This next episode is an insightful and astute conversation with Rachel Dickens, co-founder of Canada’s Indigenous youth surf team ‘Mułaa’, an organisation rebuilding the indigenous youth’s connection to their ancestral waters through surf and the joy of riding waves.

Rachel is also a Health Care Professional specialising as a diabetic dietician within First Nation communities. As a mixed ancestry indigenous women herself, Rachel uses ‘food as medicine’ to actively engage with Indigenous food systems.

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First up in our Canadian mini series, and after a long time waiting, we finally met with master craftsman, Mark McInnis. Recognised as one of the first surf photographers to really ply his trade in the Pacific Northwest, Mark has gone on to establish himself over a 13 year plus career as one of the most respected surf photographers out there. His work synonymous with cold, hostile, often snowcapped environments.

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A reactive and insightful episode to coincide with their Kickstarter campaign, we speak with Director Lewis Arnold and Writer Chris Nelson on the environmental surf film of the moment, The Big Sea.  

The Big Sea is an independent, investigative documentary exploring the toxic nature of wetsuits, the true human cost of neoprene production and surfing’s link to Cancer Alley. 

To learn more about the film and for ways to get involved yourself, head on over to https://thebigsea.org

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Lucas Beaufort, a self-described dreamer, living in a world surrounded by beautiful monsters, Lucas’ distinctive artwork explores the connections mirroring his own affinity with the world and people around him. From his interwoven net-like murals to ‘Gus Gus’, the playful character who wanders the world experiencing all without seeing or judging, we worked closely with Lucas to adorn the range with bespoke designs, exclusive to the collaboration.

In celebration of his work and creative output, we had Lucas down in Cornwall with us back in July - a few days on the cliff with the Finisterre crew and the rest of the thriving Cornish creative crowd. We hosted one of Lucas’ inspired art camps, inviting a host of local art-smiths to put brush to canvas to beautiful effect. All topped off nicely with a bit of a knees up, a glass of savvy b and some pétanque - a big thanks to all who came by and revelled in the art and counter culture with us.

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A strong connection to the ocean, growing up between London and the south coast of England. Harry Potter series. What we can all do in our day to day lives. Climate anxiety. Def.

An inspiring and approachable tip-filled guide to changing your habits, living more sustainably, and taking action, by Greenpeace ambassador Bonnie Wright.

In Go Gently, Bonnie won’t tell you to overhaul your life. Instead, she’ll meet you where you are, offering a crash course in climate-related issues along with practical tips, skills, and recipes that can start you on your own best path. She’ll show you that small things like educating yourself on which materials can be recycled, and how learning to mend your clothes instead of throwing them away or turning your coffee grounds into an incredible exfoliating scrub, will naturally lead to big-picture thinking and living.

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After 16 years as the Surfrider Foundation’s Environmental Director, Dr Chad Nelsen was the obvious choice when selecting their next CEO. An activist, campaigner, family man and avid waterman he brings insight and experience to the fight to protect our ocean playgrounds

The Surfrider Foundation USA is a U.S. 501c grassroots non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves and beaches. It focuses on water quality, beach access, beach and surf spot preservation, and sustaining marine and coastal ecosystems.

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Next up in our Californian Omnibus we met with Christian Beamish – Surfer, Shaper, Sailor and Writer, Christian is somewhat of an underground yet widely known stalwart of the surfing world. Calling the likes of the Malloy brothers, Greg Long and others close friends.  

A lifelong devotee of surf, frequenting waves from Ireland to France and the Philippines plus countless others off the beaten track accessible to him whilst serving in the U.S. Navy – Christian has quietly dedicated his life to the sea.  

More thoroughly accounted for was his solo sail from San Diego down through Baja in his self-constructed boat, beautifully retold in ‘Voyage of the Cormorant – memoir of a changeable sea’. 

A line of sight crossing and self-reliant exploration for surf – one that saw him sleeping under canvas tarp whist anchored up to the kelp beds, surfing and fishing in pristine ocean with no one around and lentil and coffee rations as he lived by the weather systems in an 18foot open boat. 

The book not just about the sailing and the people he met along the way but a wonderful account of an inner and outer journey. There are few people able to write about surf in a way that speaks to a wider audience, William Finnegan always comes to mind, but Christian is certainly another. Something that no doubt comes through years of experience as associate editor of the revered Surfers Journal. 

In sitting down, we spoke about stoking the fire for adventure, night surfing and deep-water surf,  

board shaping and boat building and went off on a few other tangents you’ll come to hear. 

Ill add, we were sat in the showroom behind Christians shaping bay so you will hear some 
background chatter and a cameo from Chrstians daughter halfway through… 

So here we go, Episode 18 of Hell or High Water with Christian Beamish – Boats, Boards and Baja. 

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Welcome back… thanks for tuning in as we find ourselves in steady flow of new episodes.

Thinking on this next one in our California omnibus, it would be fair to say that in a time where just about every outrageous human endeavor or era defining accomplishment has been done - one where you need to climb not one but 14 peaks to get into the record books, it becomes rarer and rarer that first ascents or descents, circumnavigations or pole to pole expeditions are celebrated.

Our guest for episode 17 is one of those rare people. In this instance, a first descent of a moving mountain from 20+ years ago, but arguably more relevant now than ever. Sarah Gerhardt was the first woman to surf the wave Mavericks in California’s Half Moon Bay.

A wave described as a ‘flat out kick ass wave that will pulverise you if you’re not on your toes”.

A wave that has launched the careers of surfers, photographers and many others, giving some the rides of their lives, but also a wave that has taken lives, remembering the great Mark Foo.

A wave that for 15 years was ridden alone by one man, Jeff Clarke before it was discovered by the big wave surfing community. 

It was Sarah Gerhardt however who braved these cold, dark, sharky waters dominated by a cold, unwelcoming crowd to paddle herself into the history books. What followed was instant fame and recognition but also instant backlash from the surfing community itself. From all appearances though Sarah took it in her stride, focusing on what was important and surrounding herself with a tight knit crew of peers - paddling against the flow when others wouldn’t.

We spoke on the madness of overnight acclaim to earning your stripes and navigating a male dominated line up. The intersection of science and sport and the journey of equity in women’s big wave surfing.

So here we go, Episode 17 of Hell or High Water with Sarah Gerhardt – Mavericks Maverick

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For Episode 2 of this California Mini Series - we sat down with Nik Strong-Cvetich, CEO of Save The Waves Coalition. Founded in 2003, its Mission Objective is to protect surfing ecosystems around the world - where surfing provides a vehicle for long-term coastal conservation. One way in which they do this is by instating some of the beautiful, accessible and often under-threat areas of our coastlines as World Surfing Reserves - Areas recognised as having key environmental, cultural and economic attributes to costal communities.

To date there are 12 recognised World Surfing Reserves around the globe, most recently North Devon having been announced as the 12th thanks to the work of local surfers, businesses and organisations like STW.

As we sit down with many experts and people of this persuasion on the show, its becomes more apparent the type of character and grit required to tackle the countless obstacles and curves balls that are rife in this line of work.

Nik Strong-Cvetich - Strong by name, Strong by nature appears to take this all in his stride. A dogged determination and a steely disposition, Nik and his team are currently firing on all cylinders as the ocean space and coastal ecosystem holds the worlds attention more than ever before. 

Nik is a passionate surfer himself, go figure, and a true Santa Cruz local - he is also a family man and without speaking for him, it’s clear that he is motivated to do the work he does to protect and preserve the beautifully raw and rugged home coastland for his children's future too.

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Moving from San Francisco down to San Diego through some of the countries most epic coastal communities we caught up with cold water swimmers, ocean activists, big wave pioneers and more as we looked to bring you more stories from the sea to inspire and protect what we love.

As we touched down in San Fran, we took no time at all in getting in the cold waters of the Bay Area. There wasn’t a better person to show us the local spots than the incredible Bonnie Tsui (Soy) - swimmer, surfer, mother and author of the fascinating book, Why We Swim.

We spoke with Bonnie on her introduction to the life altering practice of ocean swimming, her journey to becoming a surfer, water and wellbeing, the ongoing issues of inequality and access to swimming and how getting in the sea can even cure stupidity!

So sliding right into our conversation… here we go. Episode 15 with Bonnie Tsui - Why We Swim / Why We Surf

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