Crest Surfcast

The tale of how towing-in was developed is one of the most crucial turning points in surfing's journey as an 'extreme sport'. A million miles from what most of us do, day-in-day-out, what sort of mindset does decide to be part of such incredible leaps into the unknown? For the milestone that is our 40th episode, Tom and Rhino chat with none other than Buzzy Kerbox - a key member of the crew who fi...

The Pura Vida MiPost Welsh Nationals has finally run, and we break down the results. Tom and Rhino are joined in an emergency studio by Open Men's Champ Logan Nicol, Llantwit-turned-Gower ripper Chris Fowler (fresh off finalling in the Masters) and Junior Longboard Champ Blake Jones. Via Zoom, we also have some words from regular contributor Emily Williams, this time celebrating her seventh Women'...

One of the landmark interviews the team have done to date sees its concluding part here, with Greg delivering more of his masterclass on what he thinks makes good surfing. Stand by for Vaughanie to challenge him on some of these points, before fond reminiscence from Greg about being among the first travellers to surf Cloudbreak as non-Tavarua residents, and getting ridiculously tubed at the world-...

The one the people wanted! If you've ever had anything to do with Greg, you'll know what to expect here. One of these shores' finest ever surfers is also one of our most colossal characters. Of course it was only a matter of time before we hit Greg up for his life story, and as with some of our other legends, it's just too much for one episode alone. In this first instalment, Tom is joined by Mark...

Hours after the Olympic surfing finals, and a day before his internet-busting chat with Kelly Slater, WCT legend Brad Gerlach joined Tom and Rhino for this amazing discussion - now available to Crest listeners as an unscheduled Summer bonus episode. One of the best voices in all of surfing, Brad here tells us about the game-changing moments he has witnessed in decades of being on or around the Wor...

Surfing is in the Olympics, and it's starting this week! Our extra-special guest to celebrate this historic moment in surf is Llewellyn Whittaker, whose full-circle journey from Mossel Bay, South Africa has taken in time living in Durban, Newquay and South Wales along the way. Now the head coach of the German Surfing Federation, Llew will be in Tokyo already by the time you hear this, as part of t...

Perhaps there isn’t a job you’d imagine as being further from beach culture than member of parliament? Nevertheless, South Wales has for several decades had a surfing MP! So how does David TC Davies balance the most pinstripe job there is with sandy toes? And does it influence his views on the stuff that matters? With politics geek Producer Dodd (a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist, apparently!) joining To...

Linda’s spectacular life story picks up with some insight into her uncanny ability to foster winning mindsets not just for herself but for a generation of younger surfers too. We hear little-known facts about Huw ‘Herbi’ John’s two side careers as both movie star and kneeboarder, as well as poignant memories about some of the colossal characters Linda was privileged to befriend from within the Eur...

The most influential female surfer in British history! For this special occasion (and thanks to the wizardry of Martin John) we’re on video again, as Tom and Rhino catch up with the icon that is Linda Sharp. In this first part of her amazing life story, we hear Linda’s thoughts on the ISA Worlds across the decades, as well as the origins and foundation tale of the Welsh Surfing Federation - an org...

It's potentially one of the most important events in surfing history to date. The 2021 ISA World Games takes place in El Salvador from the 29th May, deciding the final five men's and seven women's spots in the inaugural Olympic surfing tournaments in Japan this summer. Especially exciting for Welsh surfing is that Manorbier's own Harry Cromwell has won through to the El Salvador event, after a her...

A lifelong seeker of adventure and travel, Frankie Pioli has taken a stoke made in Wales into a career that has seen her be, among other roles, the physio for the Swiss Free Ski Team. Now resident of the Alps, Frankie reminisces about surf trips and other tales with Rob and Elliot, before offering some sage advice for surfers keen to look after their bodies in the long term. Produced by James Dodd...

If there's a challenge for our times then surely it was Al Mennie's mind-boggling 'Swim through Darkness' across the 2020-21 winter. One hundred kilometres, at night, in or around the impact zone. We can try to imagine the pain, the fear, the dedication and the cold. For Al, this was a nightly reality, allowing him to express what so many of us were feeling as one of the most challenging winters o...

Who could forget that little nugget last season when Rhino told us Tom Curren had written a song about him? Well, the central part of that incredible story belonged to former Welsh Seniors Champ Jem Evans, who would go on to host Curren at his Bourdaines home for three consecutive summers. What were the circumstances that led to a Gower and Porthcawl ripper suddenly sharing his every surf with one...

Has any single person made a bigger difference for British board sports than Olympic snowboard medallist Jenny Jones? Arguably, her contribution to slopestyle's debut at the Sochi 2014 games was one of the most significant catalysts in spreading the popularity of surfing's mind-boggling sister discipline. As our beloved sport approaches its own date with Olympic destiny later this summer, what can...

We all gazed longingly at the images shared by 'Photo Boss Bali' last year, but what are the actual stories behind them? What was it like to shoot Kelly Slater at Padang-Padang, to stare at empty Sumatran perfection as the rest of the travellers went home? Originally from Pembrokeshire, the tale of how Luke Cromwell came to be a resident of the world's most surf-rich nation is one of adventure, am...

How's the surf industry looking going into the Christmas shopping season? And do you need some gift buying inspiration? Tom catches up with Chris Seage of Cove Distribution Ltd to learn what's been flying off the shelves this year, and how to best supports the businesses that matter as you shop. Besides a range of grass-roots surf shop and business owners, each of the 2020 Crest presenters has lef...

Last week it was becoming PJ - and now it's about being PJ. Hands up if you remember that surfline! Listen as PJ tells Tom and Rhino how he went about creating his seminal surf report service, about growing the surf shop and brand and about the rest of life's journey to where we are now. This candid discussion includes a haunting account of life-threatening injury, as well as plenty more of Pete's...

Present or nearby for many of the defining moments in international surfing history, Pete ‘PJ’ Jones has first-hand experience of some of the greatest tales our sport can offer. In this first half of his life-story interview, Wales’ trailblazing surfer talks Tom and Rhino through discovering his ‘gift’ and its life-changing impact. From ‘dropping out’ of any career that might get in the way of wat...

Our first Irish guest is as intrepid as they come. Renowned charger Eoin McCarthy Deering tells Tom about his addiction to remote slabs on the west of his beloved Emerald Isle, as well as the wanderlust which has seen him post up in some of the planet's remotest surf spots. Eoin's relationship with GoPro has led to some of the most awe-inspiring surf-travel clips out there. How does he go about or...

International purveyors of the finest surf stoke. After jacking in the day jobs to become nomadic writers, Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor's Footprint Guides to Surfing in Britain and Europe dropped at a time when publishers were eating up anything surf. Building on Demi's experiences from her days in the Roxy PR department, the couple then hit on a winning formula in running the inaugural London Sur...

Long known as a charger and a legend of Wales' underground surf scenes, Porthcawl's Angus Ruddle is a character whose tales, advice and opinions are the stuff of fable. A consultant vascular surgeon by day (or night!), 'Gus' applies the same personality traits which have taken him to the top of an elite profession to his pursuit of action sports. In the water, he's well known for chasing down moun...

'Logos out, logos in.' Be it advice for the future generations, or incredible tales from the highest levels of contest success (he's beaten Taj Burrow!), James Jones is one of the most important voices in modern Welsh, and indeed British, surfing. Tom and Rhino Thomas get the inside take on what it's been like to grow up with the weight of a nation's expectations on your shoulders, only to live up...

What makes a world-renowned paleoclimatologist with a powerful forehand gouge leave New Jersey to settle down in... Wales ? Apparently our waves aren't too shabby, and our water 'isn't as cold' as NJ in winter. With a work travel itinerary that could just as easily be that of a Search movie, Dr Sosdian has joined Tom and Breige Lawrence to tell tales of voyaging in the name of oceanic research (wh...

With Brilliant Corners, Sam's series of travelogues from the world's less visited surf destinations, now available on WSL Studios, this former European champ is well placed to lead a new wave of surf exploration. Listen to him as he tells Tom and Rob about some of the places he's visited, his inspirations, travel companions and philosophies. We also learn a few tricks of the WSL commentary trade f...

'Surfing’s not a jock sport, it’s not football or whatever... We’re not f***ing athletes, we’re surfers,' said Joel Tudor to Surf Europe. A contentious issue, which has rumbled since, now it's Crest's turn to tackle the thorny debate about surfing's changing identity. For this debate special, Tom and Rob square off against each other from different sides of the divide - with the help of Logan Nich...