Surf Splendor

Today’s episode features a conversation between Greg Noll and early Hawaiian surf pioneer Paul Strauch. Noll and Strauch reflect on early lessons hard earned on North Shore in the 1960s, regale with stories of larger than life friends and waves, chart the path of how big wave surfing has developed from their early exploits, and … Continue reading "588 – Greg Noll: PodAloha with Paul Strauch" The p...

Today’s episode features a conversation between Skip Frye and early Hawaiian surf pioneer Paul Strauch. From Strauch, “Skip Frye is a legendary figure in the surfing world, renowned for his exceptional skills and significant contributions to surfboard design. With a career spanning several decades, Skip has been a key innovator, known for his work in … Continue reading "587 – Skip Frye: PodAloha w...

In today’s show The Grit! influence finds it’s way to Tom Curren, Caio Ibelli delivers an ominous warning to new CT qualifiers, Israel joins the Tour, elitists SoCal surfers show how abandon your corporate overlords, Chas designs a plan to fix Malibu while David manifests never coveting it, and they begin a petition to get … Continue reading "364 – The Grit! March 20, 2026" The post 364 – The Grit...

In today’s show Scott and David analyze the new crop of CT qualifiers and find a narrowing gap of talent disparity, predict a new shaper to vault the year-end rankings, examine how the CT’s structure actually deteriorates top level talent, rank the best big wave surfers in the world, get a backside tube tutorial masterclass … Continue reading "450 – Spit! March 19, 2026" The post 450 – Spit! March...

In today’s episode David and Chas delve deep into the Harvey Weinstein and WSL connection and determine when to distance yourself from lecherous friends, analyze the veracity of Joel Tudor’s accusations against Kelly Slater for his BJJ stolen belt valor, dig into the devastation of soft tops for the culture and the environment, learn the … Continue reading "363 – The Grit! March 13, 2026" The post...

In today’s show David and Scott find the verified truth about the irrepressible Reno Abellira, sift through Joel Tudor’s latest fiery tirade, update their Survival League with the latest CT qualifiers, take the toll on the environmental devastation caused by soft tops, take a peek inside the cult of Skip Frye, and bare witness to … Continue reading "449 – Spit! March 11, 2026" The post 449 – Spit!...

In today’s show Chas confronts (and maybe reconciles) his longboard spite, Tony Hawk teaches Kelly Slater a lesson in how to contribute to the surf community while David designs a plan for redemption for Slater through exorcism, Gerry Lopez gets outed as a member of an elite secret society, Steph becomes an actual Barbie doll, … Continue reading "362 – The Grit! March 6, 2026" The post 362 – The G...

In today’s show David and Scott discuss the controversy surrounding Kelly Slater selecting his own surfboard brand as the winner of Stab In The Dark, the surf industry’s long history of pay-to-play “journalism”, why no one is discussing the actual surfing, potential sustained damage to his brand, why Ethan Ewing will erase the pain away, … Continue reading "448 – Spit! March 4, 2026" The post 448...

In today’s show David and Chas investigate the ISA’s latest bid to devalue the WSL and bolster their own reputation as the governing body of competitive surfing, discover Taylor Knox’s new career opportunity as Hollywood stunt double, one listener confronts a shocking revelation of how he almost imploded his happy marriage, and Chas is forced … Continue reading "361 – The Grit! February 28, 2026"...

Genre defining pro freesurfer of the 90s, Margo, joins us to discuss ushering pro surfing from cottage to corporate, humility gleaned while working as a baggage handler, how a passion for bird watching led to his greatest work, and what sparked the revival in his surf career at age 50. Enjoy! Sponsor: DrinkAG1.com/surf Sponsor: WaterwaysTravel.com Presented by: Surfrider.org … Continue reading "58...

In today’s show Scott and David analyze whether longboarding still fits into their surf experience, the virtues of EPS, how the new ISA qualification system reveals a power move for a competing governing body of surfing and a wrestling of power away from the WSL, they profess a deep love for the people of Mexico … Continue reading "447 – Spit! February 26, 2026" The post 447 – Spit! February 26, 2...

In today’s show David and Chas share the harrowing details of Kolohe’s recent near tragedy, report on the massive shakeup underfoot of Gabriel Medina, pit Chris Hemsworth vs Josh Brolin in the ultimate surf celeb battle, learn why a pedicure may be the ultimate sign of a core surfer, and discover why rum may be … Continue reading "360 – The Grit! February 20, 2026" The post 360 – The Grit! Februar...

In today’s show David and Scott discuss their dichotomous views on the latest Kelly Slater blacklight reveal, survey the shifting global safety warning regarding Central America, check-in with the mental health status of pros who get too much too soon, uncomfortably laugh at The Hawk’s bad behavior, bid farewell to the latest wave pool dismissal, … Continue reading "446 – Spit! February 19, 2026"...

In today’s show board builder Roger Hinds shares strategies to fend off the old man and continue surfing the North Shore into your 70s, offers a lesson in why original board building materials are still relevant and which modern fabrics offer advancement, reveals why the real threat to domestic board building may come from within, … Continue reading "585 – Roger Hinds" The post 585 – Roger Hinds a...

In today’s show Chas and David reveal while “betrayal” may be an understatement by Britt Merrick about his adopted brother Kelly Slater, they question if perhaps there is such a thing as bad publicity, learn that Tony Robbin’s due diligence lacks thoroughness, $13k is up for grabs to a female filmmaker, why your next Fish … Continue reading "359 – The Grit! February 13, 2026" The post 359 – The Gr...

In today’s show Scott and David discuss the pivot away from surfing for Stab In The Dark and investigate and speculate on the rift between Kelly and the Merrick’s, reflect on Biolos’ transition from anti-contest shaper to poster boy for competitive surfing, celebrate the break out star of the series, wish for a more selfless … Continue reading "445 – Spit! February 11, 2026" The post 445 – Spit! F...

In today’s show Chas and David mark an exponential growth spurt across the entire Challenger Series and try to pinpoint the catalyst, reveal the subtle juke from JJF regarding naming his kid, ponder if it’s ever acceptable to have your dad fight your fights, celebrate the man who brought surfing to it’s simultaneous highest and … Continue reading "358 – The Grit! February 6, 2026" The post 358 – T...

In today’s show Bob McTavish attributes his biggest design epiphanies to the evolution of the surfboard fin, and each of those to a personal relationship that sparked his inspiration. He shares how Dave Rastovich altered his perception on hydrodynamics, reveals the unfathomable generosity of Bill Bahne, the ingenuity of Tom Morey and Carl Pope, explains … Continue reading "584 – Bob McTavish : Par...

In today’s show Scott and David struggle to accept adopting volume in their dims lexicon, analyze whether JJF’s surfing prowess will increase off Tour, wonder why Brazil’s greatest have abandoned the North Shore winter pilgrimage, bow down to Caity’s Waimea wrangling, and profess that pioneering new barrels is surfing’s greatest aspiration. Plus Dukes and Kooks! … Continue reading "444 – Spit! Feb...

In today’s show Chas and David learn the embarrassing reason that dog owners evolve to look like their pets, celebrate JJF’s decision to stay off Tour and blueprint how the WSL could entice him back, discover that Influencers don’t know what a barrel is, unlock the “sports board” as a new genre, reminisce on the … Continue reading "357 – The Grit! January 30, 2026" The post 357 – The Grit! January...

In today’s show Scott and David introspect on whether their surfing will ever improve again or whether the act is even about riding waves any longer, they then delve into Slater’s underperformance in SITD, the poor surf and the inevitability of it ending in a wave pool, and the boys disagree on whether JJF latest … Continue reading "443 – Spit! January 28, 2026" The post 443 – Spit! January 28, 20...

? In today’s show David and Chas learn a life lesson about forming snap judgments, question Kelly’s truest motive with Stab In The Dark, learn what will be lost if JBay gets cancelled, discover that Pedro Scooby is the least disgusting part of his new McDonalds ad, learn which pro surfer is a doppelgänger for … Continue reading "356 – The Grit! January 23, 2026" The post 356 – The Grit! January 23...

In today’s show surf biz stalwart Randy Hild details the various false starts at Roxy prior to the inception of their industry-disrupting female boardshort, the tension between scaling and brand authenticity, which parts of the Golden Era were fake and inflated, how a serendipitous Swap Meet discovery led to him becoming an inadvertent surf history … Continue reading "583 – Randy Hild: A Life Buil...

In today’s episode David and Scott pay homage to one of the best yet little known board builders of all time, bow in respect to Shane Dorian’s continued commitment to excellence, dissect how to avoid traveling surfers in the line-up when you’re traveling the world to surf, shine a light on work ethic of the … Continue reading "442 – Spit! January 21, 2026" The post 442 – Spit! January 21, 2026 app...

? In today’s episode Chas and David muster the courage to face their biggest childhood foes, they influence Kai Lenny into prone enlightenment, introspect about their desires to shame surf influencers out of the lineup, ask ChatGPT to help consolidate their quivers, and determine if it’s ever okay to take a mint board on a … Continue reading "355 – The Grit! January 16, 2026" The post 355 – The Gr...