The Lineup with Dave Prodan - A Surfing Podcast

Multi-hyphenate and multi-talented action sports media personality and WSL commentator, Chris Coté, joins us on The Lineup podcast. Calling in from his own podcast HQ, Monday M.A.S.S. with Todd Richards, in San Diego, Chris and Dave dive into the Lexus WSL Finals and Chris’ experience being on the ground there. He relives being amidst the visceral energy emanating throughout the fans who flooded the beach cheering for their favorite surfers at Lowers, and describes it as among one of the most joyful of the WSL Finals we’ve had. He talks about growing up in San Diego, the pride he has seeing Caity Simmers take home the Title for California, and the exposure shaper Chris Borst is receiving from Caity riding his boards exclusively. He marvels at the craftsmanship of surfboards, calling them “functional pieces of art,” and showcases a Pyzel board he just picked up. Chris and Dave get into Chris’ upbringing in San Diego, being sponsored by Chris Borst as a surfer, and his pathway into becoming a professional surfer. He remembers his first encounter with localism in the water on one his first trips to Hawai’i as a pro, his transition into becoming an action sports media professional, at one point becoming the editor-in-chief of TransWorld Surf Magazine, to today getting to do what he calls the “best job in the world.” Chris opens up on his sobriety journey, how it has affected his work for better or worse, and how he manages to stay positive throughout his career. He and Dave muse over the films Chris has produced over the years like High-5 and the TearDevils trilogy, his band SUNBENDR, and his podcast Monday M.A.S.S. with Chris Coté & Todd Richards before he gets into questions from our Instagram community and The Lightning Round.Follow Chris Coté here.Listen to and follow his band Sunbendr.And listen to his podcast Monday M.A.S.S. with Chris Coté & Todd Richards wherever you get your podcasts.Stay tuned for the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented By Estrella Galicia, Sep 29 - Oct 6Join 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WSL commentator and Lineup co-host Mitchell Salazar returns once again to wrap up an incredible event to crown this year's World Champions from the Lexus Finals. They discuss their winners and losers and John John Florence officially solidifying his dynasty by securing his third World Title and entering the realm of renowned surfers with at least 3x World Titles in Tom Curren, Gabe Medina, Mick Fanning, Andy Irons, Mark Richards, Kelly Slater, Layne Beachley, Carissa Moore, Stephanie Gilmore, and Layne Beachley, Frieda Zamba, Margo Oberg, and Wendy Botha. They also revel at Caity’s incredible performance and her securing her first World Title, officially becoming the youngest World Champion in WSL history. They talk about Italo’s rampaging run through the bracket, his dominating style of surfing, and how it played in his scoring. Things get heated and contentious after Dave and Mitch bring on a couple producers at the WSL to play a Vissla CT Shaper Rankings Fantasy Snake Draft game in the second segment. Finally, Dave and Mitch close the pod by answering your listener questions.Follow Mitch here.Follow Miguel here.Follow Dylan here.Get caught up from the results of the Lexus WSL Finals.Stay tuned to the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented By Estrella Galicia, Sep 29th - Oct 6.Stay up to date with 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Renowned writer, surf journalist, and Editor-in-Chief of Surfer Magazine, Jake Howard, joins The Lineup. As one of the “premier subject matter experts in the field today,” according to Sports Illustrated, Jake shares his thoughts on the Lexus WSL Finals at Lower Trestles. He and Dave mull over the matchups between the Final 5, which seed would be most advantageous, and just how fast that day goes. They reflect on the periodic generational progression on both the men’s and women’s side of surfing, who they end up seeing having to face John John Florence and Caity Simmers in the Title matches, and share their predictions for this year’s World Champions when it’s all said and done. Jake rewinds the clock to his humble beginnings working for Surfline, recording the surf reports for 976-SURF in the late 90’s, his career trajectory, to his new role now as the editor-In-chief of the bible of surfing. They discuss the relaunch of Surfer Magazine’s print edition after nearly five years in hiatus, how they chose Kelly Slater for the cover, and both Kelly and Carissa Moore writing articles for this issue. Jake answers our listener’s Instagram questions, shares his favorite magazine covers, significant moments that shaped surf history, and what gets him in the mood to write, before closing up the book with his answers to The Lightning Round.Follow Jake here.Be sure to check out the latest edition of Surfer Magazine.Catch the Final 5 battle it out in the water for the World Title at the Lexus WSL Finals, Sep 6 - 14.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WSL commentator and Lineup co-host Mitchell Salazar returns to break down the final event of the CT season, the Corona Fiji Pro Presented By Bonsoy. They discuss their winners and losers, look ahead to the Lexus WSL Finals at Lower Trestles, and officially crown Matt Biolos the 2024 CT Shaper of the Year.Follow Mitch here.Watch the Top 5 Moments from the Corona Fiji Pro Presented By Bonsoy.Stay tuned to see who will become this year’s World Champion at the Lexus WSL Finals, Sep 6 - 14.Stay up to date with 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WSL commentator and surf coach Stace Galbraith joins us on The Lineup to talk about the 2024 Corona Fiji Pro Presented By Bonsoy. Straight from the ground, the On The Road audio-only format aims to bring you quicker, deeper and better insight by checking in with our commentators and experts on-site at our various WSL events and airing these episodes as quickly as possible. These are the stories, the background, and the behind-the-scenes from those closest to the action on the ground. In our second installment of The Lineup On The Road series, Stace illustrates the glorious environment of Fiji and the relaxed, but high vibes from the surfers. He teases when we can expect to run, chats about hosting Tavarua TV during the off days, and joining the surfers for the “Tavarua Olympics.” He and Dave dive into the gritty competition details, talk about who’s on and off the island, Kelly’s arrival and anticipated performance since his wildcard appearance in Tahiti, and compare Gabriel Medina to Ozzie Wright in Seven Days, Seven Slaves surfing one foot Macaroni’s. They discuss the boards being tested out in the line up and close out the pod with Stace’s picks to win the event. Be sure to watch the Corona Fiji Pro Presented By Bonsoy on worldsurfleague.com and the WSL app!Visit Stace’s website here and follow him here.Be sure to watch the Final 5 deciding event, the Corona Fiji Pro Presented By Bonsoy, Aug 20 - 29.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

North Shore lifeguard and former big wave charger, Dave Wassel, joins us on The Lineup podcast. He describes life as a lifeguard and being part of the North Shore Lifeguard Association. He holds his peers in high esteem, praising their dedication, commitment, and selflessness to jump into action at one of the most treacherous and deadliest waves in the world to save people’s lives. He and Dave talk about the rigorous training one must endure to become a lifeguard on the North Shore, and the vetting process, not only by other lifeguards, but by the community itself. Dave Prodan recalls meeting Dave Wassel for the first time and reminisces about Wassel’s insane wave in the Code Green Swell of the Volcom Fiji Pro of 2012. They reflect back on Wassel’s upbringing, how he got into surfing, lifeguarding, and the heroes he looked up to along the way. Wassel tells the story about how he initially got involved with YETI, how he still has his first ever YETI cooler he’s ever bought, taking pride in the lasting products and the lasting relationships he’s developed from being involved with YETI over the years. Prodan and Wassel look ahead to the Corona Fiji Pro Presented By Bonsoy, breaking down the differences between the main surf spots, Restaurants and Cloudbreak. Wassel shares his stoke for the women’s progression and how excited he is watching the women on tour push the limits of surfing. He rounds out the pod by giving his best advice, answering listener questions, and the Lightning Round.Be sure to follow Dave Wassel on Instagram.Catch the best surfers in the world return to Corona Fiji Pro Presented By Bonsoy, Aug 20 - 29.Watch the best moments from Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surfline CEO Ross Garrett joins us on The Lineup. Calling in from Nicaragua, Ross checks in with Dave to discuss his role as CEO of Surfline, what they are doing to turbo charge their product and service, and how they can refine the bleeding edge of performance. Ross highlights the ethos of discovery at Surfline and why they do what they do. He talks about the importance of staying connected to the “thing,” always making sure to take time to get in the water and surf, and reminds us of Surfline’s humble beginnings as a 1-900 hotline to having a vast network of cameras all over the globe. He reflects on his own beginnings, cutting his teeth working at Surfer Magazine under Sam George, and his own personal mission to leave surfing better than he found it. He and Dave discuss having and being mentors, remembering the innovators that paved the way, like Surfline Founder Sean Collins, and the voices of surfing today before closing up the pod, answering questions from the Instagram community and our famous Lightning Round.Be sure to follow Ross on Instagram.And check out what you can do with Surfline Premium+.Stay tuned for the Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico, Aug 3 - 11.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elder Gods, surfing icons, and early pioneers of the mythical Grajagan, Gerry Lopez and Peter McCabe join us on the The Lineup! Gerry and Peter reminisce on their extended trips to Indonesia that earned them international reputation and fame for their tube riding, crossover surfing, and fearlessness at its virtually perfect waves. They reveal untold stories from East Java, their earliest memories of surfing G-Land, and becoming regulars at the world’s first surf camp there developed by Mike Boyum, G-Land Surf Camp. They discuss surfing for eight to ten hours at a time and eating one meal a day, only after finally coming in from a surf. They reflect on their best memories performing “Blue Angels,” what they called their surfing when they performed crossovers and rode in the tube without ever colliding with each other as they surfed the same wave. They look back on Peter’s history, how he got his start and his competitive stint in surfing, and their appearances in various films throughout their career. They wrap up the conversation astonished by the caliber of surfing today, amazed by its progression since they started, answering listener questions, and giving Peter his first go with the Lightning Round.Be sure to follow Gerry and Peter on Instagram.Stay up to date with everyone in Tahiti for the Olympics.Stay tuned for the Lexus US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico, Aug 3 - 11.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2x World Champion, current World No. 1, Tahiti-bound for USA, new Dad, Founder of Florence Marine X, and YETI ambassador John John Florence drops in on The Lineup to celebrate the 200th episode of the podcast! Dave and John also dive into his mind-blowing performances this year that has led him to the current World No. 1 position on the rankings heading into Fiji and locking his seat at the Lexus WSL Finals at Lower Trestles for a chance at a third World Title. He talks about his mindset entering 2024 and the ups and downs of the competitive surfing life. He reflects on how he went from not being too sure if he was going to compete this year and having “one foot in, one foot out” the past few years to being fully committed heading into 2024. He explains how he is investing in himself, giving surfing the respect he feels it deserves as a competitor, and traveling with his crew to ensure he’s giving it his very best. He talks about representing the USA in Tahiti this year and his mindset going into Teahupo’o. He illustrates his life as a father and how that affected his headspace in competition. He opens up about the importance of support, being the best version of himself for his son, and his family being the most important thing in his life. He discusses bringing his brothers into the family business of Florence Marine X, working with brands like YETI and with long-time shaper Jon Pyzel, before wrapping up the pod with Instagram questions and a second run at the Lightning Round.Learn more about John John here and follow him here.Follow the rankings here.Stay up to date with everyone Tahiti bound for the Olympics.Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our Youtube channel.Stay up to date with all things WSL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8x World SUP Champion, inspired windsurfer, kitesurfer, foiler, big wave surfer, waterman, and Red Bull athlete, Kai Lenny, joins us on the pod. After at least a 16 hour flight with his two-year-old twin toddlers, and a pit stop in LA to accept the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award on behalf of the Maui community at the ESPYs, Kai joins the Lineup with Dave to discuss season 4 of his biopic with Red Bull, Life of Kai. He explains his strongest gut feeling he’s ever had to wear a helmet at Pipe, the very same helmet that ended up saving his life earlier this year. Kai dives deeper into his injuries, the importance of taking tabs on your mental health, and one of the most bizarre micro concussions he’s ever experienced after a wipeout at Jaws in 2018. He and Dave muse over the big wave pioneers, like Shane Dorian, Ian Walsh, and Laird Hamilton, and how their contributions to the sport helped pave the road for the next generation to become even better than their predecessors. He also talks about how being a father makes him more calculated about when he decides to paddle out into big waves, the importance of confidence, and how that is the true talent of every champion in every sport. He reflects back on how exciting it was to be on the ground at Trestles for the WSL Finals in 2023, watching the best surfers in the world compete for the Title, and how stoked he is on the next generation of young girls, like Erin Brooks, Sierra Kerr, Molly Picklum and Caity Simmers charging waves of consequence. Kai argues that best big wave surfers in the world are often great small waves surfers and proposes that Jaws be included as a floating event on the CT before he closes the pod by answering listener questions and the Lightning Round.Subscribe to Kai Lenny’s YouTube and follow him here.Watch Red Bull’s Life of Kai Season 4 here.Support our Maui community by donating to the Maui Pono Foundation.Stay up to date with everyone Tahiti bound for the Olympics.Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our Youtube channel.Stay up to date with all things WSL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices