Article: MAN OF THE MONTH - Mark Visser
MAN OF THE MONTH - Mark Visser
Every month we like to shine a light on someone who pushes the edges of what's possible.
For June, it's Mark Visser — big wave surfer, author, keynote speaker, mindset coach and founder of The Ocean Warrior.
Mark built his name in the water, becoming Big Wave Paddle-In Champion in 2014/15, but it was one night at Jaws, Maui that changed everything. Paddling into one of the biggest waves on the planet, in total darkness, he became known around the world as Night Rider — a feat that redefined what performance under pressure actually looks like.
Off the water, Mark has spent over a decade coaching some of the highest-performing people and teams on earth, from 11-time world champion Kelly Slater to the Australian SAS, US Navy SEALs and Olympic athletes. He's worked closely behind the scenes with Melbourne FC and Richmond, contributing to breakthrough premierships at both clubs, all built on one core belief: staying clear and connected under pressure isn't a gift, it's a skill you build.
We sat down with Mark to talk about fear, fatherhood, and what it really takes to stay calm when everything's on the line.
Before you drop into a serious wave, what's actually going through your head in those final seconds?
In my head, I'm always adjusting and looking at the line that I'm going to take on the wave. How deep am I? Am I in the perfect position to either get barrelled or can I actually make this wave! These are the things that are running through your head. But if it's just a huge wave that doesn’t have a barrel option, I'm thinking along the lines of, what's going to be my entry point. Where will I get in, and how can I put myself in the best position to ride the wave in the best possible way, then after that I'm thinking where is my exit point? How can I put myself in a safe position at the end? That's always what's going through my head.
Big wave surfing demands total commitment. How does that same mindset show up in the rest of your life?
I'm constantly looking at areas to make sure I am being a good dad, husband, friend or progressing in the business side of things. I'm always looking at having balance and trying to win on all levels vs winning at all costs. I might stuff it up from time to time but from a mindset point of view, I try to remind myself to be present and not have any perceived ideas of what the day or the up and coming situation will be like. When I get to the point that I'm ultra present, I'm all in on whatever's happening. I often enjoy those moments the most, especially with my daughters, my wife or friends. From a business perspective that's where I’ve experience my greatest success's to.
Mark is wearing the:
John Varvatos - Vejano Regular Fit Crewneck in Cork
AG - Everett Jean in Saltillo
Santoni - Archer Boot in Brown Suede
How has becoming a father changed the way you weigh risk out on the water?
That is a question I get asked a lot. And the honest answer is, I want my girls to know that life is meant to be lived to the fullest. The level of risk for me hasn't changed because I'm never taking random risks. Although the big wave part of my job may seem crazy to others and people often think I must be a crazy kind of guy, I'm not. I'm very analytical in the way that I think, I often refer to myself as a risk technician versus a risk taker. And in that way, I'm always thinking about the possible scenarios and how I can be best prepared for it.
You speak to audiences all over the world. Can you think of a time one of your keynote presentations really hit home and genuinely changed someone's life?
I get a lot of feed back from events and even tho there are many different points in each keynote presentation there is always something that will really directly connects with an audience member. It blows my mind when someone comes up to me afterwards or sends me an email and tells me about a crazy life experience they have had and how what I talked about helped change their perspective on it. Often it's something that had been stuck with them for 20 or 30 years. It's such a rewarding job and I truly feel so grateful to be able to do what I do. My goal before I get on stage is to help every single person in the audience and beyond. Just thinking of that and answering this question brings the biggest smile to my face, I absolutely love what I do.
Mark is wearing the:
Manto - Gug Jacket in Beige
AG - Bryce Crew in True White
Citizens of Humanity - Eliah Jean in Falling Water
What's the most important thing you hope your kids take from watching you chase something this demanding?
For me personally it is that dad put everything in, loves what he does and was being all that he could be as a person, in my profession and as a dad for them. But I really hope that not only my kids see that, but everyone understands this for themselves. If we can let go of the fears that restrict us from being all that we can be and enjoy the process while having a go in life, then that's the only thing we can ever ask for in my opinion.
What draws you to Calexico Man, and how does the way you dress on land connect to who you are in the water?
It was all about the materials, the different fabrics, the quality and the fact that I don't see it everywhere. I really value things like that. I think, essentially I like the simplicity of the styles and I’m drawn to the natural soft feel. For me that's what makes me feel good, it's not over the top but it feels sharp in a chilled way. Just being myself and who I am on the land makes me feel relaxed and that is for sure how I want to be and feel when I’m out in the water.
Mark is wearing the:
Eleventy - Seersucker Suit
Ingram - Slim Fit Shirt in Smooth White
Surfing, fatherhood, the way you carry yourself - is there a common thread in how you approach all three?
I would say yes I know the answer, its to be present. But do I walk the walk of all three? not yet haha! Fatherhood is something that’s constantly changing, and it’s probably been my greatest teacher. When I show up, without any preconceptions about how things should go or what’s going to happen, that’s when I have the most fun. So the common thread / approach is to just be present and have fun :)
There's a stillness to Mark that you don't expect from someone who's surfed some of the biggest waves on earth, in the dark, alone. But that's the point — for Mark, calm isn't the absence of pressure, it's what you build underneath it.
It's the same mindset he's brought to boardrooms, football clubs and elite special forces units around the world, and the same one he's now passing on to his two daughters. Be the best version of yourself. Speak your truth. Stay present, no matter how big the wave.
Whether he's chasing swell in Tahiti or coaching from the sideline, Mark is proof that real strength is quiet — and that real performance starts long before anyone's watching. Check him out at @mark__visser.
Nicky Xx
