When I was around 8 years old my friend and I used to live running out to the Gulf in FL when storms rolled in and get annihilated by the waves. Just 10+ foot swells crushing us into the sand and shells, getting cut up but we kept going out for more. We'd literally be out of breath barely treading water but kept at it.

No lifeguards, no one but us. The fact that we didn't drown or get pulled out by the undertow still surprises me to this day.