A Surf Podcast for Beginners That Actually Gets You
The Wipeout Weekly is a surf podcast for beginners who want more than just pop-up tips and surf clichés. It’s real talk about learning to surf—honestly, awkwardly, and with a little sarcasm. Whether you’re still riding the whitewater or just figured out what “trim” means, this podcast was made with you in mind.
Hosted by a late-bloomer surfer who remembers what it’s like to feel completely out of place in the lineup, The Wipeout Weekly delivers episodes that mix humor, cultural insight, and beginner-level clarity. It’s not just about how to surf—it’s about how we all feel about surfing.
This surf podcast for beginners dives into everything from common wipeout patterns to why surf etiquette feels like high school politics. We cover surf culture, history, gear tips, learning plateaus, and what it means to find your place in a sport that’s often anything but beginner-friendly.
You’ll hear interviews with surf coaches, ocean advocates, historians, local legends, retreat leaders, and everyday learners. We feature voices from our global community—including the 74,000+ members of Girls Who Can’t Surf Good—to make sure the advice you hear is grounded in real beginner experience.
Some episodes offer step-by-step help: like how to pick the right board, what to do when you get stuck in a surf slump, or how to improve your stance without going full “poo.” Others get deeper: surf therapy, body image in the lineup, being the oldest one in your lesson, or why some surf advice just doesn’t land.
If you’re looking for a surf podcast for beginners that doesn’t assume you grew up riding waves—and doesn’t make you feel like an idiot for asking what a “closeout” is—The Wipeout Weekly is here for you.
Start with our first episode or explore interviews in the guest archive. New episodes drop regularly—some short, some deep, all made for beginners trying to find their flow (and their feet).
We believe surfing should feel possible, not exclusive. That’s why we’re building this podcast—to make space for every kook, foamie, overthinker, and side-eye survivor who just wants to surf more, learn faster, and feel less alone doing it.
The Wipeout Weekly: a surf podcast for beginners who want to learn, laugh, and paddle back out.
THE WIPEOUT WEEKLY PODCAST
The one and only daily surf podcast.
The Wipeout Weekly—Weekly guests
Every week, we sit down with a surfer, or two and we talk surfing.
Surfing as a passion, not an obsession with Surfer Cass
Cass, also known as Surfer Cass on social media, is a late-starting surfer and content creator based in Los Angeles. In this episode, we talk about navigating lineup anxiety, body representation in surf culture, and why Cass is intentionally keeping surfing as a passion—not a job. We also dig into wave pools, surf travel, coaching, board choices, and what slow, realistic progression actually looks like when surfing has to fit into a full, real adult life.
How hard would you fight to surf with Tiffany Barwick
Tiffany Barwick, also known as Midlife Surfista on socials is a self-described fully stoked “begin-termediate” surfer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who began learning to surf at 40 years old, just two years ago. Among many other things, we talk about her lack of fear of the ocean, tackling the more unusual obstacles to learning to surf, and why Tiffany keeps coming back to the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group meets.
It's only drowning after all with David Litt
David Litt—former speechwriter for President Obama and author of Thanks, Obama—never thought he’d surf. Then one day, he did. And another. And another. In this episode, we chat about David’s funny, brutally honest new book I"t’s Only Drowning", which chronicles his totally uncalled-for decision to learn to surf, culminating in a trip to the North Shore. It’s not "Barbarian Days". It’s funnier. And more relatable. Read it.
Cross-stepping into surf sisterhood with Laura Day
Laura Day—San Diego-based noserider and founder of The Surf Société—joins us to talk about learning to nose ride, starting a women’s surf community and podcast, and why some surf breaks may not be worth the hassle. Plus, we're join in our mutual frustration with GoPro.
On how surf forecasts could suck less with Gavin Bechtold
Confused by swell direction, wave period, or what “2–3 ft (observed)” actually means? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re breaking down the surf forecast—line by line—with Gavin Bechtold, creator of Go Surfing San Diego and the Sunday Stoke surf forecast newsletter. We talk about what all those Surfline numbers really mean, how to figure out when (and where) to paddle out, and why wave energy is a contentious matter.
Saving your surf hair and the ocean one spray at a time with Brittany Jones
Ever wondered how to keep your hair healthy after a surfing sesh—without harming the ocean? Brittany Jones, beginner surfer and founder of Coconut Smuggler knows a thing or two about the art (and science) of protecting your surf hair while staying reef-safe. Coconuts are out, fresh water is in, but have you ever wondered why your hair turns into a bird’s nest after a surf?
On being a self-taught* shortboarder with Crystal Dombrow
Crystal didn’t take the typical beginner route to surfing—and she definitely didn’t start on a longboard. In this episode, she shares how a lifetime of dance, skimboarding, snow skating, and YouTube deep dives helped her make the leap to shortboarding.
No permission needed to surf Pipeline with Jade Darmawangsa
What do you do when you fall in love with surfing… and absolutely refuse to quit? Jade—self-taught surfer, YouTube creator, and accidental waxing-video legend talks about the messy, magical path from foamie to shortboard. We talk surf camps, heartbreak-fueled ambition, scary dads in the lineup, bouncing back from injuries, trolls, and what it’s like to paddle out at Pipeline with 25 people filming.
On building the confidence muscle and why midlife is the perfect time to start surfing with Inessa Love
Inessa Love started surfing at 50—and it changed everything. In this conversation, she and Zuz talk about the slow burn of falling in love with surfing, being told she didn’t belong in the lineup, and how that moment led to a global community of older women surfers - Sassy Silver Surfers.
“You, you!”—The magic of a surf buddy with Tina Heaney
Tina is the surf buddy we all want. In this episode, she shares how a Facebook group connection turned into a life-changing surf friendship. We talk about the power of having someone to share the stoke with, learning to surf later in life, what it's like surfing Maine through icy winters, the emotional rollercoaster of progression (and plateaus), and why she prefers longboarding to anything else.
“I never said surfing was fun” with Matt Warshaw, surfing’s ultimate custodian
In this episode, I chat with a personal hero of mine—Matt Warshaw, author of The Encyclopedia of Surfing and History of Surfing—about growing up alongside Jay Adams, why he’s a reluctant podcast guest, and why surfing was never really fun for him, but always addictive, strategic, and soul-consuming. We also get into the overlooked role women played in board design, the radical act of smiling in the lineup, and how EOS came together on a prayer and a pile of favors. Plus, the moment Matt decided to quit surfing altogether.
Surfing Hawai'i, writing Hawai'i with Noah Evslin
"Can I be honest with you? You are not surfing enough to progress" with Kyla Peterson
