where I am forced to concentrate to survive. I love to experience the rush of being on the edge of what is possible. I love to perform at the limit of my ability but I am not willing to take risks for the sake of taking risks and seeking thrills. In fact, I have been criticized for pulling back on waves at Jaws that I knew were not safe. I am comfortable with my ability to do what is right for me." In the words of photographer Darrell Wong,
"Mike Stewart has an incredible amount of courage. I have seen him take off on some really big waves at Jaws on that tiny-little board. Most impressive are the 15 to 18 foot waves that I have seen him ride at the Pipeline. The take-off is completely vertical followed by that insane barrel. Mike Stewart is an extreme Ocean athlete at the top of his sport."

Mike Stewart is living his dream, he can surf whenever he wants to and he continues to dream of surfing bigger and better waves. As Mike recently explained, "Life seems so short and there is so much I want to do. My curious nature pushes me to the edge of my personal boundaries both in and out of the water. Being on the edge of these boundaries provides me with a heightened sense of living."