Luca Padua grew up in Half Moon Bay, California, just a few miles from one of the most intimidating waves on Earth: Mavericks. At 13 years old, he became the youngest person to ever surf it and he’s spent the years since becoming one of the standout surfers in the lineup.

But Luca’s connection to Mavericks started even earlier. As a kid, he was an extra in Chasing Mavericks, the film about Jay Moriarity, before eventually following a strangely similar path himself: finding mentors in the big wave community and dedicating his life to understanding the wave in his backyard.

In this episode, we sit down with Luca to talk about growing up around Mavericks, surfing it for the first time at 13, Great White Sharks and the wildlife you encounter in Northern California, and what it takes to stay calm when the ocean starts doing things most people would rather watch from land.

We also get into the historic December 23, 2024 swell at Mavericks, a day that pushed the wave into territory few had ever seen and produced some of the biggest rides in the history of the break.

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Annie Reickert is a Maui-born big wave surfer and all-around waterwoman who has built her life around pushing what’s possible in the ocean. Growing up on Maui, Annie started surfing as a kid and eventually found her way into some of the heaviest waves in the world.

At 18, she made her debut in the WSL Jaws Big Wave Championship at Peʻahi, finishing third against some of the best big wave surfers in the world. Since then, she’s won the 2022 Big Wave Award for Women’s Biggest Paddle, become the first woman to foil across the Kaʻiwi Channel, and competed in the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, where she finished as the event’s highest-placed woman.

But Annie’s approach to the ocean goes far beyond big wave surfing. From foiling and winging to SUP racing and open-ocean crossings, she represents a new generation of Hawaiian waterwomen who aren’t defined by a single discipline.

In this episode, we sit down with Annie to talk about growing up on Maui, learning to surf Jaws, the mindset required to perform in heavy water, her evolution as a waterwoman, and where she wants to take it all next.

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Kim Ball is a Maui waterman, entrepreneur, and the founder of HI-Tech Surf Sports, one of Hawaii's most iconic surf shops. After moving to Maui in the 1970s, Kim helped shape the island's surf culture by building HI-Tech into a cornerstone of the local surf community while supporting generations of surfers, shapers, and ocean athletes. His influence extends far beyond retail, with decades spent helping grow surfing on Maui and preserving the island's unique ocean lifestyle. ENJOY! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Kai recounts one of his most wild side quests with fellow Red Bull athlete and friend, Nathan Florence, as they took to the streets in LA to compete in Red Bull Soap Box. The boys also give their predictions on the rumored El Nino season that could bring a historic winter season to Maui's north shore. ENJOY! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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This week we are sitting down with our good friend and lead water-safety driver, OLA CURNAN. Ola's been in the big wave scene since the beginning; experiencing once-in-a-lifetime giant swells as well as helping pioneer big wave foiling. Since becoming our lead rescuer he's gotten us out of some insane situations. Lost jet-skis, horrific wipeouts, insane whitewater escapes, there are some banger stories in this episode. ENJOY! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Connor Baxter is one of the most dominant athletes in the history of stand-up paddle racing. Raised on Maui, he’s built a career defined by endurance, consistency, and an unmatched ability to perform across every discipline—from sprint racing to grueling open ocean crossings.

A multi-time world champion, Connor has spent over a decade at the top of the sport, earning titles on the APP World Tour and ISA World Championships. Known for his relentless work ethic and deep connection to the ocean, he’s helped elevate SUP racing onto the global stage.

In this episode, Connor breaks down what it takes to stay at the top for so long, becoming a Maui fire fighter, the mindset behind elite endurance performance, and his and Kai's legendary rivalry that nearly ended their friendship. ENJOY! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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When is it time to walk away from big waves? We tackle this inevitable topic, break down some big wave lore, and discuss the current state of professional surfing. ENJOY!

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In this episode we sit down with one of the most progressive surfers of our generation — Albee Layer. From redefining what’s possible at Jaws, battling through brutal injuries and coming back stronger, inventing aerial maneuvers, Albee has built a career on pushing boundaries. We dive deep into it all. ENJOY! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Noah Flegel is arguably the world's most exciting wake athlete pushing the next generation of progression on the water. Known for his technical style, power, and creativity, Noah brings a modern approach to wake riding that blends style with all-out commitment. In this episode, we dive into Noah’s journey—how he got started, foiling's roots in the wake world, what it takes to compete at the highest level, the mindset behind progression, and where wake sports are headed next. ENJOY! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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This week the boys recap the latest happenings in the big wave surfing world, how winter has been on Maui so far, how Kai rediscovered high performance longboarding, and whether bodyboarding has become more core than surfing. ENJOY! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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