The Lineup with Dave Prodan - A Surfing Podcast

Dr. Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, joins us on The Lineup to discuss his role in protecting the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches. From Surfrider’s hometown of Laguna Beach, Dr. Nelsen shares insights on the foundation’s 40th anniversary, their network of 200+ chapters, and the complex evolution of environmental activism. We dive into real-world challenges—mangrove deforestation in Puerto Rico and coastal erosion on Hawaii’s North Shore—and discuss how the Surfrider Foundation combines legal and scientific strategies to tackle these issues. Dr. Nelsen also opens up about his journey, from growing up in a surfing family on Long Island to his lifelong commitment to ocean conservation. He reflects on the impact of climate change on coastlines and the need for public action, urging listeners to get involved in the fight for sustainable practices. We explore how surfing, though a niche sport, can drive environmental awareness and political influence. A key example is the Save Trestles campaign, which successfully halted plans for a six-lane toll road that would have cut through San Onofre State Beach, the Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy, sacred Native American sites, and threatened the San Mateo Creek Watershed. With partnerships with local communities, WSL and WSL PURE, as well as ambassadors like Carissa Moore, Dr. Cliff Kapono, and Greg Long, the Surfrider Foundation strives to inspire both surfers and non-surfers alike to make a difference. Tune in to learn more about Dr. Chad Nelsen and how joining a local Surfrider chapter can empower communities and spark positive change.

Learn more about Surfrider here and follow them here.

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2025 Championship Tour qualifier and standout rookie Joel Vaughan joins The Lineup with Dave Prodan for an in-depth conversation. Joel dives into his exhilarating 2024 season, sharing the highs and lows of his journey to qualify for the Championship Tour in 2025. He reflects on the unforgettable moment at the Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil, when he realized the magnitude of his own qualification scenario, while celebrating his fellow Aussie rookie George Pittar securing his own spot on tour. Throughout the episode, Joel opens up about the unwavering support from his family—his dad, his brothers, and his shaper Darren Handley, along with his tight-knit Aussie surfing community. He reminisces about his early days at North Shelly Beach, NSW, the surfers who inspired him, and the path that led him to the world stage. Looking ahead, he shares his excitement for the 2025 season, the events he's most eager to compete in, and his off-season training plans as he prepares for the iconic season opener at Pipeline. 

Learn more about Joel here and follow him here.

Rewatch his qualification moment at the Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil.

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2025 Championship Tour qualifier Isabella Nichols returns to the show. Following her debut in Episode 75, Isabella recaps her remarkable 2024 season, finishing #3 in the Challenger Series Rankings, and securing her requalification for the 2025 CT. She takes us through the highs and lows of her journey, reliving the intense emotions of the Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil, the nail-biting moments as the rankings shifted, and the mental resilience she built after being relegated to the Challenger Series. Isabella opens up about the challenges she faced entering the 2024 season, the pressure of watching her fate unfold from the beach in Saquarema, and how she maintained her focus and determination. She also looks ahead to 2025, sharing her thoughts on the updated tour schedule, the promising new rookies, and who she believes will be the top contenders to watch. Beyond surfing, Isabella dives into her passion for mechanical engineering and her efforts to inspire young students by speaking at schools about STEM opportunities. She reflects on how balancing her studies and professional surfing both supports and complicates her career. In a thrilling new segment, Scary Stories of the Sea presented by Kraken Rum, Isabella recounts a terrifying big-wave experience at Sunset, her offseason plans and working closely with renowned shaper Darren Handley.

Learn more about Isabella here and follow her here.

Relive the Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil, Oct 12 - 20.

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Style master Mikey February joins us on the pod. Universally considered one of the most impactful surfers of his generation, Mikey dives into his unique approach to surfing and filmmaking, exploring projects like Sonic Souvenirs, Changing Tempo, and his latest collaboration with Channel Islands and his platform, Spearhead Unlimited, Spearfish. He shares insights into the creation of his new signature surfboard, Feb's Fish, and the history of the iconic fish design and its role in shaping modern surf culture. Mikey also reflects on his time competing on the World Tour and how transitioning to free surfing—with support from Vans—has opened up new creative avenues. We explore his South African roots, the vital role his parents played in his journey, and how his home, culture, and love for art and music inspire his work across the globe. Mikey opens up about fatherhood, the ways it has changed his perspective, and the excitement of welcoming a new child soon. He unveils a harrowing encounter in the water in our newest segment presented by Kraken Rum, Scary Stories of the Sea, before we wrap up with listener questions and The Lightning Round.

Learn more about Mikey here and follow him here.

Be sure to follow Mikey’s new platform for creative freedom and experimentation, Spearhead Unlimited.

Relive the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships, Oct 9 - 13.

Stay tuned to see who qualifies for the 2025 Championship Tour at the Corona Saquarema Pro Presented by Banco do Brasil, Oct 12 - 20.

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Prolific surf photographer Todd Glaser joins us in our latest episode of The Lineup. Renowned for his stunning oceanic imagery over the past two decades, Todd dives deep into his latest book, Kelly Slater: A Life of Waves. In conversation with Dave, Todd shares the journey of curating some of the most iconic images captured over fourteen years spent on the road with surfing legend Kelly Slater. He reveals his creative process for capturing those perfect shots and discusses the influences of iconic photographers like Steve Sherman and Danny Clinch, exploring how their techniques shape his work both in and out of the water. Todd also reflects on his beginnings as a competitive bodyboarder and how those early experiences ignited his passion for ocean photography, deepening his understanding of swells and bathymetry. He recounts his time at the Brooks Institute, where he connected with fellow creatives while balancing his love for travel and discovery with academic success. As he looks ahead post-book release, Todd teases an exciting potential documentary project and shares his newfound joy in running. He answers your listener questions, including one from Free Nationals bassist and friend of the pod, Kelsey González, reveals the winner of their Pipeline fantasy surfer league, and takes on the Lightning Round!

Follow Todd here.

Pre-order and purchase Kelly Slater: A Life of Waves here, available October 15!

Catch the from the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented By Estrella Galicia.

Stay tuned for the Surf City El Salvador Longboard Championships, Oct 9 - 13.

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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Dryrobe ambassador and the first female German surfer to ever qualify for the Olympics Camilla Kemp join us on the podcast. Calling in prior to the start of the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented By Estrella Galicia, Camilla talks to us about her competitive mindset for the year, confessing that while initially her goal was to compete in the Challenger Series in 2024, she opted not to do all the events this year in order to focus on preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics in Teahupo’o, understanding how it important it was to her country and her team. She talks about the incredible support she has received from the German Federation, the team she and Tim Elter had around them, and the preparation they had to take in order to be ready to surf a wave like Teahupo’o. She talks about being a Dryrobe ambassador, and their dedication to telling her story through their film together, CAMILLA. She discusses her upbringing, having been born and raised in Portugal to Dutch and German parents, and the struggle of finding her identity. She reveals having once been in the circus, juggling and monocycling until she discovered surfing. Camilla and Dave muse over the unsuspectingly rich surfing culture in Germany, particularly in Munich, home of the Eisbach River, a popular surfing destination for locals and tourists alike. They discuss Camilla surfing in the German Surfing Championships to be held at the newly opened wave system in Munich, the 02 Surftown MUC from October 11 - 13, her involvement in the SWOX Empowerment Surf Retreat, and her goals moving ahead, before closing out the pod with Instagram Questions, revealing the best place to get an apple strudel in Germany, and the Lightning Round.

Learn more about Camilla and follow her here.

Be sure to go to dryrobe and get your gear for the upcoming winter season.

And watch her film CAMILLA here.

Stay tuned for the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented By Estrella Galicia, Sep 29 - Oct 6.

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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Dryrobe ambassadors, longboard title-contender and shaper of Skindog Surfboards Ben Skinner, and his son, QS campaigner, up-and-coming surfer, and 2023’s Rip Curl Grom Search International Champion Lukas Skinner join us on the podcast. Calling in from France and fresh from Lukas’ win at the Caraïbos Surf de Nuit Anglet presented by Rip Curl, the father and son surfing team discuss Lukas’ first proper year on the QS, their mentality towards his long road to qualification, and him being the first British male to win a Boardmasters event. Ben discusses shaping surfboards for himself and for Lukas with Skindog Surfboards, the support system they have around them, and Lukas making it a goal to get Skindog Surfboards on the Vissla CT Shaper Rankings. They rewind the clock on their upbringing, Ben being born in the island of Jersey, being a high-performing shortboarder at a young age, before switching to longboarding and winning every category in every major British longboard event by age 18. After Ben reveals how he used to keep warm in between sessions in the water by jumping into a warm bucket of water, they share how game changing it is having dryrobe as a sponsor, especially living in an area that can get so cold. Ben and Lukas look ahead to the Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Presented By Modon, Ben’s excitement to compete in Abu Dhabi, and the unique challenges of competing in a wave pool. Lukas shares his excitement to compete in the Rip Curl Pro Anglet while in France and competing in his last pro Junior of the year. They wrap up the podcast by answering listener questions, explain why jam is always first on an English scone, and take turns quick-answering the Lightning Round.

Follow Ben Skinner here and Skindog Surfboards here.

Follow Lukas here.

Be sure to go to dryrobe and get your gear for the upcoming winter season.

Catch Ben Skinner at the Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic Presented By Modon, Sep 27 - 29.

Stay tuned for the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented By Estrella Galicia, Sep 29 - Oct 6.

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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Multi-hyphenate and multi-talented action sports media personality and WSL commentator, Chris Coté, joins us on The Lineup podcast. Calling in from his own podcast HQ, Monday M.A.S.S. with Todd Richards, in San Diego, Chris and Dave dive into the Lexus WSL Finals and Chris’ experience being on the ground there. He relives being amidst the visceral energy emanating throughout the fans who flooded the beach cheering for their favorite surfers at Lowers, and describes it as among one of the most joyful of the WSL Finals we’ve had. He talks about growing up in San Diego, the pride he has seeing Caity Simmers take home the Title for California, and the exposure shaper Chris Borst is receiving from Caity riding his boards exclusively. He marvels at the craftsmanship of surfboards, calling them “functional pieces of art,” and showcases a Pyzel board he just picked up. Chris and Dave get into Chris’ upbringing in San Diego, being sponsored by Chris Borst as a surfer, and his pathway into becoming a professional surfer. He remembers his first encounter with localism in the water on one his first trips to Hawai’i as a pro, his transition into becoming an action sports media professional, at one point becoming the editor-in-chief of TransWorld Surf Magazine, to today getting to do what he calls the “best job in the world.” Chris opens up on his sobriety journey, how it has affected his work for better or worse, and how he manages to stay positive throughout his career. He and Dave muse over the films Chris has produced over the years like High-5 and the TearDevils trilogy, his band SUNBENDR, and his podcast Monday M.A.S.S. with Chris Coté & Todd Richards before he gets into questions from our Instagram community and The Lightning Round.

Follow Chris Coté here.

Listen to and follow his band Sunbendr.

And listen to his podcast Monday M.A.S.S. with Chris Coté & Todd Richards wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay tuned for the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented By Estrella Galicia, Sep 29 - Oct 6

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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WSL commentator and Lineup co-host Mitchell Salazar returns once again to wrap up an incredible event to crown this year's World Champions from the Lexus Finals. They discuss their winners and losers and John John Florence officially solidifying his dynasty by securing his third World Title and entering the realm of renowned surfers with at least 3x World Titles in Tom Curren, Gabe Medina, Mick Fanning, Andy Irons, Mark Richards, Kelly Slater, Layne Beachley, Carissa Moore, Stephanie Gilmore, and Layne Beachley, Frieda Zamba, Margo Oberg, and Wendy Botha. They also revel at Caity’s incredible performance and her securing her first World Title, officially becoming the youngest World Champion in WSL history. They talk about Italo’s rampaging run through the bracket, his dominating style of surfing, and how it played in his scoring. Things get heated and contentious after Dave and Mitch bring on a couple producers at the WSL to play a Vissla CT Shaper Rankings Fantasy Snake Draft game in the second segment. Finally, Dave and Mitch close the pod by answering your listener questions.

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Follow Dylan here.

Get caught up from the results of the Lexus WSL Finals.

Stay tuned to the EDP Ericeira Pro Presented By Estrella Galicia, Sep 29th - Oct 6.

Stay up to date with the 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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Renowned writer, surf journalist, and Editor-in-Chief of Surfer Magazine, Jake Howard, joins The Lineup. As one of the “premier subject matter experts in the field today,” according to Sports Illustrated, Jake shares his thoughts on the Lexus WSL Finals at Lower Trestles. He and Dave mull over the matchups between the Final 5, which seed would be most advantageous, and just how fast that day goes. They reflect on the periodic generational progression on both the men’s and women’s side of surfing, who they end up seeing having to face John John Florence and Caity Simmers in the Title matches, and share their predictions for this year’s World Champions when it’s all said and done. Jake rewinds the clock to his humble beginnings working for Surfline, recording the surf reports for 976-SURF in the late 90’s, his career trajectory, to his new role now as the editor-In-chief of the bible of surfing. They discuss the relaunch of Surfer Magazine’s print edition after nearly five years in hiatus, how they chose Kelly Slater for the cover, and both Kelly and Carissa Moore writing articles for this issue. Jake answers our listener’s Instagram questions, shares his favorite magazine covers, significant moments that shaped surf history, and what gets him in the mood to write, before closing up the book with his answers to The Lightning Round.

Follow Jake here.

Be sure to check out the latest edition of Surfer Magazine.

Catch the Final 5 battle it out in the water for the World Title at the Lexus WSL Finals, Sep 6 - 14.

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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