Basis Surf Podcast

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Brazilian big wave surfer Raquel Heckert shares her inspiring journey from surfing in Brazil to competing in Hawaii's XL waves like Jaws, Waimea, and Pipeline. She discusses her transition to big wave surfing and how to manage fear in heavy waves and hold-downs using positivity, faith, and dedication. Raquel also offers tips for chasing tubes, navigating competitive lineups, and the significance of paddle endurance in big wave surfing. 
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Chapters00:00 Raquel Heckert: A Journey from Brazil to Big Waves02:44 Overcoming Challenges in Surfing05:51 The Evolution of a Big Wave Surfer08:38 Surfing Puerto Escondido: A New Challenge11:41 Navigating Fear in Heavy Waves14:50 The Mental Game of Big Wave Surfing22:11 The Mental Game of Surfing24:27 Navigating Crowded Lineups as a Woman28:22 The Importance of Paddling in Big Wave Surfing30:17 Transitioning from Brazil to Hawaii34:32 Goals and Aspirations in Surfing36:04 Technique Breakthroughs and Learning40:51 Reflections on Dedication and Balance43:18 Intentions Behind Surfing
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!
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer. Shipping globally now at https://www.surfbasis.com/ 
In this episode, we have two-time world surfing champion Tom Carroll sharing insights on surf technique, wave reading, and building a relationship with the ocean. He talks about the value in surfing different conditions, good and bad, the delicate balance between intuition and analytical thinking, and the benefits of staying physically fit and having proper equipment for maintaining performance, especially as you get older. He also offers advice for younger surfers and shares details on his upcoming retreats focused on breathwork for surfers.
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction: The Ocean as a Teacher00:51 Paddle Power and the Basis Trainer01:52 Framing the Conversation: Surfing, Technique and Longevity02:40 Building Wave Knowledge Over a Lifetime05:27 Fear in Surfing and Early Experiences07:58 Surf Everything: Learning in All Conditions10:35 Equipment Evolution and Staying Curious14:24 Wave Reading: Intuition vs Analysis18:47 Developing a Mental Map of Waves23:19 Observing and Learning from Other Surfers25:03 Drills: Finding the Perfect Line29:55 The Roundhouse Cutback Drill32:25 Favorite Boards for Crappy Waves37:22 Training for Longevity and Recovery42:21 Final Reflections and Upcoming Retreats
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!
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer. Shipping globally now at https://www.surfbasis.com/ 
André Gioranelli from Wet Surf Training breaks down the cultural differences in surfing, highlighting the relentless work ethic of Brazilian surfers. He also dives into a holistic approach to  surf coaching which blends fitness, nutrition, and mental prep altogether. André explains how learning to adapt to different surf conditions and practicing with Carver Skateboards can improve your surfing skills dramatically, while also calling out common misconceptions in surf instruction.
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Chapters00:36 Paddle Power and Training Tools01:12 Meet Coach Andre Eira02:34 Why Brazilians Dominate Pro Surfing05:41 Training Beyond the Water10:37 The Fire to Compete16:06 Surfing as Sport vs. Lifestyle18:41 Andre’s Holistic Coaching Approach23:11 What Slows Progress in Surfing29:25 Custom Training for Different Waves33:02 How to Train as a Santa Cruz Surfer34:58 Using Surf Skates to Train Style37:54 Coaching Style and Correcting Bad Habits45:33 Ego vs. Coachability50:29 What Surf Instruction Often Gets Wrong56:41 Final Thoughts, Reflections, and Advice
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:
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer www.surfbasis.com
In this episode Coach Ryan Croteau ( @coachcrouton_ ) joins me in talking about the secret of doing the perfect backside snap, the importance of angling your takeoff, why committing on taking off on a wave is safer than hesitating, and the value in paddle training. 
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:53 The Wave Pool Experience
04:21 The Importance of Angling your Takeoff
06:11 Importance of Reading the Ocean
09:12 Perks of Learning from Beach Breaks
15:11 Tips for Surfing Beach Breaks
17:02 Coaching in Guatemala
21:58 Surfing Pascuales
24:11 Paddle Hard and Commit to Get Tubed
26:14 Tips for Managing Fear in Surfing
31:19 Reviving Power Surfing
35:30 The Importance of Paddle Training
40:54 Lightbulb Moments in Surfing Technique
44:24 The Secret to Doing Backside Snaps
46:13 Surfing for Longevity
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:
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer www.surfbasis.com 
In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have Malachy and Mark of Burnd Sunscreen. We’ll be talking about the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens, the science behind them, and we are going to dive into how safe sunscreen is for us and the environment. They will also share their insights on what is the best sunscreen for surfers, and the actual meaning behind “Reef Safe”.
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Chapters02:26 Surfers and Sunburn: Why This Is a Bigger Deal Than You Think04:19 How Skin Cancer Took Surfers Out of the Water06:04 What Makes a Sunscreen Actually Work?10:06 The Myth of Thick, Caked-On Sunscreen12:31 Why Clear Sunscreens Might Protect Better14:17 How Chemical Sunscreens Work (and Are They Safe?)21:36 “Reef Safe” Doesn’t Mean What You Think24:28 Why Most Sunscreen Labels Are Misleading26:08 What’s in Burned Sunscreen and Why It’s Different35:56 Burned vs Other Brands42:30 Real-World Protection: What Lasts in the Water?52:59 Where to Find Burned + Final Thoughts
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:
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer. Shipping globally now at https://www.surfbasis.com/ 
In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have top high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais. He’s worked with Carissa Moore, who won gold in Tokyo, and has coached a lot of top athletes, including the Seattle Seahawks during their Super Bowl run. We talk about what he learned working with Carissa, Caroline Marks’ mental approach, how Mick Fanning stays sharp, and how Kai Lenny manages fear.
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Chapters01:58 Working with Team USA for the Olympic Tokyo 2020 Games03:35 How Losing Became a Highlight07:30 The Mental Framework Behind Winning and Losing15:05 Fear of Other People’s Opinion21:11 Strategies for Coming Back to the Present Moment28:47 Key Lessons with Carissa Moore33:50 Key Lessons from Mick Fanning37:17 Three Practices to Increase Awareness43:10 Excessive Worrying is the Problem45:28 How Kai Lenny Tackles Fear 51:21 Ask Questions and Know That You’ll Be Fine
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:
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer. Shipping globally now at https://www.surfbasis.com/ 
In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have Barton Lynch—former world champ, Pipe Master, WSL commentator, and coach. He’s worked with pros like Sally Fitzgibbons, Kolohe Andino, and Team Australia at the ISA Games, but he also spends a lot of time helping everyday surfers. We get into the mental side of surfing—learning to trust your intuition, getting out of your own way, and surfing for the feeling. We also break down vertical backside re-entries, style, and how his drive came from a mix of total desperation and then learning to not care at all.
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Chapters02:10 Key to Success in Pipe Masters: Desperation07:40 Passion as a Motivator09:15 You Fail for a Living10:30 Value and Commit to Yourself11:25 Story with Kelly Slater14:10 Make Yourself Happy and Help Others16:15 Light-bulb Moments Back in the Day21:04 Video as a Tool23:34 On Mastering Vertical Backside Reentries26:15 Shift from Competitive Surfing to Coaching27:30 Emotions When Coaching30:35 No One Approach Always Works31:07 Learning from Surrender32:35 Competing Against Tom Curren34:40 If You Can’t Imagine It You Can’t Do It35:45 On Style and Surfing for the Feeling38:34 Drill: Surfing in First Gear with 50% Energy39:55 You Need to Mentally Rehearse It44:33 Method Acting and Surfing46:26 The Intelligence that Comes from Feeling48:58 Stop and Be Grateful55:24 Relying on Intuition59:56 Surfing or Me?01:02:37 Surfing Video Game
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:
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer. Shipping globally now at https://www.surfbasis.com/ 
In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have Michael Frampton of the Surf Mastery Podcast talk about the fundamentals of surfing, mastering how to read waves, his philosophy on surfing, the importance of paddling, and the advantages of meditation in surfing.
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Chapters
02:03 Looking for the Details in The Wave
07:05 Be More Present
10:29 The Foundation of Surfing
11:11 Surfing is Just Advanced Basics
16:23 Develop Your Own Personal Surfing Philosophy 
18:03 Technique is Secondary
19:15 Stress Affects Surfers of All Levels
26:05 Surfing is More of an Artform Than a Sport
31:02 Surfing Longboards Helps with Adaptability
36:17 The Shame Factor Hinders You
39:09 Board Choice is Crucial for Progression
39:40 Clean Up Your Technique with Dryland Training
41:20 Surfing as Martial Arts
44:43 Getting the Fundamentals of Surfing Right
48:08 Surfing is a Long-term Relationship
52:30 Online Courses at surfmastery.com
53:53 Light-bulb Moment for Technique
54:43 Light-bulb Moment for Boards/Fins
55:26 Intention While Surfing
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:
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer www.surfbasis.com 
In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have one of the most forward-thinking board designers in surfing, Daniel Thomson (@tomo_surfboards). We talk about how his planing hull designs are flipping traditional surfboard logic on its head, the evolution of boards like the Vader, Cymatic, and brand-new Neutrino, why most surfers are riding boards that are holding them back. This episode is packed with tips for surfers who want to ride faster, paddle stronger, and rethink their equipment from the foam up.
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Chapters
02:45 Design Influences for Tomo Surfboards
05:54 Revolutionize Surfboard Design for Everybody
08:19 Advantages of Planing Hulls Over Pointy-Nose Thrusters
13:31 Planing Huls: Hold/Grip Factor Relies More on the Total Length of Your Edge
14:42 Kelly Slater Surfing Hale'iwa on 5’3” Cymatic
18:09 Sci-Fi Shape Blends Planing Hulls with Pointy Nose
20:44 New Board Design with Kelly Slater
25:41 What It’s Like Working with Kelly Slater
28:55 Goals with the Revo Max
31:22 Mini-midlengths
36:32 First Twin Fin Setup
37:35 New Upcoming Shape: The Neutrino
41:08 How To Size Boards
42:37 The Underarm Test for Rails
44:07 Too Attached to How Boards Look Than How They Feel
46:09 Tips for Surfing His Shapes
47:58 Intention When Surfing
48:53 What Board to Bring If You Were Stranded on an Island
49:11 Vader V2 vs His Other Shapes
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:
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer. Shipping globally now at https://www.surfbasis.com/ 
In this episode, Van Vu—founder of the Basis Surf Podcast and the Basis Paddle Trainer—talks about his journey as a surfer obsessed with improving his surfing in this interview with Michael Frampton of the Surf Mastery Podcast. He shares how rushing to shortboards stalled his progress, and how returning to longer boards, focusing on fundamentals, and building paddle fitness transformed his surfing. Van also explains why paddle power is the biggest bottleneck for most surfers and how more reps—not flashy turns—are the real key to progression. The conversation dives deep into technique, board choice, coaching perspectives, and why catching more waves is the fastest way to improve.
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Chapters
02:23 Earliest Surfing Memory
05:37 First Time Shortboarding
09:00 Don’t Size Down Too Quickly
13:25 Sizing Down in a Thoughtful Manner
16:00 From Riding a Pickup Truck to an F1 Car
19:30 Inspiration for Starting the Basis Surf Podcast
22:13 Lessons Learned from Starting the Podcast
27:28 Surf Coaching is Still at Its Infancy
30:14 Learn through Brute Volume
33:24 You Need to Catch More Waves
36:00 Inspiration for the Basis Paddle Trainer
38:00 Maintaining the Arched Prone Position While Paddling
41:00 The Biggest Resource Is Your Time
43:15 2x-8x Your Wave Count 
47:30 Surfing as a Pyramid
49:10 Paddle Power of Pro Surfers vs Beginners
51:45 It’s a Game of Years
54:12 Discount Code
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!
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