For me it was board sports in general, including snowboarding and surfing. Both are unique and amazing in their own right.

For surfing, I had always assumed it was a hippie thing bored Californians did. It wasn't until I tried it one summer in Hawaii that I realized the level of physical and mental resilience you need to surf, or the meditative aspects of it. The bulk of my time surfing is not spent standing on a surfboard but rather paddling out or staring at the ocean, waiting for the right wave.

Similarly, after snowboarding in the mountains of Vermont a couple of winters ago, my whole perception of mountain sports changed. While it's physically demanding, there is a zen-like calmness to it as well. That paired with the gorgeous mountain scenery is quite special.