TO EXIST IS TO CHANGE, TO CHANGE IS TO MATURE,
TO MATURE IS TO GO ON CREATING ONESELF ENDLESSLY
-Henri Bergson

Hi, my name is Ryan Teixeira,  I share the words of Henri Bergson on this page because deep down, at the core….his words summarize exactly the end goal of this project; it is a launch pad that serves up a special formula to which I believe individuals can grow…if they want it bad enough of course.

The results have far exceeded my expectations when I conceptualized the project sipping coffee one day in Cartagena, Colombia.   Actually, I approached this project with zero expectations, charging blindly with the faith that each step would reveal itself along the way….which is how I live my life these days too.  Regardless, this concept was the most amazing win-win life scenario I ever conceived; help people in third-world countries that I was a guest in, give back to my fellow man back home and do what I love to do…which is often very extreme and introspective.

As a result, we have inspired and infected people to make postitive changes in their lives through our adventures, our movie(21 Days- a documentary film), our articles and our eBook.  We also gave kids in schools our mountain bikes.

The website has been stripped down of all the business nonsense  in hopes that anyone who stumbles upon this site can leave inspired to get out of their own way and dig deep to find the courage to live the life they always dreamed. We did. So can you. There is a plethora of content to inspire ideas for your own adventure…just remember this formula, it can change your life!

The Formula

Our goal is to travel abroad in a manner that nourishes one’s soul with a special sauce found no where else.  It follows the following three axioms.

1. Intimate immersion abroad shatters assumptions, perspectives and paradigms.
2. Extreme challenge flushes out the mind, hence allowing clarity to creep in (reflection and understanding).
3. Sorting out basics for shelter, food and water on the trail in foreign cultures, speaking the local language requires humility.

1+2+3= Nourishment of the Soul

It is Self-Evolution, The Next Level and an Adventure of a Lifetime…you go home shining bright with a twinkle in your eye.

My Story

I think it started long ago when I suddenly found myself lying in the middle of the road with a leg almost severed in half, my bicep ripped off…alone, angry and at the beginning of one of many character building experiences.  I discovered then that struggle, challenge and fear open the doors of self evolution if you have the courage to walk right in.

I understand I have to share a couple of important facts about me that will help you understand where I am coming from.  A long life history of extreme sports, injuries and working the engineering career life led up to a sabbatical in 2006 from Tesla Motors, where I traveled around the world solo, riding a mountain bike; it changed me forever.

I returned for a couple of years,  and really had what many seek their whole lives.  $150+k/ year, killer condo in the burbs, continuing my work with start-up Tesla Motors, racing motorcycles professionally and had enough money to have only the best of whatever I wanted.  I had “achieved” what many would consider the American Dream.

But I was changed and it wasn’t working for me.  I sold it ALL in September, 2009 and bought a one way ticket to Brazil where I had countless adventures throughout South and Central America and eventually ended up settling down in Nicaragua.  Now, here I am…offering to others what I gave myself.  Life can be meaningful, beautiful, happy and filled with experiences and extension of self rather than working way to much for a bunch of useless things and being able to say you did something great.

I’m a person that stands up when others do not so you can count on me always doing the right thing.  I push myself harder than anyone else could push me (most of the time) and I am always on a quest to find a deeper meaning in the choices I make so that I can grow from it.   I am all about character, integrity and now, helping others find their own unique version of what I found through going on a cool adventure abroad, giving back to the countries that we are a guest in and most importantly, discover yourself along the way.

If you want to read a bio, check out the Tribal Surf Interview.