Surfer balances riding for school, Polish team
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Representing Hawaii, Maui and Poland, Mikolaj Przeciechowski of Kihei Charter tries to use every competitive surfing opportunity to develop as a student-athlete.
Przeciechowski said balancing the responsibilities of being a high school student, a youth national contender and an international competitor can be overwhelming, but he manages his time carefully, fitting surf sessions in before and after classes.
"I also have a job at the gym where I'm going to become a personal trainer," said Przeciechowski. "I try my best to stay busy and get something productive done on the daily. I also try to train at least once a day, whether it's MMA, surfing or working out."
Whether it's a Maui Interscholastic League, Hawaii High School Athletic Association or International Surfing Association competition in Hawaii, Przeciechowski said he enjoys the unique challenges each brings and how they help him fine-tune his performance. Competing both locally and in Europe exposes him to different surfing styles and conditions, allowing him to adapt and grow as a surfer.
He said competing in high school contests, especially when they are at a spot where he often practices, also helps him compete in ISA competitions here on the islands.
"Surfing on the international level really showed me the level of up-and-coming pro surfers," he said. "It made me realize that if I want to compete with them, I have to dedicate my life to it."
Coach Ken Goring has been impressed by what Przeciechowski has accomplished as a high school student.
"Miki does an amazing job balancing his school work and his surfing life," Goring said. "I doubt I would've been able to do what he does when I was his age. I think it would be even more difficult in a more traditional school environment. At Kihei Charter, we tend to try to do whatever we can to accommodate students who are already exploring their future career possibilities."
Przeciechowski also takes college courses online through the University of Hawaii Maui College, giving him the flexibility academically while keeping up with his surfing schedule. He said this allows him to get in the water whenever conditions are right and maximize his training.
As an international surfer, he brings new perspectives back to his high school team. While surfing is often an individual sport, being part of a school team allows athletes to learn from each other's experiences on and off the water, fostering growth and helping the team succeed together.
"One of the big takeaways from international competition that he's brought to us is his interest in video coaching," Goring said. "He was always excited to see the footage from our practices, but often we'd just look at it from the point-of-view of a judge. We'd look at a mock heat and explain why a ride would be scored one way or another, or why one surfer beat another, basically just comparing one ride to another."
After competing annually in the Hawaii ISA competition, Przeciechowski has placed more focus on body mechanics and proper surfing form. He said he is working to develop skills that set him apart.
"I've had the honor of watching him grow up quite a bit these last few years, and I can say he's grown up a lot," Goring said. "Before he was mostly concerned with his own seeding and with getting the waves he wanted. He's putting together a fitness training program for us as part of his senior project and showing up for their senior projects too. You can tell he cares about others."
As for coach Goring, watching Przeciechowski compete with the Polish national team has given him a deeper understanding of the importance of coaches in building and securing a strong foundation for the youth athletes they work with.
"I love watching Miki represent Kihei Charter and the Polish national team," Goring said. "It's been so humbling to know that I've had the opportunity to work with someone who will be taking what we've done to the next level. It's made me want to up my own coaching game too."
Illustrating what it looks like to be a high school student-athlete, Przeciechowski said his commitment, teamwork, and dedication are fueled by his love for the sport and constant desire to improve.