
Soli Bailey: Maps to Now
From Waterpeople by Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich - surf stories & ocean adventures
March 1, 2026 · 1h 16m · Season 7 · Episode 18
About this episode
Professional surfer Soli Bailey shares his journey through competition, injury, and a deeper connection to surfing.
There's no straight lines in the ocean - nor in a surfing life. We sit with professional surfer and Bundjalung waterman Soli Bailey to trace his lines from early talent and success, through the grind of competing and a life-threatening neck injury, to a grounded love of surfing that’s deeper than any accolades. Soli opens up about the quiet crisis that arrived during lockdowns: paddling out and not wanting to be there. He breaks down how stepping off the contest treadmill, and reconnecting w...
People in this episode
Guest: Soli Bailey
Topics covered
- surfing
- competition
- mental health
- ocean
- injury recovery
Keywords
- Bundjalung
- lockdowns
- surf culture
- personal growth
Mentioned in this episode
Products: surfboard, wetsuit
Places: Bundjalung
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