Rad Dad Rip Check: Drew Hoffman

A hurricane rolls through, the doctor fights pneumonia, and we’re still determined to get back to what we love: talking skateboarding, surfing, and the people who keep the culture alive. We link up with Florida’s own Drew Hoffman, a transition skater with deep surf roots and a timeline that runs from Orlando to the Gulf Coast to Jacksonville. Drew breaks down how getting a surfboard at six quietly shaped his entire approach to skating, and why the ocean taught him patience long before a skatepark ever did.We dig into the Florida skate scene the right way: the long waits for Gulf Coast swell, the parks that changed everything, and the mentors who pull you into bigger terrain when you’re ready. Drew shares stories about skating legendary spots, learning vert and transition, chasing that pool-skating feeling, and how being around the right sessions can light a fire for years. Along the way we talk sponsors and community, including how relationships with brands like Catch Surf and Catalyst are built on real-life connections, not just clips.Then it gets personal in the best way. Drew talks about being engaged, having a new baby, and what it takes to keep skating and surfing when dad mode is in full effect. We also get into Jacksonville living, travel range for waves, and the not-so-small detail of sharks showing up exactly where the waves get good. And to close it out, we run our “Is It A Sport” game, where the criteria is simple: sweat, broken bones, and the dreaded groin pull.If you’re into skateboarding podcasts, Florida skate history, transition skating, surf culture, and the real-life balance of family and board time, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend who rips, and leave a review so we can keep bringing more voices from the scene into the mix.