About this episode

Jamie O’Brien discusses the evolving definition of a 'core surfer' and the impact of modern surfing culture.

Jamie O’Brien, Pipeline, Pipe Masters, core surfing, Catch Surf, soft-top surfboards, surf culture, YouTube surfing, Red Bull, North Shore Hawaii, Backdoor, Ben Gravy, Jack Johnson, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater and the future of the surf industry — this episode of Pinch My Salt goes straight into one of the biggest debates in modern surfing: what does it actually mean to be a “core surfer” anymore?Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan react to Jamie O’Brien’s comments about sponsored surfers, being core, chasing swells, making money in surfing and the evolution of his career from Pipeline legend and self-produced surf movies to YouTube, vlogging and the Catch Surf soft-top era. They debate whether surf YouTube and soft tops helped grow surfing or changed surf culture for the worse, how JOB influenced the next generation of surf creators, why traditional surfboard design still matters, and whether the surf industry has traded progression, style and craftsmanship for clicks, viral videos and easy money.The boys also get into Jack Johnson trying to connect them with Jason Momoa, Rob Machado’s legendary hair, Kelly Slater, surf-industry sycophants, Instagram surfer culture, old-school surf…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sterling Spencer, Cousin Ryan

Guest: Jamie O’Brien

Topics covered

• surf culture
• core surfing
• YouTube surfing
• surf industry evolution
• soft-top surfboards
• surfboard design
• environmental concerns

Keywords

• core surfer
• surf culture
• YouTube surfing
• soft-top surfboards
• surf industry
• Jack Johnson
• Kelly Slater
• environmental concerns

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Catch Surf, Red Bull

Books & works: surf movies

Places: North Shore Hawaii, Instagram

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