Surf Splendor

From the northwest of Ireland, Richie Fitzgerald’s debut memoir, Cold Water Eden, has received incredible reviews and covers his history in big waves; Surfworld, the first surf shop in town; and endless anecdotes of visiting surfers dawning his door.  From Tom Curren to Kelly Slater, Malloy brothers to Brad Gerlach, the characters and set-ups in Bundoran … Continue reading "Cold Water Eden with Ri...

In today’s “getting old” themed show Chas and David analyze why the youth have abandoned surfing, celebrate Laird’s new bromance with Bezos, take bets on a the Zuck vs Musk cage match, vehemently disagree on the ideal trans woman, and Chas’s wife pleads for you to get health insurance. Plus Barrel or Nah?! Enjoy! Sponsor: … Continue reading "221 – The Grit! June 22, 2023" The post 221 – The Grit!...

New Jersey’s former grom phenom Shaun Crowley joins us to discuss returning to surfing after a decade hiatus, how to sell it all and relocate your life to Mexico, why you should delete Instagram (but start a YouTube channel), and the freedom and refuge that comes with finding your community. Enjoy! Sponsor: Roark.com Sponsor: Driftline.co promo code … Continue reading "465 – Shaun Crowley: Shaun I...

? Scott is back to regale us with tales from the Telos! Then he and David catch up on Nathan Florence’s slab tour, Dylan Longbottom’s near death wipeout, the Skeleton Bay Shootout, why it’s time to clarify board building titles, and the most stylish surfer who opts to still ride three fins. Plus Dukes and … Continue reading "310 – Spit! June 21, 2023" The post 310 – Spit! June 21, 2023 appeared fi...

In today’s show Chas and David marvel at Derek Ho’s under appreciated backside snap, celebrate The Package’s well-deserved biopic, guffaw at WSL One Ocean’s new wave pool in Abu Dhabi, try to undercut Big Ding Repair’s corporate interests, and receive hate mail from fans of plus-sized rappers. Plus Barrel or Nah?! Enjoy! Sponsor: BuellSurf.com promo code … Continue reading "220 – The Grit! June 16...

In Part Two, Jeff Johnson explains how he side-doored his way into becoming Patagonia’s first staff photographer, the toll of being sued by one of his surf idols, and he distills the value of being naive to your own limitations. Enjoy! Sponsor: Roark.com Sponsor: SunBum.com promo code “surfsplendor” Sponsor: WaterWaysTravel.com Sponsor: REALWatersports.com Sponsor: DrinkAG1.com/surf Visit JeffJohn...

In today’s show Scott and David are joined by board builder Michael Arenal. He won the Best in Show Board Build off at The Boardroom. He’s building beautiful boards for Hobie and for his own label. He’s been selected by Bing Copeland to compete in the Icons of Foam Shape-off honoring Bing in October at … Continue reading "309 – Spit! June 14, 2023" The post 309 – Spit! June 14, 2023 appeared first...

When John Milius’s masterpiece, Big Wednesday, toured through Italy in the late 70’s, the local watermen responded by removing the mast and sails from their windsurf boards and birthing Italian surf culture. Fast forward to the early 80’s, and a nine year-old Emi Cataldi has a similar experience when a family windsurfing vacation is nearly ruined … Continue reading "From Italy with Love with Emili...

In today’s show Chas and David finally zero in on the root of so much judging controversy, style! How to identify it. How to define it. How contests breed bad style. David then sets out to rid the surf world of wax and Chas sets out on a mission to find out if Erik BufaLogan … Continue reading "219 – The Grit! June 8, 2023" The post 219 – The Grit! June 8, 2023 appeared first on Surf Splendor .

Adventurer Jeff Johnson joins us today to explain his path from ne’er-do-well skate teen to world class photographer; from stealing lumber to build skate ramps, to lifeguarding on the North Shore, to traveling the world professionally, Jeff explains how boredom is the key to unlocking your life’s passion. Part 1 of 2. Enjoy! Sponsor: Roark.com Sponsor: … Continue reading "463 – Jeff Johnson: Part...

In today’s episode Scott brings in Justin Ternes of Dark Arts Surfboards to discuss rethinking surfboard construction and his path to collaboration with some of the most prominent shortboard shapers. Dark Arts offers the light, strong, performance surfboards, and as a result the boards are being ridden to event wins and even World Titles. Enjoy! … Continue reading "308 – Spit! June 6, 2023" The po...

The most boring surf contest of all time has birthed the juiciest storylines; Surfing’s Scandoval. Medina skewers the WSL. ELO protests too much and accidentally reveals nefarious intent. Toledo claps back at ELO after going full Buffalo Bill. And the WSL effectively buries their athlete’s amazing achievements with the weight of their own colossal missteps, … Continue reading "218 – The Grit! June...

Apple called him “a pioneer with profound impact”. Newsweek said he “changed the public face of graphic design”. In 1991 David Carson redesigned Surfer Magazine and established a now iconic graphic design style seated in raw human emotion which led to numerous awards and an expansive client list including Audi, Nike, Obama, and album art … Continue reading "462 – David Carson" The post 462 – David...

In today’s show David and Scott discuss the controversy and fall out of the Surf Ranch Pro, whether the failures are related to incompetence or corruption, the three world champs who are publicly speaking out, the winners, the losers, the death threats, and what comes next for the WSL and/or an adjacent Tour that prizes … Continue reading "307 – Spit! May 30, 2023" The post 307 – Spit! May 30, 202...

In today’s show David questions the potential of a wax free life, Chas regrets his neck tattoo, and the boys get a glimpse into a post-WSL near future, assess the value of a gold chain, explain why you ought never attend your child’s bachelor party, and reveal why you should never ever wash your boardshorts. … Continue reading "217 – The Grit! May 25, 2023" The post 217 – The Grit! May 25, 2023 ap...

Kevin grabs an old central Florida friend for this episode, Erik Gunderson.  They met in high school and began surfing together around 1986, mostly willed by Kevin’s successful attempt to befriend this Dean Moriarty-type character.  Erik lived, surfed, partied, and worked harder than the rest, which set the stage for some good times, friendship, and … Continue reading "School of Gundy with Erik Gu...

Roark founder Ryan Hitzel joins us to discuss how his high-school notebook doodles led to a design job at Volcom, line-up hierarchy etiquette fortified him for the pitfalls of entrepreneurship, and how a forced expedition by his parents mapped the blueprint for his life’s work. Enjoy! Sponsor: WaveKi.com promo code “WAVEKISPLENDOR20” for 20% off Sponsor: VAERWatches.com promo … Continue reading "4...

In today’s show David dissect the virtues of EPS vs PU while Scott professes his love of XTR (and turtles) and then the boys question the dangers inherent in our 11 time world champ’s universal adulation and privileged access, and celebrate the life of one surfer who was even more powerful surfer than our sandal … Continue reading "306 – Spit! May 24, 2023" The post 306 – Spit! May 24, 2023 appear...

Andrew Kidman joins us to discuss how his enthusiasm for wave pools inspired his latest film, why he prefers terrible surf, Filipe’s distinct advantage related to his board construction, and the burden and gift of having had a UFO encounter in his youth. Enjoy! Sponsor: SunBum.com promo code “SURFSPLENDOR” for 15% off. Know Your Spots!   … Continue reading "460 – Andrew Kidman: Big Sky Limited" Th...

In today’s show Chas and David receive harsh (but justified) ridicule for their SoCal centric myopia, a rational minded VAL offers a sympathetic perspective, Chas returns to form on three fins, the boys reset modern etiquette for disclosure of surf spots, Kelly attempts to decode the mysterious connection between turtles and the moon, and a … Continue reading "216 – The Grit! May 19, 2023" The pos...

In today’s show, Scott regales us with tales of getting barreled south of the border, explains why he buys a new board every week but never travels with one, he then outlines some of the greatest father-n-son shaping duos of all time, while David waxes nostalgic about a 1/4 century worth of (non)Fish evolution, and … Continue reading "305 – Spit! May 17, 2023" The post 305 – Spit! May 17, 2023 app...

Shoulder season generally implies smaller, playful waves and a generally mellow vibe… In this episode, we chat with Eden Saul of Dead Kooks Surfboards about a different, more horrific meaning. Listen in as Eden recounts the unthinkable disaster in paradise…twice! We delve into his early days of shaping influences, his direct to consumer business model, and his … Continue reading "Shoulder Season w...

In today’s show Chas recounts his hallucinogenic sailing trip from last week and the boys receive further evidence why you should surf in elastic waist shorts, never sell a surfboard, force your kid to surf, bring a guitar on a surf trip, and they highlight the importance of proper pad placement. Plus Barrel or Nah?! … Continue reading "215 – The Grit! May 12, 2023" The post 215 – The Grit! May 12...

In today’s show, Scott and David begin to realize they are in over their head with their foiling journey, they dissect episode one of SITD and lament the limitations of closeouts, they welcome Nathan Florence, J.O.B., and Koa Rothman into the podcast game, celebrate 60 years of Surfing World, and marvel at the implications of … Continue reading "304 – Spit! May 10, 2023" The post 304 – Spit! May 1...

While Chas is adrift at sea, Devon Howard fills his loafers to provide decidedly more gentle discussion about the leashless ban in Byron, a modern redefining of “priority”, being indoctrinated to surf by mom, an update on Joel Tudor’s indefinite suspension, and important tips for how to achieve a glorious head of hair and how … Continue reading "214 – Sans Grit! with Devon Howard: May 5, 2023" The...