The Wipeout Weekly - Surf Podcast

This week we're reading "The Surfer" by Australian poet and environmental activist Judith Wright.

In this episode, we take a realistic look at surfing Biarritz: its history, famous breaks, extreme tide sensitivity, and why it can feel welcoming and overwhelming at the same time. A practical guide to crowds, conditions, and who Biarritz really works for.

In this Hey Zuz, I'm Confused episode, we talk about weight gain, motivation, stress, and why losing the desire to surf isn't about vanity—or failure. Just an honest look at how life, bodies, and surfing intersect, and why this kind of surf funk doesn't have to be permanent.

In this surf news roundup, we talk about a surf therapy charity supporting a record number of young people, a startup betting on 3D-printed surfboards, a sharp essay asking whether surfing is actually progressing at all, and the latest blow in Munich's long-running battle to save its iconic river wave. 

In this episode, we break down the board, the man behind it, and how Bob Simmons quietly shaped modern surfboard design. And why no one really liked him.

In this episode, we look at why shark stories suddenly feel everywhere, what the data actually says about risk, and how phones, social media, and coastal crowding fuel our collective Sharknado anxiety. The ocean is not out to get you, but your algorithm might be.

In this episode, we talk about why surf progress isn't linear, why social media is a terrible surf coach, and why the one thing that actually works is also the hardest to do. Here's to your surf goals in 2026!

The final Holiday Surf Snack #14 closes with a Sunday Surf Poem from the early '60s that captures why it's so easy to fall in love with surfing.

Our Holiday Surf Snack #13 is all about surfers' ultimate bucket list waves. What's yours?

Holiday Surf Snack #12 in the style of Hey Zuz, I'm confused—what if you didn't surf last year?—and why that doesn't mean anything about the future.

In our Holiday Surf Snack #11, we share beginner "wisdom" from big wave rider Laird Hamilton on what it really takes to start surfing. And when we say "wisdom", we mean "some uncomfortable truths".

A New Year's Eve Surf Snack #10 questioning the idea that beginners should only wear black wetsuits—and what color psychology might actually have to do with surfing.

Holiday Surf Snack #9 is exploring surfboard tail shapes, where their names come from, and how tails affect speed, hold, and turning.

Holiday Surf Snack #8 with a deliberately short list of must-read surf books, because you should probably just go surfing instead.

A Sunday Surf Poem featuring a whimsical children's poem about a little cowgirl and a surfing shark. Spoiler: he doesn't eat her.

Holiday Surf Snack #6 is on the biggest waves ever surfed, why no one agrees on the numbers, and why Nazaré keeps rewriting the record books.

A Boxing Day Surf Snack #5 in the style of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, testing your surf trivia knowledge from goofy foot to Teahupoʻo. A lot of Teahupoʻo.

A festive Holiday Surf Snack #4 on Makahiki, the ancient Hawaiian season of peace and abundance that quietly overlaps with Christmas.

A rapid-fire Holiday Surf Snack #3 is packed with ocean facts, surf history, surf trivia, and just enough "wisdom" to make you the most fascinating person at the Christmas party.

Holiday Surf Snack #2 is a quick walk through my favorite picks from the Wee Surf Shoppe—for last-minute gifting, browsing, or pure surf-stuff inspiration.

Holiday Surf Snack #1 is a quick, festive thought experiment: if you could wish for one surf-related gift this season, what would it be?

Sunday Surf Poem has arrived—and this week, it rhymes.

Today's poem is Surf-Boarding by Marion Strobel, a fiction writer, critic, and poet who served as an associate editor of Poetry magazine in the early 20th century. Was she a surfer? Hard to say. But either way, she's done a decent job. It certainly sounds like surfing.

We've been reading about Kai Lenny charging Mullaghmore, but at The Wipeout Weekly we tend to prefer waves that aren't actively trying to kill us. So instead, we're heading south—to Newquay, Cornwall, the UK's surf capital.

In this episode, we talk about why Newquay became the heart of British surfing, what makes its coastline so reliable, when the best waves actually arrive, and how cold is really too cold.

Surf buddies. You love them, you loathe them, and you can't quite surf without them.

In this episode of Hey Zuz, I'm Confused, we tackle a familiar question: is surfing secretly competitive—and what do you do when your surf buddy starts feeling more like a rival than a teammate?

This week's surf news takes us from preservation to pop culture—and a few places in between.

The Encyclopedia of Surfing goes on hiatus as Matt Warshaw shifts full steam ahead into the EOS Archive, a massive, non-commercial effort to preserve surf history before it disappears. Point Break is somehow getting a TV series (yes, really). There's also a shark bite in Northern California—sobering, but firmly in perspective—plus the return of thousands of Surfing Santas in Cocoa Beach. And finally, Texas is getting a $200M surf lagoon, because of course it is.

No better time than the end of the year for a little surfing self-reflection.

In this episode, we look at a few of the most common mistakes we make in surfing—especially the ones we keep repeating. From hesitation to expecting progress to arrive neatly and on schedule, we're all guilty of them.

Our movie review segment continues—whoop whoop. Today: Step Into Liquid. The other surf. movie from the 200s.

I don't know how you're feeling this week, but a lot of the world isn't doing great. This episode isn't about fixing anything—it's about whether surfing can help, even a little.

This week's Sunday Surf Poem comes from the mysterious Jack Crawford Jr.—a poet we seemingly know nothing about, despite the poem's 1967 publication. The Surf Rider is vivid, mythic, and a little wild, capturing the gossamer balance between joy and danger in a single ride. Since the poet remains a ghost, we'll let the work speak for itself.

Uluwatu is one of surfing's most mythic destinations—towering cliffs, temple views, endless lefts, and a reef that has shaped generations of surf wanderlust. This episode walks you through Ulu's origins, its legendary sections like Outside Corner and Racetrack, its discovery in the early '70s, and its place in surf culture today.

Every beginner hits this crossroads eventually: should I downsize my surfboard… and how do I even know if I'm ready? This week's we tackle the eternal question of how to figure out what a smaller board will actually give you. Turns out, the answer isn't universal—but it is deeply personal.

Surf news is taking us on a full lap around the globe this week—from a 13-year-old charging Nazaré, to a luxury Kelly Slater wave pool in the desert, to a lone surfer surrounded by 500 sharks in Australia. We're also looking at two Hawaii teens reshaping school surfing, and the growing South American movement to legally protect waves as cultural and ecological treasures.

Matt Warshaw Appreciation Week continues with a confession: I'm finally reading Maverick's—with an apostrophe—and I'm already obsessed. Today I share my favorite story (so far) from the book's legendary opening chapters.

Matt Warshaw Appreciation Week rolls on with one of my favorite EOS entries—and one of the most unsettling stories in surf history. Today we revisit the life and final ride of Mark Foo, as told through Warshaw's meticulous, unforgettable writing.

It's Matt Warshaw Appreciation Week! To kick things off, I'm talking about why the man behind History of Surfing and the Encyclopedia of Surfing matters so much—and why his new EOS Archive might become the Vatican Library of surf culture. Plus, we dive into one of my all-time favorite Warshaw stories: Felipe Pomar and the legendary caballitos.

May we all live long enough to become the surfer in this week's Sunday Surf Poem.
Today we're reading "Elderly Surfer" by Laurence Goldstein—poet, editor, professor, and Los Angeles native who just might have picked up a board in his lifetime (no promises, but the man understood the rhythm).

This week we dive into the beautiful, messy, political world of Cloudbreak — and cloudbreaks. Yep, lowercase and uppercase. One's a type of terrifying outer-reef wave; the other is Fiji's crown jewel left-hander, home to Shish Kebabs, 200-yard rides, and decades of surf drama.

One of our readers hit me with the wildest question this week: Does it matter if I don't care about where surfing came from? Cue my dramatic gasp. In this episode, we talk about whether surf history and culture actually matter, why some surfers couldn't care less, and why that's…honestly fine. 

This week's surf news is…a lot. A rock-throwing surfer in Tenerife, a lifeguard on the North Shore telling people they'll "come home in a box," Fiji potentially bringing back pay-to-surf rules, Munich's Eisbach collapsing, Dylan Graves breaking the world's weirdest Guinness Record, and a blind surfer who made Team USA in weeks. Not super uplifting—but very surfodrama.

Today's episode was supposed to be about Nazi symbolism in surfing. Truly. But nobody needs that today. So instead, we pivoted— hard—into the complete opposite: surfing pets.
And not just any surfing pet. Meet Ricochet, the Golden Retriever who became the world's first "SURFice dog," surfing tandem with children with disabilities, veterans with PTSD, and anyone who needed her.

Wish you could magically improve at surfing in between sessions? Same. Until that spell exists, here are the 10 "surf" land sports. From panic paddling to lineup psychology to emotional regulation (yes, really), this episode breaks down exactly how to get better in the water…while you're very much on land.

Never seen The Endless Summer? Don't worry — after this episode, you'll be able to talk about it like you've watched it three times while wearing zinc and eating a cold musubi in the parking lot. We break down the iconic surf film, the characters, the myth-making, the filmmaking chaos, the $50 round-the-world ticket hack, and the controversy over whether it's even a documentary. Basically: a pocket-sized surf history lesson you can drop into the lineup the next time someone quotes Bruce Brown.

This week's Sunday Surf Poem is "Hurricane Warning: Surfers" by Peter Makuck, first published in 1998. According to Wikipedia, Makuck's work often explores epiphany, grace, and the beauty that reveals itself in moments of danger. Let's find out if that's true.

Today we're heading to Waimea Bay—the wave that built big wave surfing. From the meaning behind its name to why it barely breaks, from the infamous Woody Brown and Dickie Cross story to Greg Noll's historic 1957 drop. What a ride!

A reader asks who "gets" the surf spot after a breakup. Who knows for sure?! But let's talk through some unwritten rules, and how to protect your peace when the lineup suddenly feels complicated.

After reviewing the week's surf news, I made an executive Surfsgiving decision: absolutely not. The headlines are all tragedy, and it's Thanksgiving. So instead, I'm taking us back to the charm of Frederick Kohner's Gidget, the book that sparked a surf cultural revolution.

This Surfsgiving, I'm thankful for the unexpected spark behind what's coming next for The Wipeout Weekly. In this episode, I share the story behind "Fatty," the name that somehow followed me from my branding days into my surf life—and is now inspiring what comes next for The Wipeout Weekly. I talk about how a random hat, a beloved nickname, and a few offhand "I love your hat" comments turned into the beginnings of the Wee Surf Shoppe, a curated corner of surf gear and fun that launches soon. A little backstory, a little gratitude, and a hint of wh...

A short Surfsgiving episode honoring Matt Warshaw and revisiting his story about surfing's ancient Hawaiian beginnings.

No one is listening to podcasts this week—unless they're hiding from family chaos over Thanksgiving. So instead of taking time off, we're doing something different: an episode of pure gratitude. Today, we're talking about the surfers we're thankful for. The legends who shaped the sport, defined the culture, and—whether you know it or not—shaped your surf life too.

There aren't many surfer poets—but we found another one. This early piece by Zoe Bonik captures the magic of a first wave with wide eyes, salty spray, and a world‑conquering stoke.

This episode is all about Rincon—the so-called "Queen of the Coast" and Malibu's chilly, iconic sister. With three linked sections (Indicator, Rivermouth, and the legendary Cove), Rincon offers long, peeling rights that can stretch up to 500 yards on a good day. We get into its surfable magic, history (including the dream that sparked a big-wave board design), best season to go, and yes—the slightly gross part: sewage spills. Come for the dolphins, stay for the hypnotic rides… but maybe check the water quality first.

What happens if winter surfing just… isn't your thing? This episode tackles a reader's honest question: are you still a surfer if you sit out the colder months? We share own SoCal winter funk, explores why cold water surfing isn't for everyone (hint: it costs more, takes longer, and drying gloves is a nightmare), and reminds us that taking a break doesn't make you any less of a surfer. From wetsuit rituals to cozy post-surf pints, this one's for anyone feeling the seasonal shift.

It's a bumper edition of the surf news roundup—because not everything making waves this week is strictly surf-related, but it all matters. From free surf lessons in Waikiki thanks to a grassroots crew, to 40-foot Nazaré bombs captured on film, to Florida's massive coral baby boom (yes, that's a thing), we've got your weekly dose of stoke and surprise. Carissa Moore announces her return to the WSL tour, a shark bite story turns into a medical miracle, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard finally drops its bizarre bid to control Olympic surfing. It's chaotic, inspiring, and a little weird—just...

Let's talk about measuring waves—and before you roll your eyes, know this: people's pride, paychecks, and world records are all riding on these numbers.

In this episode, we dive into the mess (and mystery) of how we measure waves in surfing—from Garrett McNamara's 100-foot claims to why Surfline said it'd be 1–2 feet and it was double that.

I didn't see this coming—but here we are. Surf helmets are making waves (yep, I said it), from Shark Tank investments to young chargers at Pipeline strapping in after near-death wipeouts.

In this episode, we dive into what's on your head—or not—when you paddle out. From helmet history and injury prevention to kook stigma and the surprisingly complicated world of surf helmet sizing, this is your no-hype, no-filler guide to whether the helmet revolution is headed for your lineup.

This week's word of the week is less "word" and more "wild concept": tow surfing. You know—the kind of surfing that involves a jet ski, a rope, and a wave the size of a five-story building.

Couldn't find the perfect surf poem this week? No problem—we're going old school. Like really old school.

This week's Sunday Surf Poem is "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold, a classic of the sea from the 1800s. No, Arnold wasn't a surfer. But he was a guy standing at a window, staring out across the English Channel, letting the sound of waves trigger a deep spiral into faith, disillusionment, longing, and love.

This week, we take you to the end of the road. Literally.

Teahupoʻo—pronounced cho-poo—is one of the most dangerous waves in the world. Known as the "place of broken heads," this Tahitian reef break doesn't just barrel—it mutates. It folds over itself like a collapsing building made of water. And it breaks over live coral sitting just 20 inches beneath the surface.

This episode covers the mythology, the science, and the stories that made Teahupoʻo legendary—from Laird Hamilton's Millennium Wave to the infamous Code Red swell that shut down the contest sc...

One of our unofficial taglines is "normalize smiling in the lineup"—and that's exactly what this Hey Zuz, I'm Confused is all about.

What happens when you paddle out with good vibes and kind words… and get met with cold stares and zero eye contact? This week's listener wants to know: Does being friendly in the surf actually make you a target?

This week's surf news roundup takes us to Australia, Hawaiʻi, Northern California, and Florida. 

In Western Australia, a 61-year-old surfer survives a shark attack by punching it in the face. In Hawaiʻi, four legendary ocean athletes are inducted into the Waterman Hall of Fame. NorCal sees the first proper Maverick's swell of the season—40-foot faces, snapped boards, and one very determined 19-year-old. And over in Florida, Alyssa Spencer becomes the first surfer to win the Super Girl Surf Pro three times.

Is it possible to paddle like a pro without training like one? Maybe—especially now that science has receipts.

In this episode, we break down a brand-new study out of Australia that strapped motion sensors to elite surfers to find out exactly what separates their paddle stroke from the rest of us flailing mortals. Spoiler: it's not brute strength.

Surfer Mag says there are 8 beginner mistakes. We say… Gimme a break. In this episode, we break down why beginner surf advice is often so off—especially when it's written by people who haven't been beginners in decades.

We're not here to nitpick whether your back foot is too far back or whether your pop-up is "fast enough." We're here to talk about the one mistake that actually matters: going into surfing with your eyes closed and believing everything you read online. That's where it all goes sideways.

You may not have seen Gidget—but without her, surfing as we know it wouldn't exist. In this episode, we dive into the unlikely true story behind the original surf girl icon: Kathy Kohner, a 15-year-old from Brentwood who surfed Malibu in the 1950s, told her dad all about it... and inspired a book, a movie, a TV show, a comic series, and a full-on cultural wave. You're living in the post-Gidget world, it matters!

This week's Sunday Poem takes us to the shorelines of New England, where time, patience, and the art of wave-watching blur into poetry. Time Surfers by John Reilly captures the quiet anticipation of surfers waiting for the perfect moment—and the poignant reflection of what it means to miss or seize it.

What if I told you cold-water surfing is better than drugs? And by cold, we mean below 60°F (16°C). Today, we dive into why winter waves might actually be the best waves—and why that freezing paddle-out could leave you buzzing for hours.

A beginner surfer is doing everything right… or are they? After a string of bad vibes, stink eyes, and even one board shove, they're wondering: why is everyone yelling at me?

What could possibly be happening here?!

This week's surf news roundup is a total hodgepodge—but mostly good vibes. From Sierra Kerr's jaw-dropping backflip to major airline wins for traveling surfers, plus: dolphins crash a longboard contest at Rincon, and the East and West Coasts go all in on wave pools.

I surfed 5 days out of 7 and ended up feeling stoned off—and then had to nap like a toddler. If you're also wondering why surfing makes you so bloody tired, this episode is for you. We have some ideas how to make it less so.

Your wetsuit stinks? Welcome to the club. Neoprene: the miracle that keeps us warm—and smells like a wet dog after one too many surfs. In this episode, we talk about why wetsuits get so rank (hint: it's you, it's the ocean, and yes, it's also pee), what actually helps with the stink, and how to clean and dry your suit without destroying it.

Spooky season may be over, but this week's word is scary as hell We're talking tombstoning—that eerie moment when a surfboard sticks straight up out of the water like a gravestone, signaling a surfer is still being held down beneath the surface.

In this episode, we break down what causes a tombstone wipeout, why it's such a serious sign in heavy surf, and what to do if you see one in the lineup.

Is this a poem about surfing? Not exactly. But maybe that's what makes it perfect.

This week's Sunday Surf Poem is Surf-Casting by W.S. Merwin—an American poet who spent decades living simply on Maui's north shore, restoring a palm forest and writing haunting, unpunctuated verse.

This week's Word of the Week is: beach boys. You've probably heard the term if you've ever been to Waikīkī—but do you know where it really came from?

We're diving into the fascinating (and sometimes scandalous) history of Hawai'i's original surf instructors, lifeguards, and aloha spirit curators.

What do you do when your family doesn't want you to surf?

In this episode of Hey Zuz, I'm Confused, we tackle probably the hardest question we've ever received—from an 18-year-old who wants to surf but is facing a hard no from their parents.

Is it fear? Cultural pressure? Safety concerns? We unpack it all without the internet's usual "just do you" energy. 

This week's surf news has it all: a surf comp postponed after teen girls were harassed in Scotland, a heroic surf rescue in Oceanside, and a surfboard that floated across the Tasman Sea. Also in the mix: China's first surf-themed mega resort opens in Hainan, and a coven of paddleboarding witches casts good vibes across Wisconsin.

Ever wondered how well you need to swim to surf? In today's episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked but critical questions in beginner surfing. From the myth of "you'll be fine in waist-deep water" to the real risks of wipeouts, rip currents, and leashless boards, we talk about what "water competence" actually means. I share why I skipped my first surf lesson in Malibu, what lifeguards recommend, and how even strong swimmers can struggle in the ocean. 

Tiffany Barwick, also known as Midlife Surfista on socials is a self-described fully stoked "begin-termediate" surfer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who began learning to surf at 40 years old, just two years ago. Among many other things, we talk about her lack of fear of the ocean, tackling the more unusual obstacles to learning to surf, and why Tiffany keeps coming back to the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group meets.

Before plug-in fins, there were glass-ons—clean, sleek, and permanently part of the board. This episode dives into the history of glassed-in fins, how they shaped modern surfing, and why some surfers still swear by them.

This week's Sunday Surf Poem comes from French surfer‑academic Jean‑Baptiste Mognetti and his piece Rise and Shine, first published in The Inertia. We don't quite get it, but you might.

Like this never happened to you. You fell out of love with your surfboard on day two and regretted it ever since. This episode dives into why new board might feel all wrong and why having six boards doesn't mean you've "figured it out". We do get real though.

Becoming a local isn't about your zip code—it's about your surf attendance record. In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to become a local at your surf break (spoiler: it's not about living two blocks from the beach). From building trust in the lineup to the politics of localism, we explore why being a familiar face matters—and whether it's even worth chasing. Plus, a few warm-fuzzy stories that suggest the tide may be turning in the lineup, one friendly nod at a time.

What do Olympic surf teams, economic development boards, and rogue sea otters have in common? This week's surf news!

Hawai'i wants in on the Olympic action — Officials are inviting national teams to train on the islands ahead of LA 2028. 

Save the Waves Summit — What coastal protection looks like in 2025, and how surf ecosystems are becoming everyone's business.

Arizona goes full send — A surf/skate/music festival is coming to the desert, because of course it is. 

Otter 841's spiritual successor? — A Santa Cruz sea otter commandeers a surfboard and refuses to leave.  Duration: 00:10:34

We haven't done a Weekly Popup segment in a while—but this one's worth it. We return with a game-changing tip: stop obsessing over the pop-up, and start focusing on just one thing. For her, it was a 45° takeoff. The result? Her brain chilled out, the pop-up happened faster (still clumsy, let's be real), and it was actually fun.

Also: a Reddit user delivers the best-ever breakdown of why so many of us land on our back knee. Spoiler alert: it's not your mobility. It's your eyes. This one is gold. If you struggle with slow, knee-denting pop...

Ever wanted to become a serial aerialist? We're going airborne in this episode, tracing the flight path of aerial surfing (going full Top Gun, here)—from its skatepark origins to today's jaw-dropping surf maneuvers. We unpack what an air actually is, why it didn't take off until the '90s, and how a once-mocked trick became a high-performance art form. Plus some fun names: flying squirrels, stalefish, and madonna.

It's the wipeout we all fear: when the wave doesn't just reject you—it launches you.

In this episode, we dive into the brutal surf lingo term "over the falls" (also known as getting sucked over). It's when a surfer gets pitched with the lip of the wave, flipping head over heels straight into the wave's detonating core.

"I thought I did all the research… but it was awful."

In this episode, we read a listener letter about a surf retreat from hell: long drives to the break, underwhelming instruction, bad food, and that awful feeling of being the odd one out. We've all been there—or worried we might.

One of California's most brutal waves? Never meant to exist. Never meant to be surfed. And yet… here it is. Welcome to The Wedge.

In this episode, we explore how a tragic drowning, a 2,000-foot jetty, and some very unlucky wave physics gave birth to one of the most violent, bone-breaking surf spots in the world—Newport Beach's infamous Wedge.

Not all surf news makes the cut. Some of it is just… meh. But not this week.

We've got a jam-packed roundup featuring:

Nor'easter madness on the East Coast, where 10–15 foot waves hit NYC and surfers paddled out into the slop like storm-chasing sea gremlins

Tya Zebrowski, a 14-year-old phenom who just qualified for the WSL Championship Tour (Teahupo'o at age 8? Okay then)

Surfing bachelorettes, because hangovers are out and Costa Rica is in—wellness is the new wild

Kai Lenny's secret slab discovery in El Salvador, described as "Mundak...

This one feels like it'll ring true for many of us—the awe, the nerves, the shimmer of it all. It's called "The Source" by Reaper, a poet in his twenties from South Africa, written back in 2018.

Let's talk dirty—ocean dirty. In this episode, we shift from the muddy rivers of bore surfing to something a little closer to home: the water quality at your local surf break. When is it actually too gross to paddle out? What's lurking in that post-rain runoff? And why does it feel like everyone's suddenly surfing with pink eye?

"I'm bored of surfing in the ocean," said no one ever. But let's entertain the weird and wonderful anyway. In this episode, we take a detour from the sea and dive (well, paddle) into the strange world of bore surfing—where waves charge up rivers, not toward the shore. These rare tidal bores happen in only a handful of places on Earth and can deliver the longest wave rides imaginable—up to an hour long. Yes, seriously.

You've heard of the yard sale, the ragdoll, maybe even the log doll. But have you met the scorpion? In this episode, we dive into one of the most iconic (and painful) surf wipeouts—what it is, why it hurts, and how to recover if you find yourself folded like a pretzel. Whether you're a seasoned scorpion survivor or hoping to avoid your first one, this one's for your spine.

Sunday Surf Poem is back and this week we're featuring Surfers by Deborah Jones, a reflective piece that captures the quiet solitude, decisions, and presence of the lineup. Whether Deb is a surfer or simply an observer remains a mystery — which makes this poem even more layered. Tune in for a reading and a quick reflection on what it means to wait for the next wave.

This one's for the quietly needy among us (hi, hello, it's me too). A reader wrote in to ask: "Am I too needy for wanting a surf buddy who actually cheers me on?"

In today's episode, I offer a not-at-all-clinically-sound but fully human response. We talk about praise, progress, and the power of a single "you got this!" in the lineup. 

Because sometimes, all we need is someone to say, "You're doing okay."

Meet Peri, a 65‑year‑old beginner surfer who overcame nerve damage, ocean fears, and a lifetime away from the waves to become the self‑proclaimed "Queen of the Microwaves." In this episode, she shares how she slowly retrained her body and mind to handle the ocean, found healing and joy in tiny waves, and built a surf life—and quiver—with her husband Don. It's a story about patience, resilience, and discovering passion at any age.

Before I ever paddled for a wave, I fell in love with surfing on my couch in North London—thanks to Riding Giants. This episode is a love letter (with some minor gripes) to Stacy Peralta's iconic 2004 documentary about big wave surfing. We revisit the legends it profiles, the history it glosses over, and why it changed my life.

There was a guy at my local break recently zooming around on what I can only describe as "not a surfboard, doesn't belong here". That encounter led me down a little rabbit hole: what even is hydrofoiling? And how did it become the next big thing in water sports?

In this episode, we look at the evolution of foiling — from early boat experiments to modern efoils — and how it intersects (or doesn't) with surfing. Spoiler: I have opinions.

This week's word is soul arch—a chest-thrusting flex you rarely see in the wild anymore. But since it's too short for a full episode, we're throwing in soul surfing for free.

We dive into the philosophy, the contradictions, and the counterculture. No, this episode is not about Soul Surfer the movie. You're welcome.

A poetic love letter to the ocean. This week's Sunday Surf Poem is "Speechless" by Curly Steve.

In today's listener story, a beginner surfer swaps boards with a friend, gets into a minor collision, offers to pay for the dings… and is left wondering if she got scammed, shamed, or just seriously unlucky.

We talk about board swaps, etiquette, damage drama, and how one weird surf interaction can make you want to quit entirely. (Spoiler: you shouldn't.)