"I feel like I'm starting over," this is the voice of Kalani Robb, 25, explaining the lessons he has learned from 10 years of being on tour. "At 15, I was the youngest ever, can't miss surf genius to turn pro. I was like the little kid screaming and acting out for attention. When I surfed poorly, I erupted and let my emotions get the best of me. When the surf was junk, I lost interest, and my surfing suffered. When the surf was good, I surfed over the top, but only for me. I ignored the pleas from my parents and sponsors to grow up and surf smart."

So what changed you? I pushed for an explanation to Kalani's new attitude. "Kelly, Rob, Sunny 'them took me in and showed me the ropes. They taught me how to survive. I learned the critical lessons early. I learned how to travel and deal with the money. I learned how to deal with the pressures to win. I learned how to deal with the distractions, the poisons of drugs, the substances that can do you in and groupies, the people that can do you in for what you can do for them."

"Explain the pressures," I asked, as I hoped to understand what it must have been like to be so young and be so talented. Kalani paused to reflect and the expression on his face went soft. "My parents pushed me out of love and concern for my future. The poured their hearts and soul into me, they provided me with everything that I needed to become the surfer I am today. Over the years I have learned to accept and appreciate the contribution that they have made to my life. All along they have been a positive force, they pushed because they just wanted me to be happy and experience success."

"My sponsors, they just pushed for a return on their investment. I was angry and resented them at first. I didn't understand the value of our relationship. My attitude eventually caused problems with them and with my surfing, along the way I lost a few sponsors. Now I appreciate my sponsors and the opportunity they provide for me to make a good living doing what I love most, surfing in competition."

Kalani explains "starting over":
I've spent the first ten years of my career totally imersed in learning; learning how to be patient, learning how to expand my attention span, learning how to treat surfing as a job and learning how to surf at my best in competition. I'm very grateful that I have endured this learning process, for the first time I feel free to surf and let the results just come."

Kalani on winning a World Title:
"I'm at peace. As a kid growing up on the North Shore I dreamed of winning a world title. Then the whole surf world seemed to expect me to win the title and my dream became a nightmare. My dreams are back to being my dreams. My goals are much more realistic, focused on the part of my performance I can control; namely, performing at my best under huge amounts of pressure."

Kalani defines his fire:
"My intensity in the water is a function of my desire to win, pure and simple. I just love to compete. I just want to go up against the best guys in the "narliest" waves and get the deepest tubes, throw the hardest snap backs and get the most air and win."

Kalani goes deep:
"Karma is my God, good things happen to good people. The most important thing for me is to be a good person, respect my elders, handle the challenge of surfing at this level and feel good about the way I live my life."

Keep it Simple:
Kalani Robb learned how to surf at Sunset Beach. He started in the shorebreak and then moved out to the waves at Val's, the waves at the Point and then on to one of the hardest waves on the North Shore to ride, the West Slot. While his parents got him to the beach, his strength in the water, his competitive nature and his athletic ability enabled him to master the waves and the competition. A controversial decision was made for him to go on tour when he was fifteen and still a tenth grader at Kahuku High School. Perhaps his career suffered because he was not ready, or maybe the painful lessons were critical to his present success. No matter, Kalani is now in position to create his own destiny. The lessons have been learned and recorded. He is clear about what he wants to accomplish, aware of what he needs to do to make it happen and committed to the process. He says the right things and acts with humility. He now thrives on the pressure and welcomes the challenges. At 25, he is surfing better than ever with the experience of a seasoned pro. Kalani is presently ranked #11 in the World, in position to be competitive for a very long time and make a lasting contribution. In his words, "I just want to give back to the sport, help out the kids the way the older guys helped me and finish my career as a job well done." That's HiLevel!