Surf Splendor

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...

In today’s episode Bob McTavish explains how one of his most iconic designs came to him in a dream and Joey Cabell’s influence in it, he shares the inception of the swallowtail, his afternoon spent with Duke Kahanamoku, the epiphany he had at Rincon in 1967, why he renounced competition for a mortgage and children, … Continue reading "582 – Bob McTavish: Part Two" The post 582 – Bob McTavish: Part...

In today’s episode Scott and David delve deep into the shapers personalities and tensions competing for the crown at Stab In The Dark X, character clashes, old rivalries revitalized, attempted marketing campaigns thwarted, and a shocking amount of design variation within a tight 27.5 liters, plus Kelly offers insights into recovery and optimization, and a … Continue reading "441 – Spit! January 14...

In today’s episode Bob McTavish shares stories from surfing in an era prior to foam cores and surf wax, charts the path from dropping out of school to surf, to being homeless with only $10 to his name, to stowing away on a ship to Hawaii for the North Shore winter, the jail time that … Continue reading "581 – Bob McTavish: Part One" The post 581 – Bob McTavish: Part One appeared first on Surf Sple...

In today’s show Chas and David examine the Blood Feud between former surf comic Jonathan Wayne Freeman and Simmons acolyte @Hydrodynamica, seeking to understand the moment wherein ideology rewires what one’s eye’s witness, they seek enlightenment in pursuit of Kelly Slater’s ayahuasca journey, discover their own narrative arc paralleling that of The Grinch, feel the … Continue reading "354 – The G...

In today’s show David and Scott share the historic and untold stories shared by PT and Shaun Tomson at Surf Expo, dive into the influential showmanship of Peter Drouyn, spill spoilers from the upcoming Stab In The Dark x Kelly Slater, review day one of Da Hui Backdoor Shootout, and survey what boards and brands … Continue reading "440 – Spit! January 8, 2026" The post 440 – Spit! January 8, 2026 a...

? In today’s show David and Chas pick up the pieces from NYE and embark on the New Year with intel about Tom Curren’s hair dye, a new crown and title at Pipeline, a major shift from CT Champs that devalues legacy surf brands and spikes value in one surfer-owned brand, Jack Robinson offers you … Continue reading "353 – The Grit! January 2, 2025" The post 353 – The Grit! January 2, 2025 appeared fir...

In today’s show Scott and David pay homage to the pervasive Hoffman family legacy in California surfing, breakdown the massive sponsor disruptions in the top tier of men’s surfing and what it reveals about surf industry economics, discuss the savvy and bias agenda to select a “Best Of The Year”, and bid a final farewell … Continue reading "439 – Spit! December 31, 2025" The post 439 – Spit! Decemb...

In today’s show David and Chas recap the glory of Christmas and ponder the possibility of The Lost Week, count the number of times they’ve executed what they intended to do while surfing, survey two recent surfing Blood Feuds, perplex over Curren’s hair color, Julian’s shift to LGBTQ-friendly leisurewear, and map a winning plan for … Continue reading "352 – The Grit! December 26, 2025" The post 35...