Basis Surf Podcast

From Nearly Drowning to Helping Surfers Overcome Their Fears w/ Alex Novoa of Surfing Your Fears

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds. https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
Alex Novoa of Surfing Your Fears has been surfing for 38 years and coaching for nearly two decades. Our conversation goes deep on what actually holds surfers back from becoming independent in the water. Alex breaks down why fear never fully disappears but can be worked through, how smart positioning beats hard paddling every time, why your pop-up habit will either cost or save you hundreds of waves, and why paddle fitness is less about catching waves and more about surviving the ones that hold you down. Beyond the technical side, Alex also shares a perspective that's hard to find; someone who has nearly drowned twice, rebuilt his confidence, and used that experience to shape how he coaches others through the same thing. 
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters2:33 Alex's Background & 38 Years of Surfing in El Salvador3:48 Still Surfing 8 Hours a Day at 50 - The Secret to Longevity5:22 The Reverse Liters Strategy: Staying in Shape as You Age6:36 Surfboard Evolution: From Boogie Boards to Shortboards to Longboards9:28 Does Board Sequencing Matter for Learning?11:34 Embracing Being a "Kook" - Why Starting Over is Valuable12:59 How Trying New Boards Keeps the Love for Surfing Alive16:36 Why the Program Is Called "Surfing Your Fears"20:21 How Alex Defines a Beginner Surfer26:39 Overcoming Fear: Internalizing What You're Actually Afraid Of31:21 Wave Positioning Tips for Independent Surfers36:02 Reading the Ocean: Sets, Intervals, and Wave Size39:42 Time in the Water Is Everything - Why Fitness Matters47:10 Alex's Near-Drowning Experience & How It Shapes His Coaching57:34 Pop-Up Technique: Why Getting It Right from Day One Is Critical
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 140k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook

Dan Mann Tells All on Kelly Slater, Stab in the Dark, and the DRK Surfboard

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds. https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
Stab in the Dark X winner and the shaper behind Kelly Slater's boards, Dan Mann joins the Basis Surf podcast. We get into whether Kelly actually knew which board was his during the event, what Dane Reynolds and Zeke Lau noticed when he was riding it, and why Dan sees the whole thing as bittersweet despite coming out on top. From there we dig into the design differences between the DRK and FRK, what changed and why, and how those decisions translate for everyday surfers, not just Kelly. Dan also breaks down his approach to fins and why keeping one constant across every board you ride matters. We also discuss Dan’s different models and I share why the Dominator Pro has genuinely changed my surfing.
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters0:01:46 Welcome & Stab in the Dark X Introduction 0:02:10 Was Winning Bittersweet? Dan's Honest Take 0:03:44 Stab as Entertainment vs. Competition0:05:43 Did the Show Manufacture the Drama? 0:07:18 Watching Kelly Surf Other Shapers' Boards 0:08:25 Kelly's Competitive Mind & the "What If" Factor 0:10:20 The FRK's Origin Story & Kelly's Loyalty Since 2017 0:12:15 Did Kelly Know Which Board Was His? 0:12:47 DRK vs FRK: What Actually Changed 0:22:41 Breaking Down the Full FRK Lineup 0:26:16 What Makes Dan Mann Boards Distinct 0:38:01 Fins & How to Tune the DRK 0:44:45 DRK vs Dominator Pro: Which Board is for You? 0:55:48 The Dominator Pro's Impact on Everyday Surfing 0:59:03 What's Next: Spun Honey Groveler & Materials Innovation
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 140k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook

How A Skeptical Lifelong Surfer 4x’d his Wavecount w/ Adam Sime

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds. https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
Adam Sime is a 51-year-old nurse, father of three, and lifelong surfer who drives 12+ hours to chase swells across the UK and beyond. In this episode, he opens up about what it actually feels like to blow a hard-earned surf trip because your body gives out after an hour, and what he did about it. We get into the moment that broke him at a firing point break in the Hebrides, his honest skepticism when he first came across the Basis Paddle Trainer, and how his results went from done-after-4-waves to back-to-back-4-hour-sessions in solid Southwest Cornwall swell. He also breaks down how relearning his paddle technique from scratch changed everything, and how getting fit enough to drop board volume opened up a completely different level of surfing for him. 
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters02:34 Welcome & Introduction to Adam Sime02:48 Adam's Life: Family, Work, and Surfing in Seaford04:30 Chasing Waves Across Europe with a Motorhome06:10 Growing Up Surfing in Western Australia08:22 Charging Big Waves in Morocco09:26 Why Adam Started Thinking About Paddle Training11:29 The Wake-Up Call: Getting Fit After a Wipeout12:40 The Hebrides Trip That Broke Him13:14 Discovering the Basis Paddle Trainer15:00 Early Struggles with the Trainer17:10 Was He Skeptical at First?19:23 The Results: Four-Hour Sessions in Cornwall23:07 Quadrupling Wave Count in the Pool28:12 How Technique Changed His Paddling32:14 Going Down in Board Volume and Surfing Better
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 140k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook

How to Improve at Surfing Working 80 Hours a Week w/ Lucas Hildreth

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds.https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
Lucas Hildreth (@lucashildreth5692) is a second-year E.R. resident and aspiring big wave surfer from New York who has somehow managed to surf Mavericks, Iceland, Chile, and Portugal in between brutal stretches of 80-hour work weeks. In this episode, we get into how he stays strategic with his limited time off, how he approaches improving his surfing technically; from dialing in his cutback to breaking down the mechanics of a proper snap, and what it actually takes to prepare for big surf when you don’t live by the ocean. Beyond the technical stuff, we also talk about crowd navigation, adventure surfing in cold and remote locations, and the mindset that drives someone to chase serious waves while wearing scrubs five days a week. 
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters0:02:06 Introducing Lucas: ER Resident & Big Wave Surfer0:02:52 ER Doctors and Extreme Sports0:03:31 Growing Up Surfing in New York0:05:34 Getting Serious: Driving to Montauk0:07:36 Choosing College Away from the Coast0:09:29 Learning Without Coaching: Uncle's One Rule0:11:25 Watching Surf Clips to Improve0:14:07 How Filming Himself Transformed His Surfing0:18:33 Going Vertical: The Hardest Skill in Surfing0:25:06 Life as an ER Resident: The Real Schedule0:27:18 Surfing the World Between Shifts0:33:14 Paddle Training: What Actually Works0:41:32 Navigating Crowds in Santa Cruz0:50:40 Adventure Surfing: Iceland, Chile & Beyond0:59:49 Rapid Fire: Advice, Intentions & Deserted Island Board
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 140k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook

The Key to Turning Midlengths w/ Taylor Jensen

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds. https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
Taylor Jensen (@taylorjensentj) is a four-time World Longboard Champion who is equally comfortable noseriding as he is throwing down powerful carves. He also collaborates with Firewire Surfboards, making longboards, and more recently, alternative twinzer models. In this episode, we get into what makes a good turn on a longer board, why elite athletes never stop training fundamentals, and how land training can benefit your surfing in ways that surfing alone cannot. We discuss paddling, which Taylor considers one of the most important pillars of surfing, and why neglecting it can stifle your progression. He also gives a detailed breakdown of the twinzer model, why it sits in its own category between a twin and a quad, and what makes it such a fun setup coming off a longboard. 
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters01:23 Welcome & Intro to Taylor Jensen 02:05 The Secret to Throwing Buckets (Dad Bod & Big Feet) 02:49 Longboard Philosophy & Rail Surfing 04:28 Traditional vs. High Performance Longboarding 06:34 What Makes High Performance Longboarding Look Great 08:39 How to Carve on Longer Boards: Patience, Placement & Rails 11:03 Reading Waves on Mid-Lengths & Longboards 13:31 The Internal Battle: Switching Between Traditional & HP Longboarding 15:58 Training for World Titles: Physical & Mental Game 17:38 Drilling Fundamentals on Dry Land (Cross-Stepping & Footwork) 22:58 Why Paddle Power is Non-Negotiable 28:06 How Longboarding Changes the Way You Read Waves 32:42 The Twinzer Explained 37:27 Board Design Deep Dive: TJ Pro Mid vs. Twinzer Mid-Length 41:44 Closing Advice: Diversify Your Equipment & Surf with Intention
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 140k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook

Lessons from Competitive to Creative Surfing w/ Garazi Sánchez

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds. https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
Garazi Sánchez (@garazisanchezsurf)  is a two-time Spanish national champion from the Basque Country who built her career competing on the world stage before finding a whole new relationship with surfing through twin fins and board shaping. In this episode, she opens up about what it truly takes to surf at a high level; from how a serious back injury became the turning point that led to her best results, to why paddle fitness is the foundation that most surfers overlook. She breaks down the mental side of competing, what it feels like to lose the joy of surfing and how she got it back, and shares her honest take on riding twin fins including the one mistake most surfers make when they first get on one. 
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters00:01:20 Introduction: Meet Garazi Sánchez00:02:13 Growing Up Surfing in the Basque Country00:03:30 How the Basque Culture Shaped Her Surfing00:05:10 The Adventure Mindset: Surfing in Unlikely Places00:08:04 The Joy of Watching Beginners Fall in Love with Surfing00:08:52 Competition as a Path to Self-Knowledge00:11:17 Starting Out: Competing in the Basque Country00:16:36 Plateaus, Confidence & Finding Her Footing Internationally00:18:35 Overcoming the Fear of Not Belonging in the Lineup00:22:40 The Back Injury That Changed Everything00:27:39 Training on Land: How It Unlocked Her Best Results00:31:10 The Overlooked Fundamentals: Positioning, Paddling & Pop-Up00:39:28 Coaching Maneuvers: Reading Wave Energy00:45:25 The Shift to Twin Fins & Rediscovering Joy00:52:22 Tips for Riding Twin Fins & Board Design with Lemon Surfboards
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 140k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook

Learning the Details and Big Picture of Surfing w/ Kuio Young

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds. https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
Kuio Young is a Hawaiian competitive surfer and coach who works closely with everyday surfers, and professionals like Carlos Muñoz and Imaikalani Devault. His approach to surfing is simple; he sees it as a ‘dance’, where you work on specific pieces without losing the flow of the whole wave. We also get into why paddle strength and wave-reading is essential and how even high-level surfers benefit from guidance especially when it comes to mindset and board selection. Kuio also shares how his own mindset has shifted away from chasing clips, and more toward surfing as a way to feel free and stay connected to that true sense of glide.
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters02:05: Introduction: Who Is Kuio Young?02:26: The Secret Behind Throwing Massive Spray03:24: How Riding Longer Boards Changed Everything04:17: Board Design Deep Dive: Knifey Outlines & Low Volume08:15: Short Boards vs. Long Boards: Sensation & Creative Freedom11:22: How Kuio Broke Through as a Surfer13:25: Hip Surgery, Physical Limitations & the Road to Recovery17:32: Foundation Training & Taking Care of Your Body19:43: Coaching Philosophy: Compartmentalization vs. the Full Dance21:40: How to Read the Ocean & Build a Better Bottom Turn26:01: Coaching Carlos Munoz & Imai: What Elite Surfers Actually Need34:15: Common Mistakes & Instant Game-Changers for Developing Surfers36:42: The Doug Silva Relationship: Coaching Styles Compared44:07: Style, Watching Old Surf Footage & Finding Your Glide47:36: Closing Wisdom & Intentions
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 140k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook

Designing Edge Boards for Speed and Control w/ Saint Christopher Edgeboards

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds. https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
New York–based shaper, Saint Christoper is pushing the envelope on Edge board design. We discuss how and why his boards create such a noticeable difference in performance. We start with the core question, “What is the Edge?” and break down the design principles behind concaves, reduced planing surfaces, and dual rockers that lead to effortless speed generation and the ability to hold a higher line for longer. We get into how to harness and design for speed through fin innovation, tail rocker, and experimental asymmetrical outlines. We also discuss Christopher’s experience not surfing for months before a trip to Nicaragua, used only the Basis Paddle Trainer in preparation, was able to surf for 5-6 hrs a day, and why building your ‘engine’ is just as important as dialing in your equipment. Tune in to learn about design, speed, and how to manipulate these elements to make the most out of your time in the water. 
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters02:05 Meet Edge Board Shaper Saint Christopher03:01 The First Time Seeing an Edge Board Fly04:38 The Origin of Edge Boards George Greenough06:21 Convex vs Concave Surfboard Bottoms Explained09:22 Why Edge Boards Are So Fast11:36 How Edge Boards Hold a Higher Line13:12 ASYM Edge Boards Toe vs Heel Design16:15 Why Edge Boards Work in Fast Beach Breaks18:53 Surface Area Drag and Speed21:03 What Riding an Edge Board Feels Like24:42 How to Control Edge Board Speed27:04 New Fin Designs That Change Everything31:09 Outline Design Short Boards Fish and Simmons37:10 Designing Surfboards Around Your Stance41:05 Training Paddle Power for Surf Trips 
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 140k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook

Skeptical Landlocked Surfer 4Xs his Wavecount w/ Aaron Buckner

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds. https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
In this episode, 52-year-old Aaron Buckner shares how he went from 365 pounds, morbidly obese, and barely able to surf, to logging two-hour sessions in overhead waves and quadrupling his wave count. A few years ago at Kaisers in Waikiki, he paddled out, caught one wave, and was so gassed he couldn’t surf again for two days. Landlocked in Idaho and frustrated by “one wave and done” sessions, he was skeptical when he first saw the Basis Paddle Trainer. But after finally giving it a shot, and barely lasting five minutes on his first workout, he committed to structured training three to four days a week. Eight months later, he’s surfing seven days straight, holding his own in overhead C-Street, double-overhead South Bay, and even the North Shore, catching 2–4x more waves per session. By improving his paddle power and positioning, he’s getting into waves earlier, fixing his pop-up timing, and progressing again instead of just surviving sessions, proving that with the right foundation, decline isn’t inevitable.
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters01:39 Introduction to Aaron Buckner02:17 Aaron’s Background and Move to Idaho02:27 From 365 Pounds to a New Surfing Goal04:25 Why Paddle Training Became Essential06:21 The Hawaii Paddle Out Wake Up Call08:02 Returning to Kaisers With Real Paddle Power09:39 Initial Skepticism About the Paddle Trainer11:04 The Moment He Decided to Buy12:10 First Workout Reality Check14:18 Building a Paddle Training Routine15:13 From 5 Minutes to 30 Minute Paddle Sessions17:45 Surfing Bigger Waves With Confidence19:27 Surf Trips That Were Once Impossible22:36 Technique Feedback and Community
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 140k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook

I PISSED OFF THE CORELORD (HE WALKED OUT ME) w/ That Surf Guy John West

🔥 Get your FREE personalized 2-4X wavecount training plan in under 30 seconds. https://surfbasis.com/pages/trainingplan
This episode features John West, also known as @thatsurfguy_ , the surfer behind the Corelord character and the @citypro.app . We dig into what makes someone kook or core, blending satire with serious insight. John breaks down how localism works, why regulation still has a place in some lineups, and shares his own story of getting regulated. We also get into common mistakes beginners make, how surf culture has changed, and what it really takes to improve. He also explains how his CitiPro app is making pro-level video feedback accessible to everyday surfers.
Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down volume, video library and newsletter
Chapters01:22 Meet the Core Lord01:47 Kook or Core Rapid Fire02:30 The Champion Mentality03:21 Earning Respect in the Lineup03:58 Practice and Sending It04:16 Born Core04:44 Why is the Core Lord So Angry06:01 Enter John West07:31 Localism Then vs Now09:34 Beginner Spot Selection11:04 Chaos vs Order in the Lineup15:27 Kook Stories and Getting Burned18:01 Social Media and Real Life Confrontations21:37 Keys to Surf Progression29:58 Building the CitiPro App and Surf Entrepreneur Journey
Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!
Join our community of over 100k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube:
Basis Instagram
Basis TikTok
Basis Facebook