“The Surfer & the Sage”

“The Surfer and the Sage:

A Guide to Survive and Ride Life’s Waves”

With Shaun Tomson and Noah benShea

Santa Barbara, CA. May 1, 2022 – The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) will present “The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive and Ride Life’s Waves,” an in-person lecture presentation by former World Surfing Champion, Shaun Tomson, and best-selling author and public philosopher, Noah benShea. This event, which coincides with the publication of their book by the same title, will offer their guidance and experience in managing life’s ups and downs. It will take place at the museum on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 7pm PT, and the authors will be available for a book signing immediately following the presentation. Registration is required. Cost is free for SBMM’s  Navigator Circle Members, $10 for all other members, and $20 for members of the public. There will also be a pre-lecture reception for members only from 6:15-6:45pm. Register at: https://sbmm.org/santa-barbara-event/ and become a member at https://sbmm.org.

According to Amazon, which already has the book at #1, “Sometimes life’s waves knock you down; other times, life might seem to sweep you along powerless[ly]. But the choice is always yours to swim back up to the light. Legendary world champion surfer Shaun Tomson and international bestselling poet-philosopher Noah benShea join forces to offer insight on a path of purpose, hope, and faith. This timely guidebook alternates between Tomson’s inspiring experiential essays and benShea’s spiritual commentary that lift the soul, all accented with stunning full-color surfing photographs…The Surfer and the Sage addresses the ten relentless, breaking waves of life, from loss and aging to relationships and depression, and guides you to transformation. It is not a list of rules to follow that guarantee success, health, or wealth, but rather a collection of advice from two guides who have traveled far and wide and suffered deeply, but still look forward to tomorrow with faith and hope.”

Shaun Tomson, a native of South Africa, is a former World Surfing Champion and has been described as one of the greatest and most influential surfers of all time (Surfer Magazine 1999). He is an inductee in the US, Jewish, and the South African Sports Halls of Fame and is also a world-renowned leadership mentor, entrepreneur, environmentalist, actor, and best-selling author. Shaun is a past board member and ambassador for Surfrider Foundation, the world’s largest environmental group dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches and he received the SIMA Environmentalist of the Year Award in 2002. He is a past board member of Santa Barbara Boys and Girls club and is an ambassador for Boys to Men, a youth mentoring organization. Shaun, who currently lives with his wife and son in Santa Barbara and still finds time to chase the perfect wave, is the author of Surfer’s Code and The Code: The Power of “I Will.”

Noah benShea is one of North America’s most respected and beloved public philosophers. He is the international best-selling author of 20 books translated into 18 languages and a source of strength to millions around the world. His inspirational thoughts have dramatically impacted the workplace, and appear in hospitals, banks, and on over 30 million Starbucks Coffee Cups. His weekly columns on life were published for five years by the New York Times Regional Syndicate and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He has spoken at the Library of Congress, is included in the Congressional Record, been published by Oxford University Press, and the World Bible Society in Jerusalem. A highly sought after public speaker, he is the National Laureate for the ALS Association.