PINCH MY SALT

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EP 139 | Brad Gerlach Talks Kelly Slater, Felipe Toledo & Teahupo’o Drama | Pinch My Salt Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Brad Gerlach joins Pinch My Salt to break down Kelly Slater at Teahupo’o, the wild WSL Tahiti contest, Seth Moniz’s huge win, Felipe Toledo in heavy surf, big-wave surfing, surf competition, judging, surf technique and what really separates the best surfers in the world. Brad Gerlach — former world #1 and world title runner-up — gives his perspective on Kelly Slater’s brutal Teahupo’o wipeouts, how Kelly adjusted his technique, changed boards and went straight back into some of the heaviest waves of the event.
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We get into Kelly Slater surfing at 54, Teahupo’o, Tahiti surfing, WSL competition, Seth Moniz, Felipe Toledo, Pipeline, big-wave surfing, professional surfing, surfboard design, Firewire surfboards, competitive surfing and surf coaching. Brad also shares stories from competing against a young Kelly Slater, including beating Kelly after Slater dropped a 10-point ride, and explains why Kelly’s ability to adapt in dangerous waves is still on another level.
Brad Gerlach has spent decades studying surfing at the highest level. From Tom Curren, Dane Reynolds and Michael Peterson to today’s WSL surfers, Brad breaks down style, technique, creativity, confidence and why surfing should be judged as more than just athletic performance.
We also talk about the controversial side of competitive surfing: judging, commentary, wave selection, commitment at Teahupo’o, Felipe Toledo in heavy waves, Seth Moniz’s underdog Tahiti victory, and whether professional surfing is properly explaining what the world’s best surfers are actually doing.
Brad also takes us inside Wave Ki, his surf training program, where he studies footage and teaches surfers how body position, foot placement, confidence and creativity can completely change the way they surf.
PLUS: Kelly Slater’s surfboards spark a debate after his broken board appears to have a stringer, leading to a conversation about Firewire surfboards, custom surfboards and what Kelly is actually riding.
If you love Kelly Slater, Teahupo’o, Tahiti surfing, WSL, surf podcasts, professional surfing, big-wave surfing, Pipeline, surf history, surf technique, surf coaching, competitive surfing, Dane Reynolds, Tom Curren, Seth Moniz, Felipe Toledo or just hearing surf legends talk honestly about surfing — this episode is for you.
Comment below: What was the craziest moment from Teahupo’o?
Subscribe to Pinch My Salt for more surf stories, surf news, legendary surfers, WSL discussion, surf history and ridiculous conversations with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan.
#KellySlater #BradGerlach #Surfing

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EP 138 | Jamie O’Brien Says "Pro Surfer's Aren't Core" | Pinch My Salt Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Jamie O’Brien, Pipeline, Pipe Masters, core surfing, Catch Surf, soft-top surfboards, surf culture, YouTube surfing, Red Bull, North Shore Hawaii, Backdoor, Ben Gravy, Jack Johnson, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater and the future of the surf industry — this episode of Pinch My Salt goes straight into one of the biggest debates in modern surfing: what does it actually mean to be a “core surfer” anymore?
Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan react to Jamie O’Brien’s comments about sponsored surfers, being core, chasing swells, making money in surfing and the evolution of his career from Pipeline legend and self-produced surf movies to YouTube, vlogging and the Catch Surf soft-top era. They debate whether surf YouTube and soft tops helped grow surfing or changed surf culture for the worse, how JOB influenced the next generation of surf creators, why traditional surfboard design still matters, and whether the surf industry has traded progression, style and craftsmanship for clicks, viral videos and easy money.
The boys also get into Jack Johnson trying to connect them with Jason Momoa, Rob Machado’s legendary hair, Kelly Slater, surf-industry sycophants, Instagram surfer culture, old-school surf fights at Lowers and Trestles, surfboard design, environmental concerns around foam and soft-top surfboards, and why surfing still needs to protect the magic that made everyone fall in love with it in the first place.
Jamie O’Brien has been one of the most influential surfers of his generation — from Pipeline and Backdoor to his early self-produced surf films, DVDs, viral surfing videos and massive YouTube career. But has the rise of surf influencers, vlogging, soft tops and viral content changed what being a professional surfer means?
Sterling also tells the story of surfing Backdoor with Jamie years ago and trying to convince him that the future was the internet — while Jamie was still making money selling surf DVDs.
Plus: hardboards vs soft tops, Catch Surf, Ben Gravy, Blair Conklin, surfboard progression, old-school surf culture, North Shore stories, surfing fights, growing up in surf shops, the future of surfing, keeping surfing core and the eternal question:
Can you make money in surfing without selling out?
Welcome to Pinch My Salt.
👇 LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS:
What actually makes someone a CORE surfer?
And have soft tops been good or bad for surf culture?
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SEARCH TOPICS:
Jamie O’Brien, Jamie O'Brien podcast, JOB surfing, Jamie O’Brien Pipeline, Jamie O’Brien Pipe Masters, Pipeline surfing, Backdoor surfing, North Shore Hawaii surfing, core surfing, core surfer, surf culture, surf industry, professional surfing, pro surfer, surfing podcast, surf podcast, surf YouTube, surfing YouTube, Catch Surf, soft top surfboard, soft top surfing, foam surfboard, Ben Gravy, Blair Conklin, Jack Johnson surfing, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater, Jason Momoa, surfboard design, surfing history, surf movies, Pipeline surfers, Hawaii surfing, surf influencers, surf vlog, surf industry podcast, surf comedy, Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer.
#Surfing #JamieOBrien #PinchMySalt

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EP 137 | It’s Not Sexism… You Might Just Be a Kook | Pinch My Salt Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

Kelly Slater, surf etiquette, women in surfing, Blue Crush, Nathan Florence, Jamie O’Brien, Dane Reynolds, the US Open of Surfing, surf culture, surf controversy, and the future of professional surfing all collide in this episode of Pinch My Salt with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan.
We break down the viral “paddle harder” surfing controversy and Kelly Slater’s response, debate whether surf lineups care more about gender or skill level, and talk surf etiquette, beginner surfers, kook levels, women’s surfing, and what actually earns respect in the water. Then Sterling goes deep on Blue Crush, Kate Bosworth, the movie’s surf stunt doubles, Hawaii, Sunset Beach, and why Blue Crush may have done more to push surfing into mainstream culture than pro surfers ever realized.
Bid on the Signed photo!!!!! https://ebay.io/m/GuSMwa
From there, we get into Nathan Florence, John John Florence, Jamie O’Brien, Dane Reynolds, Andy Irons, YouTube surfing, surf vlogs, surf media, old-school surf movies, Taylor Steele, Surf Madness, and how social media changed what it means to be a famous surfer. Plus: New Smyrna Beach sharks, surfing while pregnant, Tony Hawk, Herbie Fletcher, foiling, Huntington Beach, the US Open of Surfing, big-wave surfing, and the eternal question: how core is too core?
Sterling also tells the story of jumping from traditional surf media into the early internet era, his experience with Taylor Steele and Intersection, and why giving away a surf movie for free helped change the old surf-video model. We debate whether surfers like Nathan Florence and Jamie O’Brien have become more recognizable to the mainstream than traditional professional surfers — and whether YouTube, podcasts, vlogs, Instagram and social media are now more important than contests and surf magazines.
Also in this episode: relationship and marriage comedy, Sterling’s completely scientific method for “figuring women out,” controlled burns, surfing while pregnant, Brody Jenner, New Smyrna shark encounters, Mason Ho, Herbie Fletcher, kook levels, surf fashion, soft tops, the “core surfer” spectrum, selling out without losing your soul, and whether the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach is somehow harder to watch than foil boarding.
Pinch My Salt is a surfing and comedy podcast hosted by professional surfer Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan, covering surf culture, professional surfing, surf news, surf history, surf industry stories, WSL, surf personalities, internet culture, relationships, comedy and everything weird happening in and around surfing.
COMMENT BELOW: Is surfing about gender — or is it really just about skill and kook level?
Subscribe for new episodes of Pinch My Salt.
#Surfing #KellySlater #PinchMySalt

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EP 136 | Nathan Florence Survived JAWS... and Kaiborg | Pinch My Salt Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Nathan Florence joins Pinch My Salt for a full big-wave surfing conversation covering Pipeline, the Vans Pipe Masters, Teahupo’o, Tahiti, Jaws, Puerto Escondido, Shipstern Bluff, Cloudbreak, Hawaii surf culture, North Shore localism, foiling, sailing, ocean crossings, the World Surf League, Kelly Slater, Kai Lenny, John John Florence, Ivan Florence and the rise of independent surf media on YouTube. Nathan tells the story behind his legendary late drop at Teahupo’o, the wave that helped separate him from the label of “John John Florence’s brother” and launch his own career as one of the world’s most fearless big-wave surfers. He opens up about fear, wipeouts, breaking his back at Jaws, a recent injury at Puerto Escondido, rehab, hydrofoil racing and crossing Hawaiian channels with Kai Lenny. Nathan also talks about growing up in Hawaii with John John and Ivan Florence, learning Pipeline as a kid, their mother pushing them to surf, the old North Shore hierarchy, surf localism, social media changing lineup culture, winning the Pipe Masters, building his YouTube channel, the future of professional surfing and why John John isn’t doing the Championship Tour right now. Plus: Kelly Slater mind games, sailing across the ocean, mysterious nights at sea, surfing in tights, hipster surfers, Mahina Florence, Kai “Kyborg” Garcia and Nathan’s childhood Surfer Magazine cover.
This is Nathan Florence beyond the highlight reels: honest stories about fear, injuries, family, brotherhood, career pressure, surf media, the WSL, adventure and what keeps one of surfing’s hardest chargers searching for the next wave.
Subscribe to Pinch My Salt for more surf podcasts, surfing interviews, comedy, big-wave stories and conversations with the most interesting people in surfing.
Follow Nathan Florence and check out his surfing videos, big-wave missions, foil adventures, sailing expeditions and podcast.
KEYWORDS:
Nathan Florence interview, Nathan Florence podcast, Nathan Florence surfing, Nathan Florence Teahupoo, Nathan Florence Pipeline, Nathan Florence Pipe Masters, Nathan Florence Jaws, Nathan Florence Puerto Escondido, Nathan Florence foiling, Nathan Florence sailing, John John Florence, Ivan Florence, Kelly Slater, Kai Lenny, Kyborg, Mahina Florence, big wave surfing, Pipeline surfing, Teahupoo surfing, Hawaii surfing, North Shore surfing, surf podcast, surfing podcast, WSL, World Surf League, Vans Pipe Masters, Cloudbreak, Shipstern Bluff, surf localism, surf culture, hydrofoil surfing, surf YouTube
#NathanFlorence #Surfing #BigWaveSurfing

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EP 135 | Chad & JT on Selling Out VS. Staying Core | Pinch My Salt Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

Chad & JT join Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan on Pinch My Salt for a wild surf comedy podcast about surf culture, the WSL, the US Open of Surfing, pro surfers, viral prank videos, and what it really means to be “core” in surfing. Chad and JT tell the story of sneaking into the Huntington Beach US Open with a giant Subway sandwich, getting hired by the World Surf League, trolling professional surfers, making Fast & Furious prank videos, and building comedy with Strider Wilson. The crew talks Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Dane Reynolds, Julian Wilson, Stephanie Gilmore, Felipe Toledo, Gabriel Medina, Shane Dorian, Tom Curren, Laird Hamilton, surf movies, surf clips, surf podcasts, and the rise and fall of the surf industry.
Sterling also reveals the inside story of surfing against Kelly Slater at J-Bay, Andy Irons helping him during the world title race, and the Photoshop prank that helped fuel the Andy Irons vs. Kelly Slater rivalry. Chad & JT break down comedy, authenticity, algorithms, selling out, staying core, Orange County surf culture, California surf schools, wedding pressure, peptides, carnivore diets, Vin Diesel, Adam Sandler, Keanu Reeves, Nicolas Cage, and the strange path from surfing to comedy.
Chad & JT also share the story behind their WSL series Get Sent, getting roasted by surfers online, pranking the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, working with Strider Wilson, recreating Fast & Furious scenes at car shows, meeting Vin Diesel at a wedding, and turning uncomfortable public interactions into comedy.
The boys debate whether the traditional surf movie is dead, why Instagram and YouTube clips have taken over surfing, the most influential surf films ever made, Tom Curren’s Searching for Tom Curren, the Taylor Steele era, Bruce Irons’ mysterious kickflip Mandela effect, Dane Reynolds’ place in modern surf culture, and whether podcasts are now more core than surf vlogs.
Other topics include Billabong and Volcom, Laird Hamilton becoming the “alpha nerd” of surfing, foiling, stand-up paddleboarding, Shane Dorian, Kai McKenzie surfing with a prosthetic leg, surf schools in Los Angeles, Ocean Beach San Francisco, Santa Cruz, El Porto, Steamer Lane, the Cold Water Classic, Julian Wilson, surf-industry rivalries, comedy careers, marriage, fatherhood and Florida freedom.
Who is the most core surfer in the world right now? Drop your answer in the comments.
Subscribe to Pinch My Salt for more surfing stories, comedy podcasts, pro surfer interviews, surf history, behind-the-scenes WSL stories and completely unqualified cultural analysis.
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#ChadAndJT #Surfing #PinchMySalt
#ChadAndJT #PinchMySalt #SterlingSpencer #SurfComedy #SurfPodcast #Surfing #ComedyPodcast #SurferBros #SurfCulture #WorldSurfLeague #WSL #USOpenOfSurfing #HuntingtonBeach #KellySlater #AndyIrons #BruceIrons #DaneReynolds #ShaneDorian #StriderWilson #FastAndFurious #ProSurfing #SurfHistory #SurfMovies #SurfClips #SurfIndustry
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EP 134| Did Kelly Slater Buy His Way Into Tahiti?! | Pinch My Salt Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Kelly Slater’s controversial Tahiti wild card, Outerknown’s connection to the WSL event, and the future of professional surfing lead this episode of the Pinch My Salt surf podcast. Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan debate whether Kelly Slater deserves the Tahiti Pro wild card, whether a sponsor should be able to put its own co-founder into a World Surf League contest, and whether the 11-time world champion can still win in heavy Tahiti barrels.
We also break down the biggest surf news, viral surfing clips, surf culture debates, and pro surfing controversies: Louis Vuitton and Pharrell bringing Mikey February, Raimana and twin-fin surfboards into high fashion; Jack Johnson getting caught riding a soft-top surfboard; Rob Machado’s effortless surfing technique and pop-up; Kai Lenny’s surf training; wave-pool airs versus real ocean surfing; surf etiquette, women getting waves, dangerous kooks, Blue Crush, Keala Kennelly, Alana Blanchard, women’s surf history, Paris Hilton surfing a wave pool, WSL judging, Griffin Colapinto, Ethan Ewing, Jack Robinson, Tom Curren, Skip Frye and the question every core surfer is asking—is surf culture dying?
This is surf comedy, surf commentary and honest surf-industry talk for fans of WSL surfing, classic surf videos, surf podcasts and core surf culture worldwide.
Did Kelly Slater earn the Tahiti wild card—or did Kelly and Outerknown find a way to give themselves a spot in the contest? Sterling and Ryan agree that surfing is better with Kelly in it, but question whether another young Tahitian or up-and-coming surfer should have received the opportunity.
The boys also discuss why professional surfing struggles to create stars, whether the WSL needs legendary surfers such as Kelly Slater, Tom Curren and Tom Carroll judging events, and why current surf contests feel disconnected from the culture that created them.
Drop your opinion in the comments:
🏄 Does Kelly deserve the Tahiti wild card?
🌊 Could Kelly Slater actually win the event?
⚖️ Should former world champions judge WSL contests?
💀 Is surf culture really dying?
Subscribe to Pinch My Salt for weekly surf news, surf comedy, viral clips, surfing history, professional surfing debates and completely unqualified relationship advice from Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan.
This episode contains adult humor, questionable advice and extremely serious discussions about soft-top surfboards.
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#KellySlater #Surfing #PinchMySalt

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EP 133| Skip Frye on 68 Years of Surfing, Shaping & Staying Core | Pinch My Salt Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Skip Frye joins Pinch My Salt for a legendary surf conversation with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan. In this episode, Skip Frye talks about 68 years of surfing, surfboard shaping, San Diego surf culture, San Onofre, Harry’s Surf Shop, longboards, fish surfboards, twin fins, eggs, nozzles, soft tops, hand-shaped surfboards, the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational, Wide World of Sports, Sunset Beach, classic surfing, surf contests, Jesus, faith, marriage, sweeping, and why surfing is an art form more than a sport.
This is a must-watch episode for surfers, longboarders, shapers, surfboard collectors, fish riders, old-school surf fans, surf history nerds, and anyone who loves real surf culture. Skip Frye shares stories about shaping, staying core, avoiding the sellout path, surfing into your 80s, the soul of surfing, and the difference between modern surf hype and timeless style.
Featuring Skip Frye, Sterling Spencer, Cousin Ryan, and the Pinch My Salt podcast.
#SkipFrye #PinchMySalt #Surfing #SurfPodcast #SurfCulture #SurfHistory #SurfboardShaper #Surfboards #Longboarding #FishSurfboard #TwinFin #SanDiegoSurf #SanOnofre #CoreLord #ClassicSurfing #HandShapedSurfboards

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EP 132 | Mason Ho on Growing Up Inside Surfing Royalty | Pinch My Salt Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Mason Ho joins Pinch My Salt for a full surf podcast interview packed with wild stories, Ho family surf history, North Shore memories, Hawaii surf culture, Pipeline, Backdoor, Sunset Beach, Mark Foo, Yancy Spencer, Sterling Spencer, Michael Ho, Derek Ho, Coco Ho, and the surfing bloodlines that connect generations of surfers from Pensacola, Florida to Oahu, Hawaii.
In this episode, Mason Ho tells all — from growing up in one of surfing’s most legendary families to classic North Shore stories, old-school surf culture, funny behind-the-scenes moments, family legacy, surf comedy, and the kind of untold surf history you only hear when the conversation gets real.
Mason talks with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan about the Ho family, the Spencer family, Mark Foo learning to surf in Pensacola, Hawaii surf roots, surf legends, funny surf stories, and what it was like growing up around some of the most iconic names in surfing.
If you love Mason Ho, surf podcasts, surf comedy, Hawaii surfing, Pipeline stories, North Shore legends, classic surf culture, Ho family history, Mark Foo, Sterling Spencer, Yancy Spencer, Michael Ho, Derek Ho, Coco Ho, or behind-the-scenes surfer stories, this episode is for you.
Subscribe to Pinch My Salt for more surf interviews, surf comedy, surfer stories, surf history, North Shore conversations, and episodes with the most interesting people in surfing.
Featuring Mason Ho, Sterling Spencer, and Cousin Ryan.
#MasonHo #Surfing #SurfPodcast #PinchMySalt #HoFamily #NorthShore #Pipeline #HawaiiSurfing #SurfHistory #SterlingSpencer #MarkFoo #CocoHo #MichaelHo #DerekHo #YancySpencer

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EP 131 | Morgan Maassen Tells the Untold Jeremy Flores Story | Pinch My Salt Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Morgan Maassen joins Pinch My Salt for one of the funniest and weirdest surf stories we’ve ever heard — including the night Jeremy Flores “choked out” Sterling Spencer… while Morgan stood there trying to get the photo.
In this episode, Morgan Maassen sits down with Sterling Spencer and Ryan Spencer to talk about the golden era of surf videos, Surf Madness, Quiksilver, Billabong, Kelly Slater, Jeremy Flores, Nate Tyler, Dane Reynolds, Taj Burrow, John John Florence, surf photography, underwater shooting, and the chaos behind some of the most iconic and bizarre moments in modern surf culture.
Morgan shares how he got into surf photography, how he linked up with Sterling, what it was like working around Kelly Slater and Jeremy Flores, the strange tension between surf brands, and why the early internet surf world was full of thin skin, weird beef, and all-time comedy.
This one has everything: Jeremy Flores drama, Kelly Slater stories, Surf Madness history, Crocs surfing, Quiksilver trips, Billabong weirdness, near-drowning in Florida, and Morgan Maassen explaining how he somehow survived years of being friends with Sterling Spencer.
Featuring:
Morgan Maassen
Sterling Spencer
Ryan Spencer
Pinch My Salt Podcast
Topics:
Morgan Maassen interview
Jeremy Flores choke out story
Sterling Spencer Surf Madness
Kelly Slater surf stories
Quiksilver surf team
Billabong surf videos
Surf photography stories
Surf podcast
Funny surf stories
Surf industry drama
Surf Madness movie
Nate Tyler
Dane Reynolds
Taj Burrow
John John Florence
Core Lords Only
Subscribe for more surf comedy, surf history, pro surfer stories, and questionable life advice from Pinch My Salt.
#MorganMaassen #JeremyFlores #SterlingSpencer #PinchMySalt #KellySlater #SurfPodcast #Surfing #SurfPhotography #SurfMadness #Quiksilver #Billabong #CoreLordsOnly

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Ep 130 | Blair Conklin Takes Us Behind the Scenes on the Biggest Swell in Decades| Pinch My Salt Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

The Wedge got so big surfers pulled out 9-foot guns—and Blair Conklin says it was some of the biggest surf he has seen there in his lifetime. In this episode of the Pinch My Salt podcast, Blair breaks down the historic Wedge swell at Newport Beach, why it may have been the biggest in over a decade, and how it compared to Hurricane Marie.
Blair takes Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan inside the chaos: two waves colliding, unpredictable takeoff zones, massive shorebreak, Hawaiian chargers, Koa Rothman, a bodyboarder throwing a double backflip, and the split-second positioning needed to catch one of California’s most dangerous waves.
The three-time United Skim Tour World Champion and legendary Vic winner also talks about growing up skimboarding in Laguna Beach and helping push skimboarding into the viral era. The conversation gets into Tfue’s skimboarding roots, Bill Bryan’s influence, monkey crawling, surfers versus skimmers, why unfinished skimboard waves still count, novelty waves, wave pools, and whether skimboarding might actually be harder than surfing. This is a full breakdown of The Wedge, modern skimboarding, surf culture, and the strange world where shorebreak specialists become some of the most entertaining athletes in action sports.
Blair also reveals what makes The Wedge so difficult when it gets this big, who dominated the historic swell, and why positioning at the exact point where two waves collide can be both terrifying and nearly impossible.
PLUS:
Laird Hamilton’s legendary Malibu Pier shoot
Tfue before he became a gaming superstar
The truth about surfers versus skimboarders
Why skimboarding clips go viral
Bill Bryan’s influence on modern skimboarding
The monkey crawl comeback
Big-wave boards at The Wedge
Koa Rothman charging California
The future of skimboarding and novelty waves
Why skimmers apparently don’t have to land anything
Was this the biggest Wedge swell since Hurricane Marie? Let us know in the comments.
LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE to become a certified Pincher.
Pinch My Salt is a comedy surf podcast hosted by professional surfer Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan, covering surfing, skimboarding, surf culture, professional surfers, viral surf clips and everything happening in the strange world of action sports.
#BlairConklin #TheWedge #Skimboarding
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