Surf Splendor Archives - Surf Splendor

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:...

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 –...

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...

Surf photographer and photo editor Jeff Divine’s imagery has largely framed our perspective on North Shore surfing from the 70s and 80s. Today he shares stories from the era defining Expression Session in 1971, reveals that he didn’t befriend Gerry Lopez until a decade after they had helped build one another’s careers, he discusses how … Continue reading "580 – Jeff Divine" The post 58...

In today’s show board builder Max Stewart of Eye Symmetry explains the inverse relationship between product quality and business growth, tales from early days at Hayden Shapes, how Tom Carroll has informed how he takes custom orders and why he factors your personality into the order card. Enjoy! Sponsor: Quince.com/surf Sponsor: Rula.com/surf Sponsor: WaterwaysTravel.com Presented by: Surfrider.or...

In today’s episode the Encyclopedia of Surfing’s Matt Warshaw discusses the risks of having surf history chronicled by a single man, who’s gotten short shrift on the EOS, how much and how little has changed in surf culture since the first magazine, an examination of pioneering female surf photographers, the first surfer to go at … Continue reading "578 – Matt Warshaw" The post 578 &#82...

In today’s episode Jordan Rodin joins us to chat about life lessons and hazing gleaned from Derek Hynd, make a case for heavier surfboards, explain his 5 year hiatus from getting barreled, why you should be stripping down used boards and reshaping them, what famous sculptors of centuries past can teach us about surfing, why … Continue reading "577 – Jordan Rodin" The post 577 – J...

In today’s show actor John Philbin recounts his life as an escape artist, shares dangers of achieving one’s life goals, the false paradigm of self-confidence, why he is not a good actor, how to reform a bitter and angry disposition, and why he doesn’t trust anyone who isn’t a hypocrite. Enjoy! Presented by: Surfrider.org Presented by: REALWatersports.com … Continue reading "576 – John...

In today’s show Kyle Thiermann shares the near death experience that altered his life’s perspective, explains the creative fertility nested in boredom, shares how his relationship with psychedelics has changed after nearly a decade of experimentation, reflects on the moment he learned you don’t need to master your hobbies, and discusses his desire to maintain … Continue reading "575 –...

In today’s show Vissla CEO Paul Naude joins us to discuss how the consolidation of major surf brands is affecting surf culture, how the licensing operational model can threaten retailer’s long term viability, why now is a fertile opportunity for growth for independent brands and retail, and why the consumer wields influence through the power … Continue reading "574 – Paul Naude: The St...

In today’s show early Peruvian shaping pioneer Rodolfo Klima joins us to discuss Peru as the inception place of surfing and it’s integral role in early surf competitions, learning how to shape by instinct alone, Gordon Clark’s unknown factory in Peru, the challenge of building a business in an unstable economy and democracy, why Peru … Continue reading "573 – Rodolfo Klima" The p...

In today’s show South African pro surfer turned shaper Barry Vandermeulen joins to share stories of early life in the remote but influential Bay of Plenty, his tutelage from Spider to Spyder, Matt Biolos’s springboard into his eponymous label, how to run a business without a website, why he doesn’t put his name on his … Continue reading "572 – Barry Vandermeulen" The post 572 – B...

In today’s show Thomas Campbell unpacks the 10 year process of making YI-WO, analyzes the value and the cost of asking an audience to be present, shares the experience in Morocco wherein he was dead broke that spring-boarded his painting career, explains how a short skate film for Supreme led him to surf filmmaking, and … Continue reading "571 – Thomas Campbell" The post 571 – Th...

In today’s show North Shore icon Eric Arakawa shares insights from 51 years of surfboard shaping, explains the invention of the Nose Guard, why it’s essential to use money and love people but most people do the opposite, how to leverage burnout to fuel inspiration, recounts the chance encounter with one enigmatic shaper that changed … Continue reading "570 – Eric Arakawa" The post 570...

In today’s episode Makua Rothman discusses surfing Waimea at age 8, his maternal lineage to King Kamehameha, songwriting as a catharsis to process childhood trauma, how his World Title count was limited by his addition, the freedom in relinquishing the weight of expectation, and how society’s modern embrace of vulnerability can open pathways of communication … Continue reading "569 – M...

In today’s episode early surf icon Joey Cabell talks through transitioning from solid redwood boards (which he purchased from his shoeshine earnings) through Balsa to being the first Polyurethane foam board tester for Clark & Hobie, he share stories of being on the Duke Kahanamoku Surf Team, training for winter Hanalei by swimming the N? … Continue reading "568 – Joey Cabell" The p...

In today’s show Tom Carroll reveals a little known spite that fueled his competitive drive since adolescence, how he’s learned to create a gap between thought and action, why success is intrinsically tied to interpersonal relationships, the immeasurable benefit of doing nothing, and how listening is one of life’s under appreciated superpowers. Enjoy! Sponsor: DrinkAG1.com/surf Presented … Co...

In today’s show Nathan Hedge shares tales from joining his heroes at age 13 on The Search for a month in Indo, Derek Hynd’s highly unusual (and effective) methods to prepare him for life on Tour, how the freedom of a nomadic life distanced him from his self-interest, the moment in Mundaka that triggered a … Continue reading "566 – Nathan Hedge" The post 566 – Nathan Hedge appeare...

In today’s show Steve Hawk shares lessons gleaned from the world’s sweetest mom, explains why justified resentment may be the root of all evil, notes that the past is constantly in the process of being redefined by the future, reminds us to show don’t tell, and he checks in on a prediction piece he wrote … Continue reading "565 – Steve Hawk" The post 565 – Steve Hawk appeared fir...

Dick Metz is back to discuss the documentary, now streaming, that chronicles his early world travel and the near death experience that was the impetus for the three year sojourn. He recounts early days in Malibu with Matt Kivlin and Nick Gabaldon, why Hobie Alter is the Thomas Edison of surfing, the undertold story of … Continue reading "564 – Dick Metz & Richard Yelland: Birth Of...

In today’s show, surf photography great Sean Davey shares how his first memory of the ocean was of his mother in the tube, his favorite photo he’s ever taken, the legacy of Lane and her imprint of kindness, and how he’s been able to maintain passion and creativity to further develop the craft he discovered … Continue reading "563 – Sean Davey" The post 563 – Sean Davey appeared f...

In today’s show aerial and floater pioneer Davey Smith reflects on Greenough’s early influence, how selling ice cream help fund his pro surf career, Russel Short’s hypnotic tube prowess, introducing Channel Islands to the North Shore, how shaping informed his surfing, and the value of taking time away from surfing. Enjoy! Sponsored by: DrinkAG1.com/surf Sponsored … Continue reading "562 &#82...

In today’s show Hall of Famer Ricky Carroll talks about getting punched out in Hawaii, posing as a kneeboarder to make it to the World Championships, being the now longest running surfboard shaper in Florida. And Justin Quintal talks us through 11 Duct Tape wins, 5 US Opens, 1 World Title, and explains why partying … Continue reading "561 – Justin Quintal & Ricky Carroll" The post...

In today’s show Kelly Richards talks about leaving Arkansas at age 13 to chase surf in South Carolina, the rare opportunity to own a historically persevered 50 year old surf shop, raising a surf prodigy in Cam, and Cam explains how Jamie Foxx helped launch his career, his Wave Of The Winter at Pipe, and … Continue reading "560 – Cam and Kelly Richards" The post 560 – Cam and Kell...

In today’s show magazine publisher Chris Thomson discusses the value of taking time away from surfing, the enduring importance of community events, how to grow a UK surf brand to access a global audience, and how rethinking the magazine model can preserve the legacy of print. Enjoy! Presented by: Surfrider.org Presented by: REALWatersports.com Presented by: VAERWatches.com/surfsplendor Join David...