Swell-Being

Blake 'Blakey' Johnston is a surfer. So was his dad. And his brothers. For Blake, growing up around the beaches of Cronulla, life was good and surfing was everything. At 16, he turned pro and took off around the world chasing his dream to become the world's best. The thing about dreams, though, is that they change, sometimes by choice and sometimes by circumstance. For some people, that change can be too much. Too often people stay silent about their struggles; too often they can't see the way back.
Nine Australians commit suicide every day. Blake's dad was one of them. Since then, Blake has made it his mission to help people find the tools they need to stay alive. They are tools he's had to use himself in his own struggles with his mental health. He's learnt to grind it out and find the joys in nature, family, community and himself. Those tools enabled him to unite a community, spend 40 gruelling hours in the water, catch 707 waves and claim the World Record for longest surf.
Now, in Swellbeing, Blake Johnston reveals his story about struggling with the impact of mental illness and suicide. In his powerful and inspiring memoir, Blake outlines the tools he used to rise back up and shares the lessons he's learnt to help others make it through the tough times and live their best lives. He's hoping his experience can ripple out and help others. Because ... everyone deserves to feel awesome.

Blake Johnston has been a professional surfer since he was 16, dedicating his life to the ocean, high performance, and the sport he loves. With 20 years of elite coaching experience, Blake has coached many of Australia's best surfing talents including current World Tour number 11 Connor O'Leary and Junior World Champ, Jarvis Earle. Blake has shown the world that with grit, determination and a lot of hard work, anything is possible. He is now sharing his wealth of experience and unique insights through presentations for schools, sports groups and corporations. He captivates and inspires the audience as he speaks of mental health, and the art of thriving through adversity. Swellbeing is his first book.