In part one of a two part podcast, Richie chats about how he got into surfing and subsequently competing. Richie also discusses the highs and lows of life qualifying for and competing on the world tour and what it was like competing against Kelly Slater amongst some of the other best surfers in the world. Richie shares how his competitive career was cut short with a health scare that almost claimed his life, and also how his competitive career almost didn't start due to a tsunami that hit while on a surf trip to G-Land with mates that almost took his life. Part two we discuss Richie's boards/shapers he worked with on tour, and what it's been like designing and surfing boards after tour to adapt to his surfing as he progressed from a point of not surfing.