The Lineup with Dave Prodan - A Surfing Podcast

Re-air of Ep 159, the first “Watersheds” format episode highlighting Jordy Smith’s first CT win on home soil at J-Bay in 2010.  This week, we’re premiering a new format of The Lineup where we zero in on an important moment from surfing’s rich and extensive history. Using sound bites from deep within the WSL archives and insight from this week’s special guest Pat O’Connell, we’re diving into Jordy Smith’s huge win at J-Bay in 2010. Travel back in time to the very different surf world (and world, period) of the early and mid-2000’s. Hear all that went into Jordy Smith’s rise into the global surf consciousness. And get the full story of what made his win at home in South Africa so important in the long tapestry of unforgettable Championship Tour moments. Follow Jordy here. Follow Pat O’Connell here. Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Stay tuned to the Corona Open J-Bay Presented by O'Neill, July 11 - July 20th. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Obama speechwriter and bestselling author David Litt joins Dave Prodan on The Lineup to talk about his newest and most personal project yet, It’s Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and a Search for Common Ground. Litt opens up about how a pandemic-era battle with depression led him into the ocean, and how a mismatched surf adventure with his brother-in-law Matt became an unlikely bridge across political, personal, and cultural divides. From his first freezing New Jersey paddle-outs in a 5/4 wetsuit to wipeouts in 8-10 foot Zurriola in Spain, Litt shares a raw, humorous, and deeply human journey into surfing from the outside in and explores how surfing restructured his sense of time, identity, and connection. Follow David here. Order It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and a Search for Common Ground AVAILABLE NOW on Bookshop.org or Amazon. Catch the next generation of surfers compete for a spot on the CT at our second Challenger Series event of the year, the Ballito Pro Presented by O'Neill, June 30 - July 6. Stay tuned for CT Stop No. 10, the Corona Open J-Bay Presented by O'Neill, July 11 - July 20th. Visit usopenofsurfing.eventbrite.com to get tickets to Sundown Sets at the US Open and for five nights of live music featuring Common Kings, Chevy Metal, Reggae Sunday, and more! A portion of ticket sales benefit the Surfrider Foundation which works to protect and preserve the world’s oceans and beaches. See you in Surf City! Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Stay up to date with all the rankings. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reporting live from Brazil, part-time cohost and WSL commentator Mitchell Salazar rejoins Dave on The Lineup to break down all the action, drama, and implications from the 2025 VIVO Rio Pro presented by Corona Cero. California’s Cole Houshmand and Australia’s Molly Picklum claimed breakthrough victories at Stop No. 9 of the 2025 Championship Tour, but the event was anything but predictable. Dave and Mitch dive deep into the biggest Winners and Losers from Saquarema–from Griffin Colapinto’s title surge to Filipe Toledo’s late-season stumble, and from the brilliance of Molly Picklum to the heartbreak for Brazilian fans hoping for a hometown champion. They break down the complexity of forecasting the wave, the challenges of Saquarema backwash, and the mental game of adapting on the fly. They check in on the Vissla CT Shaper Rankings, where Matt Biolos and …Lost Surfboards have all but cemented a three-peat as Shaper of the Year after a dominant Rio showing. The duo also answer Fantasy League and Instagram questions from fans around the world, including whether the women’s surfing is officially more exciting than the men’s, and drop hints about the final stretch of the CT season leading into J-Bay and beyond. Follow Mitch here. Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Watch the highlights from the VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero. Catch the next generation of surfers compete for a spot on the CT at our second Challenger Series event of the year, the Ballito Pro Presented by O'Neill, June 30 - July 6. Stay tuned for CT Stop No. 10, the Corona Open J-Bay Presented by O'Neill, July 11 - July 20th. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special two-parter episode of The Lineup, Dave Prodan sits down with fearless big wave charger and YETI ambassador Tom Lowe for two powerful conversations – one from before his nearly fatal incident in Tahiti in June 2025 and one after. In the first part of the episode, Tom rejoins us from Tahiti, still in recovery, right from the very place where he describes everything went very quickly from a dream to a nightmare. He walks us through the day it happened, at least all the moments he remembers. He recounts the locals’ heroics, catching a few mid-sized waves himself, gaining confidence, and feeling ready for a big one. He speaks candidly about the mental toll of this injury versus the physical, and the emotional weight of what he’s put his loved ones through. With striking vulnerability, he opens up about the recovery, the guilt, the gratitude, and the commitment to keep moving forward. The second part of the episode was recorded just before Tom’s most recent mission to Tahiti, a trip that would culminate in a near-fatal injury at Teahupoʻo. Lowe discusses both the clarity and the nerves he was bringing into the swell, feeling ready to return since his first nearly fatal injury back there in 2023. He discusses life as a dad, the rhythm he’s found chasing waves around the world, and the emotional toll of leaving behind his young family to pursue swells as a professional big wave surfer. He reflects on his latest film with YETI, Let Me Live, a raw and beautifully captured portrait of identity, purpose, and a life on the edge, produced by the legendary Keith Malloy and Bimarian Films. Follow Tom Lowe here. Tom’s latest film produced by YETI & Keith Malloy, Let Me Live, is out on YouTube! Watch it here. Stay tuned to see the best surfers at the VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero, June 21 - 29. Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Stay up to date with all the rankings. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave and part-time co-host Mitchell Salazar return to break down all the highs, lows, and critical storylines from stop No. 8 on the Championship Tour—the 2025 Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown. With iconic Lower Trestles serving up a playground of high-performance conditions, Brazil’s Yago Dora and Hawaii’s Bettylou Sakura Johnson both earned their second CT victories of the year, launching themselves firmly into the WSL Final 5 conversation. Dave and Mitch dive into the biggest Winners & Losers of the event—highlighting breakout performances from rookie Joel Vaughan and wildcard Sawyer Lindblad, while calling out disappointing exits from Gabriela Bryan, Jordy Smith, and a clunky Elimination Round heat between Barron Mamiya and Kelly Slater. They also celebrate a historic weekend for …Lost Surfboards, who saw both event champs riding their boards, along with a dominant showing in the Vissla CT Shaper Rankings. The crew also checks in on Fantasy Surfing standings, dishes out tips, and fields fan questions on air game technique, coaching insights, and CT requalification hypotheticals. Follow Mitch here. Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Relive all the action from the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown, June 9 - 17th. Catch the world’s best surfers at CT Stop No. 9, the VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero, June 21 - 29th. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Monday M.A.S.S. With Chris Coté and Todd Richards, June 9, 2025 On this episode of the World’s Greatest Action Sports Podcast, Chris and Todd team up with Dave Prodan of The Lineup Podcast as well as the Chief Strategy and Brand Officer at the World Surf League, a collab podcast, amazing. These three take a bunch of your questions, talk about the Lexus Lowers Pro, Kelly Slater, Jeremy Flores brain tumor, Kelly Slater quirks, Christian Fletcher X Steve Boysen legacy boards, Gui Khury skatepark 900, switchstance surfing, Hurricane Season is coming in hot, everything you need to know before surfing Nazare, Mark McMorris and Tony Hawk get in to some Raginal Reconstruction (a new skate park), Jenkem’s 999 challenge, egg skateboards are the twin fins of land, old heads rule, more shredaphilia, more gossip, more news, so many questions asked and answered, two full hours of excellence, this really is our best pod in years, thanks Dave!   Presented By:   Sun Bum @sunbum One Wheel @onewheel New Greens @newgreens Spy Optic @spyoptic Hansen Surfboards @hansensurf Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce @trybachans MachuPicchu Energy @MachuPicchu.Energy Pannikin Coffee And Tea @pannikincoffeeandtea Bubs Naturals @bubsnaturals Mint Tours @minttours Die Cut Stickers @diecutstickersdotcom Vesyl Shipping @vesylapp Steve Boysen X Christian Fletcher Surfboards @boysensurfboards Follow The Monday M.A.S.S. here and check out their pod on Apple Podcast and Spotify! Follow Chris Coté here. Follow Todd Richards here. Stay tuned to see the best surfers at the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown, June 9 - 17th. Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Stay up to date with all the rankings. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tatiana Weston-Webb returns to The Lineup to unpack her journey around the world and celebrate her latest film with the late, great Greg Browning. Recorded in New Jersey fresh off a Mentawais boat trip, Tati reflects on stepping away from full-time competition after two Olympic cycles and rediscovering her love of surfing away from the pressure of the jersey. She speaks candidly about her mindset on and off tour, knowing she is a World Title contender at her best, and the surreal joy of scoring perfect Kandui with her husband. She is later joined by producers Scott Smith and John De Temple to celebrate the premiere of their deeply personal and visually stunning new film with the indelible Greg Browning–A Marble in the Jar. The crew dive into the genesis of the film—a project that began with Greg’s vision and passion. With a treasure trove of footage spanning years, the team recounts the wild, creative ride of making the movie, from smashing jars of marbles in Scott’s backyard to experimenting with four different intros, all in pursuit of honoring Greg’s dream. They reflect on the unguarded, fearless spirit that defined both Greg and Tatiana, and how the bond they shared helped shape the emotional core of the project. As Scott poignantly shares, “Greg knew his time was short, but he was 100% behind it all—he went full director mode.” From Instagram fan questions to lightning-round favorites, Tati closes with a powerful reminder to “focus on the small wins throughout the day–aka–a marble in the jar.” We love you Greg! Learn more about Tati here and Follow her here. Catch the West Coast premiere of A Marble in a Jar TONIGHT (6/6) in Hermosa Beach here! San Diego! Catch Tati in Encinitas TOMORROW (6/7) here! *Every ticket you buy includes a raffle ticket (and you can buy extras!) to win wetsuits, Tati’s clothing collections, Sharp Eye Surfboards, Banzai Bowls, YouTheory supplements, merch and gift cards.* Visit A Marble in the Jar on IG for more info! Watch the first Challenger Series event of the 2025 Season, the Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy, June 2 - 8th. Stay tuned to see the best surfers at the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown, June 9 - 17th. Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Stay up to date with all the rankings. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave is joined once again by part-time co-host and WSL commentator Mitch Salazar to break down all the drama, triumph, and heartbreak from Stop No. 7 of the 2025 Championship Tour—the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. With Jordy Smith and Gabriela Bryan each securing their second wins of the season, both now sit atop the rankings and inch closer to their first World Titles. Dave and Mitch go deep on the event’s biggest winners and most surprising losers—from Lakey Peterson’s clutch performance to save her season, to the top 5 men faltering at a crucial stretch of the calendar, to a sobering mid-season cut for Channel Islands’ stacked roster. The duo also takes stock of the updated Vissla CT Shaper Rankings, highlighting which board builders are leading the charge and which brands are left regrouping post-Margarets. They answer burning fan questions (Is power surfing the key to a world title?) and give updates on the wildly competitive Lineup Fantasy League. Follow Mitch here. Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Relive all the action from the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Catch the first Challenger Series of 2025 the Burton Automotive Newcastle SURFEST Presented by Bonsoy, June 2 - 8th. Stay tuned for the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown, June 9 - 17th. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Blocking 97% of UVB rays and 80-minutes of water-resistance, stay protected with Neutrogena’s Beach Defense sunscreen here. Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Stay up to date with all the rankings. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Lineup, Dave Prodan is joined by cohost and commentator Mitchell Salazar to break down everything from the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM. They discuss Bettylou Sakura Johnson notching her first-ever CT win, Filipe Toledo reminding the world he’s still a title threat, and a wildcard venue proving the doubters wrong. With just one event left before the Mid-Season Cut, Dave and Mitch dive into what Burleigh told us about the rankings race, the veterans under pressure, and the next-gen stars rising fast. Plus, they cover the biggest winners and losers from the Gold Coast, the surprising stat on men’s Quarterfinalists, and the youth movement rewriting the women's draw. Also in this episode: A full breakdown of the 2026 CT schedule announcement and what it means for the sport Deep insights into the Vissla CT Shaper Rankings post-Gold Coast Fantasy leaderboard shakeups and tips for Margaret River Listener questions on Julian vs Filipe, the Vahine interference call, and more Follow Mitch here. Play WSL CT Fantasy contest and join The Lineup Podcast Mega League for a chance to win! Terms and Conditions apply. Get the latest merch at the WSL Store! Recap Finals Day with the Stone & Wood Post Show of the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM. Catch the best surfers compete for their spot the rest of the 2025 CT season at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, May 17 - 27. Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info. **Visit this page if you’ve been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, and would like to volunteer or donate. Our hearts are with  you.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices