71. Lakey Peterson on Competing, Progressing & Finding Joy in the Lineup

What does it take to perform at the highest level—and still enjoy surfing for yourself? Lakey Peterson has competed on the world stage for over a decade, but the journey hasn’t always been smooth—especially when expectations are high and results don’t go your way.

In this episode of Confessions of a Surf Lady: The First Women’s Surfing Podcast™, Lakey opens up about what it’s really like to chase progression, navigate fear, and still stay connected to joy in the water. We talk about the pressure of competition, the mental tools that keep her grounded, and why her relationship to surfing is evolving.

Whether you're pushing your own progression or simply trying to find more fun in your sessions, this conversation will remind you that surfing gets to be yours—no matter where you are in your journey.

Main Themes

• Staying Grounded Through Competitive Pressure “Sometimes I just need to surf without a goal. That’s what keeps it fun.” – Lakey Peterson
• Not Growing Up in Surf Culture—And Still Making It “I didn’t have a surfy upbringing. I had to ask a lot of questions and figure it out.” – Lakey Peterson
• Representation & Progression in Women’s Surfing “When I started, it was about who looked good in a bikini. Now it’s about how hard you charge.” – Lakey Peterson

Resources:

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• Shop Dip and get 15% OFF with the code "confessionsofasurflady" at checkout at Dipalready.com
• The Surfing Copywriter: Learn more about his work at www.thesurfingcopywriter.com.

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Confessions of a Surf Lady, women's surfing podcast, is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com