Adi Gluska
Adi, from Tel-Aviv, Israel, started surfing at the age of eight and has been surfing for the past 18 years. This young Israeli is considered by many to be the best surfer in Israel and the country's strongest hope of WQS success. He has dedicated his life and imagination to sport in general, and specifically wave surfing. The desire to understand the sport and its components has pushed him forward in achieving his goals. During his military service, Adi experienced and guided others through intensive training and learned a lot about borders and limits of the body and soul of a human being. While studying alternative medicine, Adi has strengthened his understanding about connection between body and mind. Today, Adi spend his time out of the water studying physiotherapy.
- When did you make your decision to dedicate your life to your chosen sport?
"I am not sure it was a matter of decision; I just grew in to it -as surfing is a way of life."
- What's the best thing that happened to you in the past year?
"Actually there have been few, some of them are not connected directly to the surf life but thanks to the balance surfing bring to my life I was able to make them happen, one of few great things from the surf life was to coach and accompany the O'NEILL Juniors at the past summer during the Juniors Events (as I have background of fitness instructing and a physiotherapist). I feel privileged to do that, I have enjoyed it allot and felt great fulfillment."
- What are your plans for the next 12 months?
"To surf, to participate in some events, a surf trip and again – to train the juniors."
- How do you see your sport evolving in the next 5 years?
"At the competitive aspect - As time passing by, the sport is becoming more and more professional and the age of the surfers who become professionals is decreasing, in 5 years time I believe that the average age of the WCT competitors will be much younger than it is today."
- Who do you think is doing a good job of pushing the sport at the moment, and what are they doing differently?
"All the brands are pushing the sport these days. The ones that are doing the best are the ones who understand the surfing way of life and are creative enough to choose a line that applies to the common surfer. The nice thing about surfing is that it is a very natural, healthy, free - like type of sport. In my eyes, most surfers who live surfing, and the ones who want to identify themselves as surfers, have a simple way of life(or, incase of the second group- want to have a simple way of life). Usually for surfers- the driving force in life is that simple thing of going to the beach, put on our shorts, our leash and next thing we are in the water catching waves and trying to express ourselves honestly as we can by riding them to our and theirs maximal potential. Things that are created for the surfers and the ones who want to belong to the surfer's world need to be creative but simple. The brands that manage to perform that, are the ones who are pushing the sport the best way."
- Have you been filming recently, and who with? What can the kids see you in?
"Yes, I have just came back from a video and photo shoot at the Maldives. We are working on a movie to be released in a few months time. Parts of the video and photos can be seen at my site: www.adigluska.com"
- Do you ever feel burnt out, and what do to turn things around?
"Sure, then I balance that filling with other things or obligations that are important, and thanks to surfing I put it aside and sure enough the desire for surfing comes back."
- What advice would you give to any kids wanting to turn pro?
"If you want to turn pro, first make sure you are talented enough and that you are young enough to become better than the average competitor, otherwise you may waste your time and energy and may feel very frustrated trying and usually failing to do well on competitions. Once you are sure of that and you have decided to become a pro, work as hard as you can on your surfing and on your physical and mental health, combine with positive people and try to stay away from negative influences."
- Other than your chosen sport, what else are you passionate about?
"Reading books and gaining knowledge on as many things that I can.
- Where on this planet would you like to retire to, and why?
"In Israel. Where I have my family, my best friends and my home."
- What are you doing tomorrow?
"Tomorrow is Friday- my favorite day of the week. I will go surfing, than I will help my father at work, go for a coffee with my friends, rest with my wife at noon, than go back for an evening surf session and close the day with a long family dinner."
- If your life wasn't what it already is, what do you think you'd be doing instead?
"Surfing led my life to what it is today (surfing for 24 years). Without surfing I would have been in a very different state of mind, I guess I would have been a totally different person from whom I am today and I have no freekin' clue who that might be."
- What's the best thing about riding for O'Neill?
"The connection with O'Neill brings out the best of me in all our mutual activities. O'Neill gives me support and attention to my needs and I enjoy giving my support back to O'Neill."