PINCH MY SALT

Jordy Smith joins Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan on Pinch My Salt for an unreal conversation about professional surfing, the WSL Championship Tour, Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, Andy Irons, Billabong, Nike, O’Neill, Modern Collective, South African surfing, J-Bay, the North Shore of Hawaii, surf movies, sponsorship deals and one of the craziest untold stories in surf history.

Jordy Smith is a World Junior Champion, X Games gold medalist, two-time World Title runner-up, Olympian and one of the longest-running surfers in modern Championship Tour history. In this episode, Jordy opens up about growing up in South Africa, becoming one of the most hyped young surfers in the world, being called “the next Kelly Slater,” traveling and surfing with Sterling Spencer as teenagers, competing against Kelly Slater, his legendary Modern Collective section, Dane Reynolds, the golden era of surf films and what professional surfing was really like behind the scenes.

But the wildest story might be Jordy Smith’s LOST SURF MOVIE.

Jordy and Sterling spent months traveling through South Africa, the Maldives, Australia and beyond filming what was supposed to become Jordy’s breakout surf movie. Then his relationship with Billabong fell apart, the hard drives disappeared, Jordy says he spent nearly 10 YEARS trying to track down the footage—and he still hasn’t seen it.

Then came the $500,000 lawsuit.

Jordy talks about being a young rookie, coming from very little money in South Africa and suddenly facing a lawsuit so massive that his parents were considering selling their house and cars. It’s an incredible look behind the curtain at the surf industry during one of its biggest eras.

We also get into:

Jordy Smith vs. Kelly Slater and whether Kelly was ever overscoredThe Jordy Smith vs. Dane Reynolds eraModern Collective and Jordy’s insane surfing in 2010Why Jordy turned down Nike 6.0Flying to Nike headquarters on Phil Knight’s private planeThe truth behind the Michael Jordan rumorsO’Neill, DVS and huge surf sponsorship dealsGrowing up surfing South Africa and Hawaii’s North ShoreJ-Bay and Jordy’s rise through professional surfingAndy Irons and the legendary Billabong surf teamMikey February and South African surf cultureWhy the surf industry changedCore surfing vs. mainstream surfingSurf shops, local shapers and the old surf industryJordy’s plans after the Championship TourChasing undiscovered waves around the worldThe origin story of “YOU KNOW THE RULES”And why Jordy might be one of the funniest surfers alive.

This is one of those episodes where surf history, surf culture and stories from professional surfing collide. If you grew up watching surf videos, following the ASP / WSL World Tour, watching Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Dane Reynolds, Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith and the generation that defined modern surfing, you’re going to love this one.

Leave Jordy some love in the comments and tell us: WHERE IS THE LOST JORDY SMITH FOOTAGE?

Subscribe to PINCH MY SALT for more long-form surf interviews, surf history, surf culture, comedy, professional surfing stories and conversations with some of the biggest names in surfing.

#JordySmith #Surfing #PinchMySalt #WSL #KellySlater #ProfessionalSurfing #SurfPodcast #SurfCulture #DaneReynolds #ModernCollective
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Gabby Reece joins Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan on the Pinch My Salt podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about Laird Hamilton, the WNBA and women’s sports, Title IX, transgender athletes in sports, Nike, Tinker Hatfield, MTV Sports, Florida State volleyball, big-wave surfing, surf culture, fitness, family, relationships and life behind one of surfing’s most recognizable couples.

Gabby Reece opens up about how she met Laird Hamilton while interviewing him, the early days of their relationship, helping Laird navigate the business side of big-wave surfing, and becoming what Pinch My Salt calls the “Momfather” of surf culture. Gabby also tells the story behind her Nike signature shoe designed by legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield, her days on MTV Sports during the rise of extreme sports, her volleyball career at Florida State, and how she went from growing up in St. Thomas to becoming one of the most recognizable female athletes of her generation.

The conversation takes a serious turn when Gabby gives her perspective on the WNBA, women’s sports, Title IX, biological differences in competition, transgender athletes and protecting opportunities for young female athletes. As someone whose own college opportunity came through athletics, Gabby explains why the debate matters to her and why she believes the conversation has become unnecessarily political.

Gabby also talks about training, health, aging, raising daughters with Laird Hamilton, what their family is actually like behind closed doors, and why surfing will probably always be Laird’s “girlfriend.”

And because this is Pinch My Salt, things eventually go completely off the rails.

Gabby reveals whether she was Laird’s “sugar mama,” talks about her Playboy shoot, jokes about starting an OnlyFans for her size-12 feet, and tells the hilarious story behind a naked Body Issue photo shoot with Laird where he was VERY unhappy about the situation.

From Nike and MTV to volleyball, women’s sports, WNBA controversy, big-wave surfing, Laird Hamilton, Shane Dorian, fitness, marriage and surf culture, this is a side of Gabby Reece you probably haven’t heard before.

Subscribe to Pinch My Salt for more surf stories, interviews, comedy and conversations with some of the biggest personalities in surfing and action sports.

#GabbyReece #LairdHamilton #PinchMySalt #WomensSports #Surfing
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Jack Johnson joins Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan on the Pinch My Salt Podcast for a hilarious, wide-ranging conversation about surfing, music, Hawaii, Kelly Slater, Tom Curren, John John Florence, Willie Nelson, Ben Harper, G. Love, Rob Machado, songwriting, touring, fame and the stories behind some of Jack Johnson’s biggest songs.

Jack Johnson talks about the real story behind “Banana Pancakes,” “Bubble Toes” and “Rodeo Clowns,” his early music career, opening for Ben Harper, growing up surfing in Hawaii, the North Shore surf scene, and how Kelly Slater helped turn “Rodeo Clowns” into the name of a surfing maneuver. Jack also breaks down Kelly Slater vs. Tom Curren, explains why he believes John John Florence may be the best surfer in the world, and talks Nathan Fletcher, Christian Fletcher, Rob Machado, Pipeline, Sunset Beach, big-wave surfing and the surfers who influenced him.

Plus, Jack plays music live in the Pinch My Salt studio and tells the incredible story of playing poker with Willie Nelson.

This is Jack Johnson like you probably haven’t heard him before.

Jack gets into the story of meeting Willie Nelson at a benefit concert in Maui, getting invited back to Willie’s house to play poker, and the song that came out of the experience. He talks about forgetting lyrics and hitting wrong chords on stage, why those mistakes can actually make live music better, and how he learned to deal with the pressure of performing in front of huge crowds.

Jack also opens up about fame, imposter syndrome, mental health, staying grounded in Hawaii, and why too much attention can start to feel unhealthy. He explains how Ben Harper and G. Love inspired him before he ever knew them personally, and what it was like going from being a fan to opening shows for Ben Harper.

We also get into the surprising story behind Jack Johnson’s Curious George soundtrack, working on the film with Hans Zimmer, and why making music for an animated kids movie felt like such a strange move within surf culture at the time.

Then it gets DEEP into surfing.

Kelly Slater vs. Tom Curren. John John Florence. Dane Reynolds. Nathan Fletcher. Christian Fletcher. Rob Machado. Pipeline. Sunset. Margaret River. Surf style vs. progression. What makes someone truly “core.” And Jack’s perspective as someone who grew up completely immersed in the North Shore surf world before becoming one of the biggest musicians in the world.

Jack also talks about his wife Kim, writing love songs, balancing marriage and success, raising a family, touring, his Surf Film Music project, September Sessions, and the work he and Kim do through the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation and its environmental education programs in Hawaii.

And somehow we also try to launch Jack Johnson’s new phrases “That’s What the Babies Eat” and “Rumpelstiltskin It” into surf culture.

This one went places.

Welcome back to PINCH MY SALT with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan.

Subscribe for more conversations with the biggest names in surfing, music, action sports and surf culture.

#JackJohnson #PinchMySalt #Surfing #KellySlater #JohnJohnFlorence #TomCurren #BananaPancakes #SurfPodcast #WillieNelson #BenHarper #NorthShore #Hawaii #SurfCulture
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Why is everyone mad at Kolohe Andino? This week on Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down the Kolohe Andino drama, the backlash inside surf culture, his comments about the modern surf industry, and why some surfers are questioning the former Target and Nike-sponsored pro surfer’s new direction. We get into Kolohe Andino’s surf film, the criticism that it was heavily inspired by an older Joe G. surf movie, the “core lord” complaints Sterling says started coming in, and the bigger question: can a surfer who benefited from huge mainstream sponsorships now criticize what surfing has become?From Kolohe Andino, Target, Nike and surf industry politics to Tom Curren, Kelly Slater, Jamie O’Brien, John John Florence, Dane Reynolds, surf brands, pro surfer sponsorships, surf films, surf media, vlogging and the loss of mystery in surfing, this episode gets into what “core” even means anymore. Sterling and Ryan debate whether Kolohe is being hypocritical, whether the surf world is being too hard on him, and whether he’s actually one of the few surfers trying to bring creativity, style and real surf culture back.The boys also get into Tom Curren’s legendary surf aura, why so many modern pro surfers feel overly branded, the rise (and possible death) of the term “core lord,” Gen Z surf culture, social media algorithms, surfing vlog content, and whether pro surfers should control their own careers instead of relying completely on surf brands.Then things go completely off the rails.Sterling discovers he may be becoming the Tony Hawk of surfing, the guys talk Kelly Slater, Jack Johnson, Reddit, John John Florence, Florence, Former, Outerknown, starting their own surf brand, and why the modern surf industry looks completely different from the Billabong-era surf world they grew up in.Later, Sterling gets surprisingly deep about growing up as a traveling pro surfer, spending years chasing waves around the world, the brutal Gulf Coast summer flat spell, and watching surfers constantly chase swell from Hawaii to Indonesia, Tahiti and Fiji. The conversation turns toward Nathan Florence, surf travel, getting older as a surfer, Sterling’s brain injury, fatherhood, grief, forgiveness and learning how to actually slow down.Basically: Kolohe Andino drama, surf industry politics, core lords, surf brands, pro surfing, surf culture, questionable life advice and two cousins trying to figure out if surfing has completely lost the plot.Subscribe to Pinch My Salt for weekly surf news, surf culture, surfing stories, pro surfer interviews, comedy and the important conversations nobody else in surfing is brave—or dumb—enough to have.#KoloheAndino #Surfing #SurfCulture #SurfPodcast #PinchMySalt
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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.SUPPORT THE SHOW!!!! https://ebay.io/m/KjQ3nxWe 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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