[Music] hello everyone like you already know my
hello everyone like you already know my
hello everyone like you already know my name is Gil mantas which you don’t know
name is Gil mantas which you don’t know
name is Gil mantas which you don’t know about me
about me
about me when I was four or five years old I had
when I was four or five years old I had
when I was four or five years old I had a drowning experience I was learning how
a drowning experience I was learning how
a drowning experience I was learning how to swim in a lake and I had to swim
to swim in a lake and I had to swim
to swim in a lake and I had to swim along a low pier to make maybe one meter
along a low pier to make maybe one meter
along a low pier to make maybe one meter meter and a half there was a windsurfing
meter and a half there was a windsurfing
meter and a half there was a windsurfing board in front of me and I just had to
board in front of me and I just had to
board in front of me and I just had to make this short distance yet I went
make this short distance yet I went
make this short distance yet I went straight down to the bottom to this day
straight down to the bottom to this day
straight down to the bottom to this day I remember going underwater some weeds
I remember going underwater some weeds
I remember going underwater some weeds around me small fish swimming by
around me small fish swimming by
around me small fish swimming by windsurfing board ahead also Sun glare
windsurfing board ahead also Sun glare
windsurfing board ahead also Sun glare someone jumping after me and pulling me
someone jumping after me and pulling me
someone jumping after me and pulling me out it wasn’t really dangerous or
out it wasn’t really dangerous or
out it wasn’t really dangerous or anything it happened within a few
anything it happened within a few
anything it happened within a few seconds I didn’t lose consciousness I
seconds I didn’t lose consciousness I
seconds I didn’t lose consciousness I didn’t drink too much water yet it was
didn’t drink too much water yet it was
didn’t drink too much water yet it was quite terrifying to realize how quickly
quite terrifying to realize how quickly
quite terrifying to realize how quickly things can change in the water how
things can change in the water how
things can change in the water how quickly you can lose control and lose
quickly you can lose control and lose
quickly you can lose control and lose your ground if anybody told me back then
your ground if anybody told me back then
your ground if anybody told me back then that I would spend most of my life in
that I would spend most of my life in
that I would spend most of my life in and around the water I would have never
and around the water I would have never
and around the water I would have never believed it yet this is the first
believed it yet this is the first
believed it yet this is the first picture of me surfing just a couple
picture of me surfing just a couple
picture of me surfing just a couple years later in the early 90s nobody
years later in the early 90s nobody
years later in the early 90s nobody believed that their surfing in Lithuania
believed that their surfing in Lithuania
believed that their surfing in Lithuania or in the Baltic Sea you can imagine
or in the Baltic Sea you can imagine
or in the Baltic Sea you can imagine literally just regained independency and
literally just regained independency and
literally just regained independency and Western culture was still quite alien to
Western culture was still quite alien to
Western culture was still quite alien to us
us
us we didn’t have even the right equipment
we didn’t have even the right equipment
we didn’t have even the right equipment I was riding a windsurfing board just
I was riding a windsurfing board just
I was riding a windsurfing board just without the sail I remember coming back
without the sail I remember coming back
without the sail I remember coming back to school after after the summer and
to school after after the summer and
to school after after the summer and writing an essay how I served during the
writing an essay how I served during the
writing an essay how I served during the summer nobody believed it even the
summer nobody believed it even the
summer nobody believed it even the teacher was laughing at me luckily I had
teacher was laughing at me luckily I had
teacher was laughing at me luckily I had the picture to prove them wrong so I
the picture to prove them wrong so I
the picture to prove them wrong so I didn’t get a bad grade
didn’t get a bad grade
didn’t get a bad grade however this addiction to catch another
however this addiction to catch another
however this addiction to catch another wave has literally shaped me as a person
wave has literally shaped me as a person
wave has literally shaped me as a person I kept coming back for more and I still
I kept coming back for more and I still
I kept coming back for more and I still am I might even say that surfing gave me
am I might even say that surfing gave me
am I might even say that surfing gave me a reason to be better at anything I do
a reason to be better at anything I do
a reason to be better at anything I do now before I continue I’d like to ask
now before I continue I’d like to ask
now before I continue I’d like to ask you a question how many of you before
you a question how many of you before
you a question how many of you before entering here today so that there is no
entering here today so that there is no
entering here today so that there is no surfing in Lithuania just raise your
surfing in Lithuania just raise your
surfing in Lithuania just raise your hands
hands
hands just a few well we can continue in the
just a few well we can continue in the
just a few well we can continue in the bar then all right so I’ll take it that
bar then all right so I’ll take it that
bar then all right so I’ll take it that the work we did over the last 10 years
the work we did over the last 10 years
the work we did over the last 10 years paid off but today I’m surfing the waves
paid off but today I’m surfing the waves
paid off but today I’m surfing the waves all over the world I’m the founder
all over the world I’m the founder
all over the world I’m the founder president of Lithuania and surfing
president of Lithuania and surfing
president of Lithuania and surfing Association
Association
Association I’m also an organizer of surf camp
I’m also an organizer of surf camp
I’m also an organizer of surf camp festival surf camp was instrumental to
festival surf camp was instrumental to
festival surf camp was instrumental to bring in surfing to masses in Lithuania
bring in surfing to masses in Lithuania
bring in surfing to masses in Lithuania ten years ago mainstream opinion was
ten years ago mainstream opinion was
ten years ago mainstream opinion was pretty clear there is no surfing in the
pretty clear there is no surfing in the
pretty clear there is no surfing in the suena there are no waves even our
suena there are no waves even our
suena there are no waves even our friends that used Arthur boards like
friends that used Arthur boards like
friends that used Arthur boards like skateboard snowboards wind and kite surf
skateboard snowboards wind and kite surf
skateboard snowboards wind and kite surf and so on even they didn’t believe that
and so on even they didn’t believe that
and so on even they didn’t believe that the waves are good enough for surfing so
the waves are good enough for surfing so
the waves are good enough for surfing so we decided that it’s pointless to fight
we decided that it’s pointless to fight
we decided that it’s pointless to fight this opinion and argue about it let’s
this opinion and argue about it let’s
this opinion and argue about it let’s invite them for a surf camp a couple
invite them for a surf camp a couple
invite them for a surf camp a couple buddies my cousin and I we shaved seven
buddies my cousin and I we shaved seven
buddies my cousin and I we shaved seven boards and invited 50 friends to try
boards and invited 50 friends to try
boards and invited 50 friends to try surfing that’s how it all started with
surfing that’s how it all started with
surfing that’s how it all started with 50 friends at the beach surfing during
50 friends at the beach surfing during
50 friends at the beach surfing during the day listening to music over night
the day listening to music over night
the day listening to music over night and watching surf movies at the beach 10
and watching surf movies at the beach 10
and watching surf movies at the beach 10 years later two thousand people gathered
years later two thousand people gathered
years later two thousand people gathered in brayla this August and we had 480
in brayla this August and we had 480
in brayla this August and we had 480 people trying surfing for the first time
people trying surfing for the first time
people trying surfing for the first time in their life actually surf camp was
in their life actually surf camp was
in their life actually surf camp was growing so fast that we had to scale it
growing so fast that we had to scale it
growing so fast that we had to scale it back after year 6 because we weren’t
back after year 6 because we weren’t
back after year 6 because we weren’t ready to accommodate so many people and
ready to accommodate so many people and
ready to accommodate so many people and the whole idea was that surf camp is an
the whole idea was that surf camp is an
the whole idea was that surf camp is an event which is free of charge and we
event which is free of charge and we
event which is free of charge and we teach anyone who wants to catch a wave
teach anyone who wants to catch a wave
teach anyone who wants to catch a wave and to be safe around the water however
and to be safe around the water however
and to be safe around the water however thanks to surf camp surfing is not so
thanks to surf camp surfing is not so
thanks to surf camp surfing is not so uncommon in the Swaney anymore we have
uncommon in the Swaney anymore we have
uncommon in the Swaney anymore we have surf schools opening up here and there
surf schools opening up here and there
surf schools opening up here and there we have surf shops local news are
we have surf shops local news are
we have surf shops local news are covering our national championships and
covering our national championships and
covering our national championships and local shapers are even producing
local shapers are even producing
local shapers are even producing Lithuanian surfboards suddenly more and
Lithuanian surfboards suddenly more and
Lithuanian surfboards suddenly more and more Lithuanians are travelling the
more Lithuanians are travelling the
more Lithuanians are travelling the world to surf in Spain Portugal Morocco
world to surf in Spain Portugal Morocco
world to surf in Spain Portugal Morocco Latin America and East Asia and part of
Latin America and East Asia and part of
Latin America and East Asia and part of the reason for that the biggest part of
the reason for that the biggest part of
the reason for that the biggest part of the reason
the reason
the reason that is surfing itself it’s very hard to
that is surfing itself it’s very hard to
that is surfing itself it’s very hard to describe the feeling the sensation you
describe the feeling the sensation you
describe the feeling the sensation you feel when you ride the wave yet this
feel when you ride the wave yet this
feel when you ride the wave yet this ever-changing body of water moving wall
ever-changing body of water moving wall
ever-changing body of water moving wall of water provides exceptional joy
of water provides exceptional joy
of water provides exceptional joy surfing is one of the has one of the
surfing is one of the has one of the
surfing is one of the has one of the slowest learning curve it’s very hard
slowest learning curve it’s very hard
slowest learning curve it’s very hard physically yet it’s the same difficult
physically yet it’s the same difficult
physically yet it’s the same difficult mentally because you need to learn how
mentally because you need to learn how
mentally because you need to learn how to read the waves you need to understand
to read the waves you need to understand
to read the waves you need to understand where the wave is gonna break what is it
where the wave is gonna break what is it
where the wave is gonna break what is it gonna do next and so on
gonna do next and so on
gonna do next and so on that’s why surfing is a unique sport
that’s why surfing is a unique sport
that’s why surfing is a unique sport because it doesn’t have any
because it doesn’t have any
because it doesn’t have any premeditation you can’t have a general
premeditation you can’t have a general
premeditation you can’t have a general idea or a plan what you want to do yet
idea or a plan what you want to do yet
idea or a plan what you want to do yet it all comes down to the wave that the
it all comes down to the wave that the
it all comes down to the wave that the ocean will provide you with no two waves
ocean will provide you with no two waves
ocean will provide you with no two waves are the same some might be very similar
are the same some might be very similar
are the same some might be very similar but most are really different and that’s
but most are really different and that’s
but most are really different and that’s why you can’t plan ahead you just have
why you can’t plan ahead you just have
why you can’t plan ahead you just have to be present some scientists believe
to be present some scientists believe
to be present some scientists believe that this concentration required and
that this concentration required and
that this concentration required and being present helps to treat some mental
being present helps to treat some mental
being present helps to treat some mental conditions like depression and
conditions like depression and
conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in
post-traumatic stress disorder in
post-traumatic stress disorder in Britain National British Health Service
Britain National British Health Service
Britain National British Health Service even provides funding for surf treatment
even provides funding for surf treatment
even provides funding for surf treatment camps so people who suffer from these
camps so people who suffer from these
camps so people who suffer from these conditions might get some help last year
conditions might get some help last year
conditions might get some help last year we held the first surf camp for kids
we held the first surf camp for kids
we held the first surf camp for kids with autism spectrum disorder here in
with autism spectrum disorder here in
with autism spectrum disorder here in Lithuania we follow the international
Lithuania we follow the international
Lithuania we follow the international experience and the results were simply
experience and the results were simply
experience and the results were simply amazing in the beginning everyone had
amazing in the beginning everyone had
amazing in the beginning everyone had their doubts some said the water is too
their doubts some said the water is too
their doubts some said the water is too cold others said kids don’t know how to
cold others said kids don’t know how to
cold others said kids don’t know how to swim others said something else the
swim others said something else the
swim others said something else the usual stuff but when the first kid
usual stuff but when the first kid
usual stuff but when the first kid caught a wave the emotions the smile in
caught a wave the emotions the smile in
caught a wave the emotions the smile in his face was simply priceless I don’t
his face was simply priceless I don’t
his face was simply priceless I don’t remember ever seeing so much positive
remember ever seeing so much positive
remember ever seeing so much positive energy in the air and then everybody
energy in the air and then everybody
energy in the air and then everybody wanted to do that we had a hard time to
wanted to do that we had a hard time to
wanted to do that we had a hard time to bring them out of the water they were
bring them out of the water they were
bring them out of the water they were all late for lunch all of this all of
all late for lunch all of this all of
all late for lunch all of this all of these experiences weren’t possible if I
these experiences weren’t possible if I
these experiences weren’t possible if I didn’t try surfing 25 years ago but
didn’t try surfing 25 years ago but
didn’t try surfing 25 years ago but people say that is the journey that
people say that is the journey that
people say that is the journey that matters not the destination and
matters not the destination and
matters not the destination and I think that everything that happens in
I think that everything that happens in
I think that everything that happens in between the waves in between riding the
between the waves in between riding the
between the waves in between riding the wave is just as important the tiring
wave is just as important the tiring
wave is just as important the tiring travels across the world the waiting in
travels across the world the waiting in
travels across the world the waiting in the airport or in the surfing spot
the airport or in the surfing spot
the airport or in the surfing spot waiting for the swell to show up fatigue
waiting for the swell to show up fatigue
waiting for the swell to show up fatigue excitement all of that adds up each wave
excitement all of that adds up each wave
excitement all of that adds up each wave has a story what did it take for you to
has a story what did it take for you to
has a story what did it take for you to get there and to catch it what did you
get there and to catch it what did you
get there and to catch it what did you have to overcome what did you have to
have to overcome what did you have to
have to overcome what did you have to sacrifice what coincidence and steered
sacrifice what coincidence and steered
sacrifice what coincidence and steered you towards it every wave is an
you towards it every wave is an
you towards it every wave is an adventure and one of those adventures
adventure and one of those adventures
adventure and one of those adventures happened four years ago in Morocco we
happened four years ago in Morocco we
happened four years ago in Morocco we were on a surf trip with a couple of
were on a surf trip with a couple of
were on a surf trip with a couple of friends and this particular spot we were
friends and this particular spot we were
friends and this particular spot we were surfing in had a big rip currents in it
surfing in had a big rip currents in it
surfing in had a big rip currents in it what is a rip current a rip current is a
what is a rip current a rip current is a
what is a rip current a rip current is a water stream that goes straight out to
water stream that goes straight out to
water stream that goes straight out to the ocean
the ocean
the ocean if you imagine waves breaking at the
if you imagine waves breaking at the
if you imagine waves breaking at the beach you could realize quickly that the
beach you could realize quickly that the
beach you could realize quickly that the waves won’t the waters not going to
waves won’t the waters not going to
waves won’t the waters not going to climb uphill it has to come back to the
climb uphill it has to come back to the
climb uphill it has to come back to the ocean so usually the water finds a
ocean so usually the water finds a
ocean so usually the water finds a channel and go straight back to the
channel and go straight back to the
channel and go straight back to the ocean this particular place this
ocean this particular place this
ocean this particular place this particular rip current was as wide as
particular rip current was as wide as
particular rip current was as wide as the stage I’m standing on right now and
the stage I’m standing on right now and
the stage I’m standing on right now and moving as fast as seven kilometers an
moving as fast as seven kilometers an
moving as fast as seven kilometers an hour which is a regular walking pace
hour which is a regular walking pace
hour which is a regular walking pace so you can imagine that’s quite a lot of
so you can imagine that’s quite a lot of
so you can imagine that’s quite a lot of water moving around so on a pretty big
water moving around so on a pretty big
water moving around so on a pretty big day my buddy Marius and me we paddled
day my buddy Marius and me we paddled
day my buddy Marius and me we paddled out and at the end of the channel we
out and at the end of the channel we
out and at the end of the channel we heard a cry for help so high steam our
heard a cry for help so high steam our
heard a cry for help so high steam our he still remembers the story so there
he still remembers the story so there
he still remembers the story so there was a guy the body boarder without fins
was a guy the body boarder without fins
was a guy the body boarder without fins floating around doesn’t seem too bad
floating around doesn’t seem too bad
floating around doesn’t seem too bad well he was half a kilometre out the sea
well he was half a kilometre out the sea
well he was half a kilometre out the sea so we tried to even some pointers some
so we tried to even some pointers some
so we tried to even some pointers some advice what to do where to go how to
advice what to do where to go how to
advice what to do where to go how to come in safely to the shore but we
come in safely to the shore but we
come in safely to the shore but we quickly came to realize that he’s not
quickly came to realize that he’s not
quickly came to realize that he’s not gonna make it on his own so much for
gonna make it on his own so much for
gonna make it on his own so much for surfing big waves we had to help the
surfing big waves we had to help the
surfing big waves we had to help the poor fella
poor fella
poor fella if it wasn’t for us nobody knows how it
if it wasn’t for us nobody knows how it
if it wasn’t for us nobody knows how it had how would he have ended because
had how would he have ended because
had how would he have ended because there was nobody else in the water and
there was nobody else in the water and
there was nobody else in the water and you couldn’t see him from the from the
you couldn’t see him from the from the
you couldn’t see him from the from the beach so me and me and Marius we took
beach so me and me and Marius we took
beach so me and me and Marius we took turns by dragging the guy while he was
turns by dragging the guy while he was
turns by dragging the guy while he was holding on our feet and what do you do
holding on our feet and what do you do
holding on our feet and what do you do when you’re in the rip current there’s
when you’re in the rip current there’s
when you’re in the rip current there’s it’s pointless to paddled against the
it’s pointless to paddled against the
it’s pointless to paddled against the stream because it will wear you down and
stream because it will wear you down and
stream because it will wear you down and get the better of you the only way to
get the better of you the only way to
get the better of you the only way to escape the stream is to go perpendicular
escape the stream is to go perpendicular
escape the stream is to go perpendicular to the stream far enough so it doesn’t
to the stream far enough so it doesn’t
to the stream far enough so it doesn’t affect you anymore and only then you can
affect you anymore and only then you can
affect you anymore and only then you can come back to the shore on one side we
come back to the shore on one side we
come back to the shore on one side we had a rocky point on the other side
had a rocky point on the other side
had a rocky point on the other side there was three kilometers of sandy
there was three kilometers of sandy
there was three kilometers of sandy beach it was clear that we’re gonna go
beach it was clear that we’re gonna go
beach it was clear that we’re gonna go to the south for at least a kilometer so
to the south for at least a kilometer so
to the south for at least a kilometer so we far enough from the current and then
we far enough from the current and then
we far enough from the current and then we can come back to safety when we reach
we can come back to safety when we reach
we can come back to safety when we reach the beach break we didn’t want to
the beach break we didn’t want to
the beach break we didn’t want to endanger ourselves and stop for a minute
endanger ourselves and stop for a minute
endanger ourselves and stop for a minute to explain to the guy how we’re gonna
to explain to the guy how we’re gonna
to explain to the guy how we’re gonna proceed next having two boards board
proceed next having two boards board
proceed next having two boards board leashes a clueless beach goer with us
leashes a clueless beach goer with us
leashes a clueless beach goer with us meant danger once the real threat
meant danger once the real threat
meant danger once the real threat presents itself you couldn’t really
presents itself you couldn’t really
presents itself you couldn’t really expect what he was going to do and we
expect what he was going to do and we
expect what he was going to do and we didn’t really want to entangle ourselves
didn’t really want to entangle ourselves
didn’t really want to entangle ourselves with him this proved to be a crucial
with him this proved to be a crucial
with him this proved to be a crucial mistake because the feeder current took
mistake because the feeder current took
mistake because the feeder current took us back another half a kilometer in
us back another half a kilometer in
us back another half a kilometer in three minutes so we had to start over
three minutes so we had to start over
three minutes so we had to start over again half way back after some time a
again half way back after some time a
again half way back after some time a local school owner paddled out on a big
local school owner paddled out on a big
local school owner paddled out on a big board on a longboard so it was easier
board on a longboard so it was easier
board on a longboard so it was easier for him to help us and it was more
for him to help us and it was more
for him to help us and it was more efficient to drag the pool fella in and
efficient to drag the pool fella in and
efficient to drag the pool fella in and according to my GPS watch it took us one
according to my GPS watch it took us one
according to my GPS watch it took us one hour and three kilometres of paddling
hour and three kilometres of paddling
hour and three kilometres of paddling until we finally got him to safety he
until we finally got him to safety he
until we finally got him to safety he was in shock perhaps hypothermic and
was in shock perhaps hypothermic and
was in shock perhaps hypothermic and medics took medics took over once on the
medics took medics took over once on the
medics took medics took over once on the beach if this whole experience taught me
beach if this whole experience taught me
beach if this whole experience taught me one thing you have to be aware if you’re
one thing you have to be aware if you’re
one thing you have to be aware if you’re around the water you have to be present
around the water you have to be present
around the water you have to be present you have to be aware you have to know
you have to be aware you have to know
you have to be aware you have to know what’s happening this lost concentration
what’s happening this lost concentration
what’s happening this lost concentration for a couple of minutes
for a couple of minutes
for a couple of minutes did cost us another
did cost us another
did cost us another 20 minutes of paddling in other cases in
20 minutes of paddling in other cases in
20 minutes of paddling in other cases in other instances the cost might be much
other instances the cost might be much
other instances the cost might be much higher but then let’s step out of the
higher but then let’s step out of the
higher but then let’s step out of the water how a where are we in our everyday
water how a where are we in our everyday
water how a where are we in our everyday life how many of you felt that sometimes
life how many of you felt that sometimes
life how many of you felt that sometimes the life is carrying you like a current
the life is carrying you like a current
the life is carrying you like a current like you’re not controlling your
like you’re not controlling your
like you’re not controlling your everyday life you go to work you hate
everyday life you go to work you hate
everyday life you go to work you hate because everybody does you took a
because everybody does you took a
because everybody does you took a mortgage on your house or apartment
mortgage on your house or apartment
mortgage on your house or apartment because everybody does you do things you
because everybody does you do things you
because everybody does you do things you have to but not the things you want to
it’s pointless to fight the stream and
it’s pointless to fight the stream and if you want to go somewhere you’ll have
if you want to go somewhere you’ll have
if you want to go somewhere you’ll have to find the way around so if you stop
to find the way around so if you stop
to find the way around so if you stop and look around and define what is
and look around and define what is
and look around and define what is happening to you only then you can
happening to you only then you can
happening to you only then you can understand where you are worried being
understand where you are worried being
understand where you are worried being taken only then you can determine your
taken only then you can determine your
taken only then you can determine your next goal where you want to go define
next goal where you want to go define
next goal where you want to go define the obstacles and find the way around
the obstacles and find the way around
the obstacles and find the way around and if we reflect on my childhood
and if we reflect on my childhood
and if we reflect on my childhood experience I drowned
experience I drowned
experience I drowned not because I didn’t know how to swim
not because I didn’t know how to swim
not because I didn’t know how to swim everybody in this auditorium knows how
everybody in this auditorium knows how
everybody in this auditorium knows how to swim or at least how to float in the
to swim or at least how to float in the
to swim or at least how to float in the water that’s in our body we can float I
water that’s in our body we can float I
water that’s in our body we can float I drowned because I didn’t even try so
drowned because I didn’t even try so
drowned because I didn’t even try so that’s what people do when they lose
that’s what people do when they lose
that’s what people do when they lose ground they try to reach for the bottom
ground they try to reach for the bottom
ground they try to reach for the bottom and usually they reach the bottom but
and usually they reach the bottom but
and usually they reach the bottom but not in the way they want to so my tip
not in the way they want to so my tip
not in the way they want to so my tip for all of you if you suddenly lose your
for all of you if you suddenly lose your
for all of you if you suddenly lose your ground and start drowning just stick
ground and start drowning just stick
ground and start drowning just stick your head up and swim to safety thank
your head up and swim to safety thank
your head up and swim to safety thank you
you
you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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