Bianca Valenti on Big Waves, Aging Strong, and Surf Longevity

Bianca Valenti is surfing the best waves of her life at 40. In this episode of the Surf Strong Show, she sits down with host Greg Finch to unpack what it really takes to keep charging big waves for decades—physically, mentally, and emotionally.Bianca shares how she structures her big-wave season between Mavericks and Hawaii, how she trains in the off-season, and why “just outside your comfort zone” is the sweet spot for growth in both surfing and life. She breaks down her daily surf-prep ritual—from warm salt water and massage gun routines to bands, foam rolling, and underwater weight training—and explains how small, consistent habits keep her ready for XXL swells.They dive into the mental side of big-wave surfing: managing fear, dealing with FOMO, recovering from burnout, and learning to pace yourself instead of going full throttle all the time. Bianca talks about balancing obsession with responsibility, rebuilding stoke, and playing the true long game of surf longevity.If you care about surfing strong for life—through movement, breath, mobility, and mindset—this conversation is a masterclass.If it resonates, subscribe, share this episode with a surf buddy, and check out all episodes of the Surf Strong Show for more surf-longevity training and support.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Bianca’s Big-Wave Season: Mavericks, Hawaii & Warm Water02:07 – Inside the Culture of Big-Wave Surfing04:36 – Comfort Zones, Fear & the First 6-Inch Wave at Doheny07:30 – Small Days, Reps & Staying Ready Between Swells10:24 – Surfing as Mental Health, Ritual & Saying “Yes”12:59 – Morning Routine: Warm Salt Water, Massage Gun & Paddle Prep18:58 – Consistency, Micro-Habits & Recovery Done Right21:49 – Pacing, Tapering & Listening to Your Body at 40+24:37 – Burnout, Balance & Rediscovering Stoke for the Long Game32:18 – Inside the Eddie Aikau: Honor, Preparation & XXL Waimea Chaos