Working at Patagonia, I thought quite a bit about stoke. Like most people, I’d heard the term used many times. What I believe now about the concept, is that it has some essential ingredients. There of course is no universal definition, these are just my evolving observations.

I think it’s along the lines of what Wynton Marsalis has mentioned: Sustained intensity equals ecstasy;” perhaps it has a few other ingredients too:

• Sustained intensity / energy is applied
• Getting over some sort of physical or mental hurdle/barrier is often a feature
• New knowledge, insight and/or a positive physical or mental state will result
• Energy comes to you, & happiness in a physical and/or mental way

Of course one can receive stoke without expending a lot of energy, but often the giving of stoke requires sustained intensity. Here are a couple of folks who – in my experience – are able to give stoke, through their experience and energy.

I practice each week with a great friend and guitar player (jazz, blues, bluegrass, popular music and other styles). He lives in Ventura, California; we use ‘Jacktrip’ software from Stanford Univ. to practice remotely. I mention that those sessions provide me a weekly heaping-helping of stoke, without fail. In the ‘audio samples’ section of this website, is a sample recording we made of ‘Flight’. Michael started playing since a young age (his first album was a Thelonious Monk); has absorbed what seems like multiple lifetimes’ worth of knowledge in music and all sorts of other disciplines, a terrific musician, boon friend to many. He and his wife Sandy have both been into all sorts of athletic activities, from youth; Sandy worked at Amgen (I worked there as well) as a Senior Scientist.

I’m fortunate to have another good friend, also in Ventura, former Patagonia colleague, Drew Story. People come away with increased stoke from hanging with him as well. Among his many projects, he applies energy & expertise to help get kids stoked about athleticism. Drew started as an international competitor at a young age, in sport/discipline of sprint canoe; he’s passing that along: https://www.venturacanoekayak.org/re-birth-of-the-ventura-olympic-canoe-club/. (He’s still active in all sorts of athletic projects.) He went on to various other careers including teaching, working in a start-up, in IT, project mgmt., etc. His wife Jennifer runs Cassie’s Cats (https://cassiescatsandkittens.org/about/); he’s busy assisting her in that worthy endeavor.

To my view a discussion about stoke should include a mention of Chipper Bell (aka Chipper Bro), also former colleague at Patagonia; during my tenure there he was a stoke generator of high-wattage. My first impression of the company came from hanging out with him in waiting area, before my interview. I realized at that moment that this was no vanilla-flavored company. His voice came over the PA system to us often; without fail providing stoke to this listener. (He sometimes sang on Friday afternoons!) He was a terrific MC in regular events (I remember ‘Salmon Run’ in particular).

I’d be curious to hear if your ideas about stoke align, if you have others ideas on the topic; also if you are lucky (like me) to have known folks who know & live the principle, as those mentioned above do.