ThankYouSurfing Podcast
What started as random hangouts with Chris at the surf shop slowly turned into the ThankYouSurfing Podcast. It became a place to celebrate surf culture, local characters, and the strange, wonderful energy of our little community.
This is the story behind it. Where it started, why it mattered, and where it is headed now as we relaunch with fresh purpose and a promise to honor Chris’s memory.
The Story Behind ThankYouSurfing Podcast
Chris and I weren’t just surf buddies. We were two people who felt the same gravitational pull to the ocean. He was known as Dinger because he fixed everyone’s dings. He had surfed and worked in shops all over, from Quiksilver to his time in Hawaii, and he was the kind of guy who would check the waves a hundred times a day. His obsession was real.
I was on my own path. Total surf nerd. Talking about surfing, reading about it, watching it, trying to learn more about it, and of course paddling out whenever I could. Our friendship grew in the middle of all that. Surf reports, goofy stories, gear talk, weird Miami surf culture moments. It was endless.
One day at the shop, Chris said we should do a talk show about surfing. We joked about doing a real radio show before settling on a podcast. A radio show on the internet. It made sense. So in 2018 we finally hit record. The ThankYouSurfing Podcast was born out of nothing more than love for surfing and the desire to talk about it with whoever wanted to listen.
The early format matched the conversations we were already having. Surf reports. Local updates. Thematic topics. And then the guests started rolling in. Local legends. Characters from different eras. People with real stories about Miami surf life. It turned into a time capsule of sorts.
Then Caleb came into the picture. He was always hanging around the shop and eventually jumped in to help with audio and video. He made everything sound and look so much better. The show felt real after that. He gave us a level up when we needed it most.
Challenges and Changes
Of course, none of this came without challenges. We had plenty of technical hiccups in the beginning. Schedules were messy. Equipment wasn’t perfect. But the real challenge came when Chris passed away. Losing him changed everything. The whole community felt it. The podcast suddenly became a big question mark.
I had to step back and breathe. I had to think about what the podcast meant to us and what it could mean moving forward. Eventually, the answer felt clear. The show was always about surf culture, storytelling, and connection. Continuing it was a way to honor Chris. A way to keep his spirit tied to the thing he loved most.
Waves of Memories
Looking back now, those early episodes are full of heart. Surfers of all backgrounds came on the show. Some new, some with decades of stories. Every single one brought something different. Together, they created a record of who we were and what surfing in Miami looked like at that moment in time. There is something special about capturing a community like that.
The Journey Forward
As the podcast relaunches, my vision is simple. I want to keep exploring surf culture and telling stories. I want to travel to different surf communities and share perspectives from all over. The goal is to keep learning, keep asking questions, and keep showing the heart of surfing wherever it exists. Through all of it, Chris stays part of the mission.
Remembering Chris
I still feel Chris in so many moments. In the waves. In conversations with other surfers. In the old recordings. His passion was contagious, and his presence helped shape everything ThankYouSurfing became. Keeping the show alive is my way of keeping him in the water with us.
Moving Ahead
As we prepare for this next chapter of ThankYouSurfing Podcast, I’m reminded of how powerful it is when community, passion, and connection come together. Surfing has always been more than catching waves. It is history, friendship, culture, and this strange mix of chaos and peace that only surfers understand.
The podcast holds all of that, and I’m excited to bring you along as we keep pushing forward, telling stories, meeting people, and celebrating what makes surfing so good.
Thanks for being part of this journey. The relaunch is coming. More conversations. More surf culture. More stories worth remembering.
And of course, more gratitude.
Thank you for being part of the ThankYouSurfing community.