The Wipeout Weekly - Surf Podcast

The first time I heard about "shooting the pier" was when Laird Hamilton did it on a monster wave in Malibu during Hurricane Marie. I missed it by a few days—and I've been obsessed ever since. In this episode, we dive into the history, danger, and flex of this high-risk surf maneuver: riding a wave through a pier without getting wrecked by a piling. From classic spots like Huntington and Scripps t...

Let's go to San Diego—and if you're a beginner, there's really only one right answer for where to surf: Tourmaline. In this episode, we're spotlighting Tourmaline Surfing Park, the mellowest, most longboard-friendly break in town. 

Laura Day didn't grow up surfing—but you'd never know it. In this episode, the San Diego noserider and founder of  The Surf Société tells the story of how she went from beach-loving college student to the creator of a women-led surf community and podcast ( Confessions of a Surf Lady ). We talk about what it's like learning to surf when all your friends are dudes, the joy of finally cross-stepping...

In this episode of The Wipeout Weekly: only good surf news allowed. We've got a packed roundup, featuring hurricane-fueled stoke in Rockaway Beach, engineered standing waves turning Colorado into an unlikely surf destination, and an ocean-powered healing clinic for veterans at La Jolla Shores. - Hurricane Erin brings once-in-a-decade swell to Long Island and NYC—and surfers absolutely send it. -Yo...

This week's episode breaks from our usual surf news roundup because… it has to. What started as a routine check for positive surf stories led to something I wasn't prepared for: a disturbing report out of San Luis Obispo, where a male paddleboarder has been charged with the attempted murder of a female surfer—allegedly, in the lineup. In this episode, I walk you through how I found the story, how...

It's time for another surfer girl story! Meet Becca, who never imagined "move to Waikiki at 45 and become a surfer girl" would be on her bingo card. From renting boards at the pink hotel to early dawn lessons at Canoes, Becca's path to surfing was anything but straightforward — shaped by chance encounters, Craigslist board finds, and uncles with pop-up advice that was more shrug than science. In t...

Today's word of the week? Shoulder hopper—and no, it's not a dance move. It's that one surfer who repeatedly snakes waves from the shoulder, cutting off riders with priority and generally acting like the ocean owes them something. In this episode, we unpack the meaning, the etiquette breach, and why everyone hates a shoulder hopper. Plus, did you know there's an actual song about them? We'll play...

Before there were kook cords, power ropes, or sissy strings, there was just you, the board, and a long-ass swim every time you wiped out. In today's episode, we unravel the tangled, sometimes controversial history of the surf leash—aka the thing that keeps your board from bashing into rocks (or someone's head). From the leash's clunky and dangerous early prototypes to the day Pat O'Neill accidenta...

Thought Mavericks was gnarly? Thought Cortes Bank was wild? Meet Shipstern Bluff—aka Shippies—Tasmania's freakiest slab and possibly the most dangerous surf break on earth. In this episode, we travel to the edge of the Tasman Peninsula where mutant waves break over razor-sharp reef, sharks lurk, and the water is bloody freezing. We'll talk about the "mutant steps" that give this wave its horrifyin...

Confused by swell direction, wave period, or what "2–3 ft (observed)" actually means? You're not alone. In this episode, we're breaking down the surf forecast—line by line—with Gavin Bechtold, creator of Go Surfing San Diego and the Sunday Stoke surf forecast newsletter. We talk about what all those Surfline numbers really mean, how to figure out when (and where) to paddle out, and why wave energy...

In today's episode: an Airman celebrates his discharge by getting barreled in full uniform, a penguin crashes a lineup in South Africa (and hugs a surfer), and a shark nearly bites a surfboard clean in half in Australia. Oh—and Hurricane Erin is trying to outdo Teahupoʻo with 100-foot wave projections off the U.S. East Coast. No big deal. We're talking about: Freedom rides (in dress shoes) Shark b...

Sámara isn't where you go to prove anything. This sleepy beach town on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula has no illusions of grandeur—just small, steady waves, warm water, and zero surf snobbery. In other words: paradise for beginners.

This one's personal. If you've ever felt like you didn't quite fit in, if you've ever followed advice that didn't fit, or if you're still looking for your surf crew…this one's for you. You'll learn it's ok to just be you: a surfer with personal preferences, pet peeves, and private goals. Because if your host gets to do this, so do you.

You've heard of twin-fins. You've heard of thrusters. But have you heard of… the twinzer? In today's episode, we're diving into the weird and wonderful world of fin setups — specifically, the twinzer. Not a typo. Not a quad. Definitely not mainstream. Born in 1988 (the year of Die Hard and A Fish Called Wanda ), the twinzer was shaper Wil Jobson's answer to the death of the twin-fin — and it invol...

Cortés Bank. It's a wave so remote, so ridiculous, it practically needs its own Pearl Jam or Soundgarden soundtrack. In this episode, we dive into the myth and madness of Cortés — an underwater mountain range 100 miles off the coast of California that occasionally produces 80-foot waves… and also sinks ships. Located in the middle of nowhere and just a few feet below the surface, this spot is raw...

Santa Teresa: the land of surf, yoga, and smoothie bowls—or so Instagram would have you believe. In this week's Weekly Pop-Up , we're breaking down the reality behind the reels. Think long stretches of beach with mellow peaks for beginners, punchy sections when you're ready to level up, and water so warm you'll never need a wetsuit. We'll cover where to surf (Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa, Hermosa),...

What if you surfed every single day for 40 years? In this episode, we pay tribute to Dale Webster — the Californian surfer who rode waves every day from 1975 to 2015. That's 14,642 consecutive days, over 43,000 waves, and a record that will likely never be broken. You may know Dale from Step Into Liquid , where he appears as the wetsuit-worn soul bowing to waves in thanks. But his story goes far b...

From wave pools to wipeouts, yachts to Hollywood, this week's lineup is wild. The first Wavegarden in the U.S. is opening in Virginia Beach, and the hype is real. A 6-man canoe takes a rogue wave to the ER. A 60-foot yacht "surfs" into shallow water in Waikiki. Plus: Jason Momoa's near-drowning rescue by Laird Hamilton, Chris Hemsworth's forbidden 40-footer, and Amy Schumer's surfing injury reveal...

Ever wondered how to keep your hair healthy after endless saltwater sessions—without harming the ocean you love? 🌊 In this episode, we chat with Brittany Jones, founder of Coconut Smuggler, about the art (and science) of protecting your surf hair while staying reef-safe. Brittany shares her journey from surfer to eco-conscious entrepreneur, the inspiration behind her all-natural pre- and post-sur...

At 53, Melissa calls herself "scientifically a mermaid" — and after hearing her story, you'll see why. Growing up near the ocean in Sydney, she dabbled in surfing for years before heartbreak pushed her to buy her own board and start solo surf missions. In this episode, Melissa shares how catching that first little wave became addictive, why Port Stephens is her sanctuary, and how surfing helped he...

What do pullouts, flying kickouts, and island pullouts have in common? More than you think. In this episode, we trace the evolution of the pullout — from the days of heavy, finless longboards where stopping was nearly impossible, to the stylish, safety-first exits of modern surfing. You'll hear about the flashy chaos of the flying kickout during the shortboard revolution, the invention of the leas...

What happens when surfing collides with bigger-than-life personalities, a bit of geopolitical drama, rushed board design, industry panic, and a learning curve that scares people out of the water? You get the shortboard revolution. In this episode, we meet George Greenough, Bob McTavish, and Nat Young — the innovators, rebels, and occasionally questionable characters who took surfing from logs to l...

If Noosa and Byron Bay had a more relaxed, pint-sized cousin, it would be Turner's Beach. In this episode, we're heading to this underrated north-facing beach break at the base of Yamba's lighthouse headland — where the Clarence River meets the Pacific. Expect soft, forgiving waves, warm water, and a mellow vibe that's perfect for beginner surfers and longboarders. We'll cover when to go, what to...

In this episode, we share one of the most powerful surfer girl stories yet. Sandi, 53, grew up summers at the Jersey Shore but never got the chance to truly surf — until nearly 50. Just as she was finally chasing her dream, tragedy struck with the sudden loss of her husband. Years later, through surf therapy, fitness, and pure determination, she's not only returned to the ocean but rebuilt her str...

This week's surf news unintentionally turned into a celebration of the groms. From a 9-year-old California surfer surviving a rare sea lion attack, to 12-year-old Kelia Mehani Gallina making WSL history at Teahupo'o, to Prince Archie's first surf lesson in Santa Barbara — the kids are seriously stealing the headlines. We'll also check out the upcoming Great Lakes Surf Festival, proving that you do...