The Lineup with Dave Prodan - A Surfing Podcast

World title-contender and CT standout, San Clemente’s very own Griffin Colapinto joins us on The Lineup podcast. With three events remaining in the 2026 Championship Tour season, Griffin opens up about his World Title pursuit, the evolution of his competitive mindset, and why he believes you can “win the World Title in the preparation.” He breaks down the pressure of competing at home at Lower Trestles, his best-ever heat at Teahupoʻo, and the lessons he’s learned from putting himself in position to win. Griffin also looks ahead to the final stretch of the season, including Portugal, Cloud9 and the 1.5x-points Pipe Masters, and explains why he believes entering Pipe as the No. 1 seed could be critical to his World Title hopes. He opens up about the level of competition on the CT, learning to embrace mistakes, staying focused on his own surfing, and finding the balance between preparation and simply enjoying the process. Elsewhere, Griffin talks about his brother Crosby’s return to the Challenger Series, the work ethic required to reach the next level, his approach to training, and why more free surfing, filming and surf trips could actually make him a better competitive surfer. Griffin breaks down his new Lost Surfboards signature model, the boards he’s relied on throughout his career, his favorite wave on tour, and more in the lightning round.

Thank you to our sponsor, Pacifico Beer, for making this episode possible.

Learn more about Griffin here and follow him here.

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Rewatch the Lexus Trestles Pro here.

Relive the Banco do Brasil São Sebastião Pro here.

Stay tuned to next Challenger Series event, EDP Ericeira Pro Presented by Xacobeo, Oct 6 - 12 and the next Championship Tour event, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Oct 16 - 25 here.

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The 2026 Championship Tour regular season is officially in the books, and Dave Prodan is joined by WSL commentator and surfing analyst Jesse Starling to break down everything that went down at the Lexus Trestles Pro. Erin Brooks and Miguel Pupo took the wins at Lower Trestles, but the biggest story may be just how much the event reshaped the Championship Tour. From Mateus Herdy’s breakthrough run and Luke Thompson taking down the world No. 1 Leonardo Fioravanti, to the Brazilian storm getting knocked back and Oscar Berry finally finding a breakthrough win, Dave and Jesse dig into the biggest winners, losers and surprises from Trestles. They also unpack Erin Brooks’ incredible three-event winning streak and what it means for the women’s World Title race, Miguel Pupo’s emergence as a legitimate threat on the men’s side, and the high stakes surrounding the surfers who fell below the postseason cut. Dave and Jesse dive into the 2026 Surfboard Empire CT Shaper Rankings presented by VEA, the all-JS men’s final and all-Lost women’s final, the experimental equipment making an appearance at Trestles, and why Lower Trestles continues to be such a fascinating testing ground for new designs. Finally, with the Lexus Pipe Masters worth 1.5x points and qualification on the line, Dave and Jesse look ahead to the surfers who could make a run at requalification and the storylines to continue to watch as the season heads toward the North Shore.

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Relive the Lexus Trestles Pro here.

Stay tuned to the requalification stories with the next Challenger Series event of the season, the Banco do Brasil São Sebastião Pro, Sep 26 - Oct 3rd.

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The last trek across the tracks was well worth the walk to crown Erin Brooks and Miguel Pupo the 2026 Lexus Trestles Pro champs in picturesque conditions at Lower Trestles. 

History was rewritten by Brooks, joining the likes of Stephanie Gilmore with three consecutive CT wins in a single season and launching herself to No. 5 as a proper World Title threat. Then, Pupo’s passion took him all the way atop the podium with relentless excellence from start to finish, culminating in his third CT win. 

The new No. 1 Gabriela Bryan’s power went unmatched in the Quarterfinals, posting a 16.26 heat total over Luana Silva, and regained the Yellow Leaders Jersey ahead of then No. 1 Carissa Moore falling to an unstoppable Brooks. The 19-year-old phenom added a third World Champion to her road to victory at Trestles with Molly Picklum in the Semifinals before catapulting to No. 5 on the ranks.

2025 event finalists, reigning World Champion Yago Dora and Southern California’s own Kanoa Igarashi, commanded their Quarterfinal battles with Igarashi finding excellence over Marco Mignot before matching up with Dora in a grudge match. Igarashi kept surging alongside fellow CT veteran Miguel Pupo, who went next level over Mateus Herdy and Cole Houshmand on the road to his Final matchup against Igarashi where fireworks flew and ultimately crowned Pupo the champ.

Houshmand’s unrivaled power provided a masterclass in the Quarterfinals to post an event-best 18.50 heat total in his all-Southern California clash with Jake Marshall, as Marshall’s efforts were enough to push him to the postseason.

Now, the postseason separates the pack and all focus shifts toward a World Title surge at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Presented by Corona Cero, beginning October 16 through 25 at the famed Supertubos of Peniche.

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Finn McGill joins Dave Prodan on The Lineup for an honest conversation about growing up on Hawaii’s North Shore, chasing the Championship Tour, recovering from a major shoulder injury, and finding balance away from surfing. A former World Junior Champion, QS winner, and longtime North Shore standout, McGill has spent years proving his surfing belongs alongside the world’s best. He opens up about his early rivalry with childhood friend Barron Mamiya, competing against CT surfers like Joel Parkinson from a young age, and translating his powerful, high-speed North Shore surfing to the conditions of the Challenger Series. McGill also breaks down the shoulder injury that abruptly ended his 2026 Challenger Series season, the long road through surgery and rehabilitation, and how injuries have changed his perspective on his career and what it means to be a professional surfer. Finn talks about his relationship with Seager, his deep involvement in surfboard design, growing up skating and surfing, his love of dirt biking, and why stepping away from surfing can actually make him a better surfer.

Learn more about Finn McGill here and follow him here.

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Stay tuned to the Lexus Trestle Pro, Sep 11 - 20.

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WSL commentator Mitchell Salazar joins Dave Prodan to break down the recently completed Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero and preview the Lexus Trestles Pro. Mitch and Dave dive into Cole Houshmand and Erin Brooks’ season-changing victories at Cloudbreak, Brooks’ historic perfect 10, Gabriel Medina’s growing momentum in the World Title race, and the surfers trending up and down following the Championship Tour’s Pacific Leg. The conversation moves beyond the results as the duo examines the latest Surfboard Empire CT Shaper Rankings, …Lost Surfboards’ continued dominance, and the equipment experimentation that could unfold at Lower Trestles. They wrap up the episode by looking ahead to the Lexus Trestles Pro, breaking down the pressure surrounding the men’s and women’s cut lines, and predicting which surfers could keep their Championship Tour seasons alive at Southern California’s famed high-performance playground.

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Cloudbreak saved some of its best for last and delivered an iconic Finals Day at the Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero, crowning Cole Houshmand and Erin Brooks the champs.

After another iconic run at Cloudbreak, Brooks' diamond double earned the Pacific Leg sweep and a second Fiji Pro title. An unfortunate injury in her Semifinal sidelined Isabella Nichols for what would've been fireworks in a Final of friends with Brooks. Now, Brooks sits at No. 8 on the rankings heading to Lower Trestles with a chance to truly put her name in the World Title race.

An unprecedented run from Houshmand earned him a third CT win in three Final appearances, cementing himself across the world with victories at Bells Beach, Brazil, and now Fiji. Houshmand sent himself over the ledge throughout Finals Day, culminating in a masterful performance over one of the best to ever take on Cloudbreak, two-time Fiji Pro winner Gabriel Medina in a Final battle. Houshmand's excellence continued from posting a 9.43 in the Semifinals, to an excellent 8.50 over Medina. An insane exchange witnessed Houshmand's ridiculous power get matched by Medina's magic in the Cloudbreak barrel to post a Perfect 10.

Cloudbreak provided every face it could to test the world's best and was one for the history books.

Now, with a surge from those looking for major points continuing to rise, the hunt for a World Title is heating up every event, and now, it heads for Southern California's high-performance haven of Lower Trestles. Watch the Lexus Trestles Pro LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com beginning September 11 through 20.

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Professional surfer and entrepreneur Koa Smith joins The Lineup with Dave Prodan as guest co-host to break down the recently completed Outerknown Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA. Koa and Dave Prodan dive deep into one of the most challenging events of the 2026 Championship Tour, discussing the wild conditions at Teahupo'o, the rise of the next generation of fearless tube riders, the incredible performances from Seth Moniz, Griffin Colapinto, Kelly Slater, Kelia Gallina and more, and what it takes to truly master one of surfing's most demanding waves. The conversation goes beyond the results, with Koa offering a deep dive into surfboard design and equipment, from his two "magic" boards from JS and working with Sharp Eye to the growing role of alternative shapes, quads and twin fins on the world stage. Koa also shares his perspective on the evolution of women's tube riding, why more surfers are embracing helmets in heavy waves, and the development of his own Knock Surf helmet. Koa opens up about building a career beyond professional competition, applying the lessons he learned from surfing to entrepreneurship, and why today's surfers increasingly have to wear multiple hats to build a sustainable career in the surf world.

Learn more about Koa Smith here and follow Koa here.

Check out the latest gear from Roark here.

Stay plugged in to the latest developments with Koa’s innovative surf helmet, Knock Surf.

Relive the Outerknown Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA, Aug 8-18.

Stay tuned to the Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Aug 25 - Sep 4.

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The End of the Road gave fans everything and more on an insane Finals Day at the Outerknown Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA as Erin Brooks and Seth Moniz rose to Tahitian lore.

Teahupo’o delivered a dreamy Finals Day conclusion to an all-time Tahiti Pro from start to finish. The women’s Final showdown will down in history as one of, if not the best, Final professional surfing could witness at Teahupo’o. 2025 CT Rookie of the Year phenom Erin Brooks and 2026 CT Rookie breakout Anat Lelior battled in the heaving arena with remarkable showings. Lelior had Brooks in an unprecedented position heading into the fading moments of the Final, leaving her in a 16.33 combination situation. But, Brooks fought back and found two incredible barrels, navigating in world-class fashion to post an 8.27 and 8.93 to claim her first-ever win as a full-time CTer, her second-career CT win. 

Brooks’ amazing journey to the Final encompassed reigning World Champion and Tahiti Pro champ, Molly Picklum, and best friend Isabella Nichols before one of the most amazing comebacks in surfing history.

Then, it was a battle of brothers in the men’s Final between Seth Moniz and Griffin Colapinto. Colapinto’s start put Moniz against the ropes, who answered back in a big way to post an excellent 8.50 and then locked into a channel erupting 9.07 to leave Colapinto needing nothing short of perfection. Moniz felt all the love from the dedicated fans in the channel all the way to the end and hoisted his maiden CT glory after a hard-fought seven years on Tour.

Moniz’s road to victory was absurdity. Taking down one of the world’s heaviest chargers in Alan Cleland before toppling 2024 Tahiti Pro winner, and 2019 World Champ, Italo Ferreira, then Colapinto in a massive Final. 

Defiant runs from Ramzi Boukhiam and Italo Ferreira concluded with Semifinal appearances, pushing Ferreira further atop the leaderboard. Boukhiam’s Quarterfinal performance went down as one of his best-career to date as he moves toward Fiji. Plus, breakout results in the 2026 season for Isabella Nichols and CT Rookie Yolanda Hopkins catapulted them into the requalification fight following Semifinal finishes of their own.

The rankings have been rattled and the Pacific Leg is just getting started. A new men’s World No. 1 Italo Ferreira heads into the Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero ready to cement himself atop the rankings as Gabriela Bryan looks to bounce back from an early Tahiti exit and remain in the Yellow Leaders Jersey. 

The CT heads for the dream culture of Bula, and the world-class reef of Cloudbreak, beginning August 25 - September 4 where family, the ocean, and beauty meet.

Relive the Outerknown Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA here.

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Master shaper, Coronado native, and lifelong surfer, Dan Mann, joins Dave Prodan on The Lineup to pull back the curtain on a career that has taken him from shaping his first boards in the 1990s to working alongside Kelly Slater, Firewire and Slater Designs on some of the most refined high-performance surfboards in the world.

Dan Mann has spent nearly three decades chasing the perfect surfboard, and breaks down his path into shaping, the influence of legendary San Diego shapers, like Rusty and Xanadu, the evolution from hand shaping to CNC technology, and why consistency and engineering have become such important tools in modern surfboard design. He also goes deep on his decade-long relationship with Kelly Slater, including the development of models like the FRK, S-Boss and other Slater Designs boards. Mann also takes Dave behind the scenes of Stab in the Dark X, where he built a board for Kelly Slater under intense time pressure, and discusses the aftermath of seeing his work and personality portrayed in the series. He reflects on the follow-up Ethan Ewing edition, where his board earned major praise and helped showcase the depth of his shaping philosophy.

The conversation gets deep into the details of surfboard design, from PU vs. EPS and Firewire construction technologies to twins, quads, rocker, bottom contours and fin placement. Dan talks about his current Mannkine and Firewire projects, the possibility of helping develop the next generation of CT surfers, and how “not thinking as much” is his next state of happiness.

Follow Dan Mann here.

Check out his latest Mannkine shapes on Firewire here.

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Stay tuned to the Outerknown Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA, Aug 8-18.

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Five-time returning The Lineup podcast guest, World Title contender, and defending Tahiti Pro Champion Jack Robinson returns to the podcast, days ahead of one of the most anticipated events of the Championship Tour season—the Outerknown Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA. 

Fresh off a mid-season reset that included a Mentawais boat trip, time with family, and reconnecting with the simple joy of surfing, Robbo opens up about why he's letting go of expectations and embracing a new mindset heading into Teahupo'o. Jack reflects on the biggest changes of his 2026 season, including recovering from surgery, switching to JS Surfboards, working with new coach Luke Egan, and learning to trust the process instead of chasing perfection. He also shares how becoming a father has reshaped his perspective on competition, success, and life beyond results. 

Dave and Jack dive deep into the mental side of elite performance, balancing passion with profession, competing against the world's best, Olympic memories with John John Florence, the pressure of expectations, and why the simplest moments in surfing often matter most.

Learn more about Jack Robinson here and follow him here.

Get The Jack Robinson I-SEA sunglasses from the C.P.R. Series here!

Stay tuned to the Outerknown Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA, Aug 8-18.

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Join the conversation by following The Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our YouTube channel.

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