The Wipeout Weekly - Surf Podcast

Dreaming of rolling beach breaks, warm water, and a classic Aussie surf town without the Bondi crowds? This week, we're heading to Mollymook—an easygoing surf haven about three hours south of Sydney. In this episode, we'll break down everything you need to know about catching your first waves at Mollymook Beach: where to paddle out, when to go, and what to watch for. From mellow southern peaks per...

In this episode, we meet Anne-Sophie Le Caignec—a surfer, writer, and illustrator whose life has been shaped by the waves in more ways than one. Anne-Sophie first discovered surfing by chance on England's south coast in 2009 and quickly caught the bug. Her journey hasn't always been smooth. After a car accident in 2017 forced her to pause her surfing, Anne-Sophie found strength in community, inspi...

This week, we're talking about one of surfing's most frustrating—and humbling—moments: pearling. You know, that glorious instant when the nose of your board dives straight into the water and sends you cartwheeling over the front. In this episode, we'll break down exactly what pearling is, why it happens, and how to avoid it. From weight distribution and clean pop-ups to understanding your board's...

Crystal didn't take the typical beginner route to surfing—and she definitely didn't start on a longboard. In this episode, she shares how a lifetime of dance, skimboarding, snow skating, and YouTube deep dives helped her make the leap to shortboarding. We talk about fear, injuries, the gift of bad conditions, and what it means to be "community-taught." Crystal breaks down the myth of self-taught s...

Today, we're kicking off Surfboard 101 with the one feature that shapes almost everything about how your board feels: the rocker. From the gentle arc under your longboard to the aggressive curve on a high-performance shortboard, rocker is the invisible blueprint behind speed, control, and maneuverability. In this episode, we'll break down what rocker actually is, why it matters so much, and how no...

Today, we're rewinding to the 1950s and 60s, when surfing wasn't just about gliding along a wave—it was about flair, footwork, and a little bit of circus. This episode dives into the colorful world of hotdogging , the flashy, highly maneuverable style that turned mellow beach breaks into a stage for radical turns, noserides, spinners, and drop-knee cutbacks. We'll trace the roots of the term hotdo...

This week, we're heading to the beating heart of Canggu's surf scene—Batu Bolong. If you've ever dreamed of learning to surf in Bali, this is probably the place you pictured: long, rolling waves, warm tropical water, and a lively lineup packed with learners, locals, and traveling wave-chasers. We'll break down everything you need to know about surfing Batu Bolong, from what makes the waves beginne...

In this episode, we trace the surprisingly nerdy, wartime origins of the modern wetsuit. From Hugh Bradner's experiments with neoprene in the 1950s to Jack O'Neill's surf shop innovations and the rise of Body Glove, learn how a few cold-water pioneers made it possible to surf year-round—without turning into a popsicle. We'll also break down what actually keeps you warm in a wetsuit, why seam const...

In this episode, we catch you up on this week's wildest headlines in surfing: First up, The Wave in Bristol—the UK's famous wave pool that abruptly shut its doors last week—has supposedly reopened under new ownership. On the luxury front, pro surfers are dropping brand collabs at every price point. Kelly Slater's latest with Breitling is the Superocean B31 watch, and Rob Machado has unveiled the $...

When I learned to snowboard, I did it on an indoor slope. But when I started surfing, wave pools weren't even a serious option. Fast forward to 2025, and they are  everywhere —and hotter than ever. This episode dives into the surprising history of artificial waves, from 1920s "surf baths" in Germany (yes, really) to the high-tech surf machines of today. We'll explore how wave pools went from splas...

If you've ever finished a surf session feeling like your shoulders were on fire, you're not alone. In this episode, we're diving into the infamous shoulder burn : why it happens, how to tell if it's normal soreness or something more serious, and what you can actually do to fix it—and prevent it from coming back. I'll break down the science behind paddling fatigue, shoulder impingement, and rotator...

After scraping my knees and my ego in the surf this morning, I needed a reminder that this whole surfing thing—and life itself—is about the long game. And nobody embodies that better than Nancy. In this episode, Nancy shares her story of picking up surfing later in life, breaking bones (and coming back for more), traveling the world to chase waves, and finding a community of women who remind her t...

Have you ever sat in the lineup, squinting at a lump on the horizon, trying to decide whether it's about to turn into the wave of your dreams—or a total closeout? This episode dives into the science behind wave breaking, so you can stop guessing (or at least sound really smart while you guess). Apparently, there's more science to it than just eyeballing it.

News alert! This week kicks off our weekly surfing news roundup, and there's no shortage of surf drama and inspiration. First up: The Wave—Bristol's solar-powered inland surf park—suddenly shut down this week in a swirl of financial chaos, only to reemerge days later under new ownership (but with bookings still paused). We'll talk about what happened, why it matters, and why you probably can lose...

Wooo! We've got another one: a breakup that led to surfing. And it's a good one. In today's episode, we meet Nicola, a 30-year-old artist, dreamer, and self-taught surfer originally from the Czech Republic, now based in Belgium. Nicola shares how a vacation surf lesson in Portugal changed everything—from overcoming her fear of swimming to paddling back out after heartbreak. Her story is equal part...

This week's surf spot spotlight is on La Saladita , Mexico—a.k.a. "The Wave Machine." If you dream of 100-meter rides on mellow lefts with zero drama, this is your place. Located in rural Guerrero, La Saladita is quiet, consistent, and longboard heaven. It's not a party town or influencer hotspot (yet), but it is one of Mexico's best-kept beginner surf secrets. In this episode, we talk waves, trav...

There's one moment in surfing that can bring even the boldest beginner to a full-body clench: the drop . That heart-in-your-throat second when the wave jacks, your board tilts, and your brain screams nope . In this episode, we're talking fear of the drop—why it happens, how it messes with your confidence, and what to do when it keeps holding you back. I also share some very scientific research (ak...

What started as a mellow morning surf session at Venice Breakwater quickly spiraled into something deeper. In this episode, I unpack a heated conversation that broke out in Girls Who Can't Surf Good —about unsolicited advice in the lineup, surf bros who just can't help themselves, and the cultural divide between "just let me enjoy the ocean" surfers and "this is a performance sport" types. From th...

What do you do when you fall in love with surfing… and absolutely refuse to quit? In today's episode, Zuz chats with Jade—self-taught surfer, YouTube creator, and accidental waxing-video legend—about the messy, magical path from foamie to shortboard. We talk surf camps, heartbreak-fueled ambition, scary dads in the lineup, bouncing back from injuries, trolls, and what it's like to paddle out at Pi...

It's warm. It's mellow. It's full of right-hand peelers. Noosa, Queensland is basically a beginner surfer's fantasy with a sprinkle of national park magic. In this episode, we're finally talking about the iconic Aussie surf spot where so many surfers got their start—and never wanted to leave. Learn what makes Noosa a unicorn among point breaks (hint: it's sandy-bottomed, not scary), the best time...

Why do we beat ourselves up for not surfing more often? In this 100th episode (and on International Surfing Day, no less), I'm sharing the guilt, the love, and the wildly relatable excuses from the Girls Who Can't Surf Good community. Spoiler: we're not lazy—we're just human.

Some people discover surfing by accident. Others seek it out with purpose. And a few—like Toyo—find it when everything else in life feels like it's falling apart. In this inspiring episode, we meet Toyo: a Japanese-American flight attendant, mother of three, and late-start surfer who paddled out for the first time at 46. After a lifetime of watching from the shore, dealing with exclusion, caretaki...

Blimey. Even the New York Times is talking about hip mobility—and not just for aging athletes. In this episode, we dive pelvis-first into why healthy hips are crucial for surfers at every stage, from your first pop-up to longboarding grace. We unpack surprising stats (spoiler: 1 in 10 women will need a hip replacement), share stories from post-surgery surfers who got back in the water faster than...

Back from the land of haggis and haunted castles, let's talk about one of the gnarliest surf spots in the North Atlantic: Thurso East. It's cold. It's hollow. It's Scotland's answer to Pipeline — if Pipeline wore a kilt and made you wear 5mm of neoprene. In this episode, we take a look at Thurso's icy barrels, castle views, unpredictable swells, and why it's not exactly a beginner-friendly destina...