The shaper behind DHD surfboards Darren Handley joins the pod to talk about the 2023 season, his backstory, and the Vissla CT Shaper Rankings. He shares his observations from the season so far, discusses Ethan Ewing and developing his team of highly-acclaimed surfers, finding new talent, and the difference between the boards made for each stop on the Championship Tour. He tells the story of his journey through shaping, growing up at Kirra, where he started, working with Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson, starting to shape for Stephanie Gilmore, the 2019 fire at his factory, and celebrating World Titles. Finally, he dives into the Shaper Rankings, the surprises so far this year, and the friendly rivalry and banter between all the shapers.

Learn more about Darren and follow him here.
Watch the Surf City El Salvador Pro pres by Corona live June 9-18
Head to factormeals.com/lineup50 and use code lineup50 to get 50% off your first box.
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.
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EP 156: Darren Handley - DHD Surfboards, Developing his team of Championship Tour stars, Working with Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore, Finding new talents, The Vissla CT Shaper Rankings, and Compet

World Surf League’s Dave Prodan breaks things down with influential figures from all across the surf landscape. Hear their behind-the-scenes stories and unfiltered opinions to get a deeper sense of who they are and how they’ve influenced the sport and culture of surfing.

Sports

WSL Commentator Kaipo Guerrero joins the podcast to give the stories from the ground in Tahiti. 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 the mouths of those closest to the action on the ground. In today’s episode, Kaipo talks to us about the anticipation for a significant upcoming swell en route for Teahupo’o, the fearless performances from the younger athletes in the draw, and the unparalleled experience by the veterans who have competed at this renowned location for years. Kaipo and Dave reflect on Tahitian history, Kaipo’s early experiences with the wave, and how it has changed over the years. They dive into the danger of this wave, the growing importance of wearing helmets in waves of consequences, and Kaipo’s favorites currently in the competition. Be sure to catch all the action on worldsurfleague.com and the WSL App.

Follow Kaipo here.
Stay tuned to the action at the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented By Outerknown, May 27 - 31.
Stay up to date with the Vissla CT Shaper 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.
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EP 193: ON THE ROAD w/ Kaipo Guerrero - The vibes on the ground in Tahiti, Anticipation for a significant swell on the way, Day 1 insight, The mythology and history of Teahupo’o, Standouts of the even

France’s very own Johanne Defay is back on The Lineup podcast. Johanne talks about the incredible start to her 2024 CT season in comparison to her 2023 season. She discusses her mentality and her training in preparation for the rest of the year as well as for Tahiti and the Olympic Games. Johanne gets candid about how much Teahupo’o frightens her and how imperative it is to put in your time there to be successful. She and Dave dive into her partnership with Samsung, the film they worked on together, and why she wanted to work with them. Johanne discusses the Tour, how it has changed for her over the years, what she likes and doesn’t like about it, and how she is managing being the surfer’s rep this year. They round out the conversation by looking ahead to what’s next for Johanne, her taking business school online, and her love of competing. They finish the podcast answering listener questions and the quick-answer Lightning Round.

Learn more about Johanne and follow her here.
Stay tuned for the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown, May 22 - May 31. 
Stay up to date with the Vissla CT Shaper 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.
And watch The Next Wave here presented by Samsung Galaxy out now!
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EP 192: Johanne Defay - Her incredible 2024 CT season, Her mentality heading into the rest of the season and the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Putting time in Tahiti, Joining Team Samsung Galaxy and featu

Welcome back four-time repeater guest, Jack Robinson, to The Lineup! Dave and Jack jump into the biggest changes since his last appearance, having a baby boy, how fatherhood affects him as a competitor and otherwise, and how he manages his time now. Jack talks about working with both Arakawa and Sharp Eye surfboards and the trust built over the years to be able to switch between boards. Jack recaps his early season win at Sunset this year, and his mindset heading into the 2024 CT Season. He and Dave dive into his partnership with Samsung and his decision to join Team Samsung Galaxy. They discuss the surf documentary that Jack is featured heavily in and Samsung is producing, designed to spotlight and celebrate surfing and the surfing community on the Road to Paris 2024. They reflect on the importance of openness and being a global citizen and how that has helped him as a competitor all across the globe. They close on what’s next for Jack, touching on surfing Cloudbreak later in the year and the WSL Finals, before answering instagram questions and the infamous Lightning Round.


Learn more about Jack and follow him here.
Watch the GWM Syndey Surf Pro Presented by Bonsoy, May 9 - 16
Catch Jack return to Teahupo’o for back-to-back titles at the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknown, May 22 - May 31.
Stay up to date with the Vissla CT Shaper 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.
And watch The Next Wave here presented by Samsung Galaxy out now!
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EP 191: Jack Robinson - Signing to Team Samsung Galaxy, featuring in their new surf doc, The Next Wave, Fatherhood, The 2024 WSL CT season and the Olympic Games Paris 2024, The importance of breathwor

Cooly Kid and 2003 Quicksilver Gold Coast Pro Champ, Dean “Dingo” Morrison, joins us on the pod. Dingo unwraps his celebrated heat with FISHER and friends at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, what it’s like competing against high-level surfers and World Champs, and Snapper’s return to the Championship Tour. They unwind the clock, discussing Dingo’s upbringing and tumultuous childhood, how Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew took him under his wing and changed the course of his life, how he dealt with the limelight and imposter syndrome as an one of the ascending “Cooly Kids” alongside Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson, and his own bout with addiction. He talks about his healing, how Mick was there for him during his time of need, and how he pays it forward with his own brand Youthh. Dingo discusses being the first Maori surfer on tour and reconnecting back to his roots before answering Instagram questions and closing out the pod with The Lightning Round.

Follow Dingo here.
Learn more about Dingo’s work with Youthh here.
Catch up on Finals Day from the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM.
Stay tuned to the second Challenger Series Event, GWM Sydney Surf Pro Presented by Bonsoy, May 9 - May 16.
Stay up to date with the Vissla CT Shaper 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.

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EP 190: Dean “Dingo” Morrison - Surfing the FISHER and Friends heat at Snapper, Fatherhood, Competing against Mick and Parko, Overcoming addiction, How Rabbit changed his life, and Paying it forward w

1978 World Champion, WSL Commentator, and one of the Founders of the ASP/WSL, Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew joins us for the inaugural episode of The Lineup podcast’s, On The Road Series. 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 behind-the-scenes from the mouths of those closest to the action on the ground. In today's episode, Bugs and Dave chat about the Challenger Series season opener, the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, standouts of the event so far, and how the wave at Snapper brings out the best in everyone’s surfing. They talk about the region of Coolangatta as one of the most potent real world experiments as a World Champion breeding ground, with the location being a home to elite surfers like WSL’s first World Champion, Peter Townend, Chelsea Hedges, Stephanie Gilmore, Mick Fanning, and world-renowned shapers like Darren Handley and Jason Stevenson. They discuss the area and history of the Tweed River Sand Bypass and how Australia is pushing for legislation to protect its surf zones and surf breaks. Dave and Rabbit dive even deeper by discussing Bugs' autobiography, Bustin’ Down the Door, and the incredible documentary of the same name, and how the surfer’s of his generation influenced the progression of our high-octane modern day competitive surfing. Dave and Bugs bring it all together by coming back to Snapper and its integration back into the Championship Tour in 2025, the mindset of battle-hardened surfers relegated to the CS vs the momentum of the up-and-coming regional qualifiers, and calling the World Champions heat between ‘99 World Champ Mark Occhilupo, 2012 World Champ Joel Parkinson, 3x World Champ Mick Fanning, 8x World Champ Stephanie Gilmore, and 11x World Champ Kelly Slater. Finally, they close out the pod by discussing what boards the surfers have been riding, fins being the last frontier, and Bugs’ bold predictions for the men’s and women’s World Champion this year.

Follow Rabbit here.
Watch the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, Apr 27 - May 4.
Stay up to date with the Vissla CT Shaper 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.

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EP 189: Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew - Snapper’s return to the CT in 2025, Standouts from the event, Coolangatta as a World Champ breeding ground, Calling the World Champions heat, and Bugs’ bold predic

EP 156: Darren Handley - DHD Surfboards, Developing his team of Championship Tour stars, Working with Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore, Finding new talents, The Vissla CT Shaper Rankings, and Compet

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