In both Q and A and narrative format, we will hear stories from local surfers, filmmakers from around the world, and inspiring and/or charismatic folks who have a story to share. John Brooks and Kevin Miller will host in-person and Zoom-recorded chats.
Aaron "Gorkin" Cormican, New Smyrna Beach's own aerial pioneer and two-time Quiksilver King of the Peak champion, joins John Brooks and Kevin Miller for this homegrown NSB chat. Known equally for his high-flying competitive career and for shaping boards under his own Gorkin Surfboards label, Cormican has spent decades as one of the Inlet's most recognizable and respected talents. In this…
Jeff Easson is a retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief with 30 years of service — an achievement earned by less than 1% of enlisted sailors. Born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, he moved to Ormond Beach, Florida at age 11, where he traded hockey for surfing and competed in the ESA and SSA through high school. After a run-in with the law led him to enlist, he built a career in Navy finance and HR,…
Eric Geiselman @ericgeiselman , the third Geiselman to join us after Father Greg and Brother Evan, brings a New Smyrna Beach pedigree built on a run of competitive surfing and a 2007 Surfer Poll Award for Most Radical Maneuver. Known as "Lark," he's built a reputation as one of freesurfing's most versatile talents—airs, barrels, and progressive rail work across every wave type. A musician and…
Morgan Maassen grew up in Santa Barbara chasing waves at Rincon, but it was an injury that got him behind a camera instead of on a board — and the rest is history. He's since become one of surf's most recognizable visual storytellers, known for that dreamy, slow-shutter style that's landed his work in National Geographic , The New York Times , and Surfer Magazine , plus campaigns for Apple, Red…
Luca Merli is a Milan-based filmmaker, photographer, and surf culture champion who has spent more than two decades documenting the soul of Italian surfing. A Goldsmiths College graduate, he founded Block10 and the Onde Nostre collective, producing five award-winning feature films — including Peninsula and Nausicaa — distributed globally on Netflix and major platforms. In 2016, he co-founded the…
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Derek Hoffmann @derekhoffmann808 fell in love with the ocean and still photography at his home break, Sandy Beach, before moving to the North Shore and picking up a movie camera. His in-water 16mm work on the 1989 theatrical release Rolling Thunder set the course for a life behind the lens. He went on to travel the world filming Rip Curl's legendary Search…
Cameron Kirkconnell @camkirkconnell sheds skin to scales when the moon is full or as soon as his toe touches saltwater. He holds his breath for three-times longer than a normal joe, and finds the biggest, and of course, tastiest of fish. He began his career as a merchant marine, achieving the rank of Unlimited Tonnage Captain, and with six month breaks between ships, he surfed, dove, studied, and…
Pat O'Connell didn't touch saltwater until he was twelve and somehow became one of surfing's most beloved figures. A natural competitor, he represented the U.S. at the 1990 World Amateur Championships before landing a starring role in Bruce Brown's Endless Summer II — a film that introduced surfing's joy to a whole new generation. He went on to compete on the ASP World Tour for over a decade,…
Born and raised in Punta Hermosa, Peru, José Plaza grew up steeped in surf culture — his father Miguel was a pioneer wave rider in Peru and Hawaii during the 1960s, befriending legends like Eddie Aikau and Greg Noll. That legacy pushed José into the water early and eventually behind the camera. After a chance encounter with filmmaker Wes Brown deep in the Peruvian jungle, José transitioned into…
Miguel Tudela is one of Peru's top professional surfers, known for his powerful style and consistency on the world stage. A standout in international competitions, he represented Peru in Olympic surfing, showcasing the country's deep surf heritage. Raised on Lima's coastline, Tudela has built a career marked by discipline, resilience, and pride in his roots. He continues to inspire the next…
Otto Flores is a Puerto Rican surfer, ocean safety advocate, and environmental activist whose life has been shaped by the OCEAN. After beginning his career as a professional surfer, Flores traveled the world chasing waves and appearing on the covers of major surf publications. One such cover has a story to it, which he shared with us today. Over time, his focus expanded beyond performance to…