EP 233: Kanoa Igarashi - Surfing The Box vs Main Break, Board designs with JS, Dominating on tour, Overcoming Olympic pressure, Partnering with Neutrogena, Feeling complete, and Competing against Julian Wilson on the Gold Coast

In this deep and unfiltered conversation, Kanoa Igarashi joins The Lineup fresh off the Western Margaret River Pro—ranked fourth in the world and hungrier for the World Title than ever. We kick things off with Kanoa’s take on The Box, one of the heaviest slabs to return to the tour since 2019, where it’s either twos or tens, and every drop could be your ticket to glory—or a slam on the reef. He breaks down the difference between his Main Break and Box quivers, gets into the nuance of board design with JS, and reflects on how his surfing instincts have sharpened through the years. Kanoa opens up about the evolution of his mindset—what it was like competing against one of his surfing idols in Julian Wilson, how his 2022 Top 5 finish left him feeling like he had more to prove, and why he believes his real title window is just beginning. He gets candid about overcoming imposter syndrome, dialing in every 1% of his game, and finally feeling like he's built the complete package. We dive into the Olympic effect—from the pressure cooker of the build up and competing at Tokyo Olympic Games to the emotional release of finally holding that medal. Kanoa compares notes with fellow Olympians like Noah Lyles, shares how surfing changed his life on and off the world stage, and reflects on the balance between fame, authenticity, and his roots in the Quiksilver Young Guns program. He discusses how people like Stephen ‘Belly’ Bell helped shape his outlook as a growing professional surfer, talks partnerships, the importance of supportive brands throughout his career, and walks us through his decision to sign with Neutrogena as one of their first surf ambassadors. We wrap with a look ahead to Trestles and the huge change to the 2026 Tour Schedule and format. Kanoa touches on training, strategy, and the importance of feeling at home during comps. 

Learn more about Kanoa here and Follow him here.

Relive the Western Australia Margaret River Pro.

Stay tuned to see the best surfers at the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown, June 9 - 19th.

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