Split Peak Soup

Send us Fan MailThere are few places in the world of surf that have left an impact as powerful as Santa Cruz, California. From big-wave legends such as Richard Schmidt and Peter Mel, aerial pioneers Shawn “Barney” Barron and Jason “Ratboy” Collins, to competitive animals of the likes of Chris Gallagher and Nat Young, our areas standouts have left an indelible mark.One man who’s been there for it all is Westside legend Anthony Ruffo. Ruffo rose to prominence after winning the first professional surf event at Steamer Lane in 1985, the Hotline Lighthouse Santa Cruz Classic, which would later become the O’Neill Coldwater Classic. Ruffo cemented his place as one of the upcoming Santa Cruz pros in the 80’s and 90’s with his polished and dynamic backside attack. He charged in Hawaii, didn’t shy away from lofty punts, and even dipped his toes in the heavy, hallowed waters of Mavericks in Half Moon Bay. He ran with the raucous rat pack of progressive Santa Cruz shredders, who gained widespread media coverage, worldwide respect, and a dash of infamy for their rockstar antics. However, the fun didn’t last for this tight-knit crew, and when the darkness descended, Ruffo found himself in the center of the cyclone.Addiction, jail time, and reintegration followed. While most converted cons can talk the talk, Ruffo truly walked the walk, giving back to the world with his dedicated volunteer work with wholesome operations such as Operation Surf, who share the healing power of surfing with wounded vets, as well as the Maui Ola Foundation, who do the same with children suffering from Cystic Fibrosis.It was a true honor to have Ruffo on the Split Peak Podcast. We chatted about his childhood, friendship with surfing heavies Vince Collier and Peter Davi, worldwide travels with the SC crew, the dark days of drugs in Santa Cruz, and his inspiring path forward after serving time for his crimes. We also discussed his involvement in the Santa Cruz Board Riders Club, and how the club has really brought Santa Cruz surfers together as a cohesive pack once again.I hope you enjoy this tasty serving of Split Peak Soup!!

Send us Fan MailCaffeine. For all its many blessings, there can be a cost. Anxiety, jitters, irritability and fatigue can occur in those who overindulge in their preferred form of caffeine, but due to it’s ubiquity and accessibility, people can find themselves in potentially harmful addictive relationships with this substance. Enter Shane Heath.Santa Cruz’s Shane Heath found himself second-guessing his own relationship with coffee after an artistic exodus to India showed him the virtues of the less-caffeinated morning cup of Masala Chai. Working at a tech start up in California he’d found his coffee addiction was leading to more stress and burnout in an already demanding field. He found the Chai in India more chill on his nervous system and began using it as a coffee substitute upon returning home to California.Not long thereafter, he began adding a ton of functional mushrooms to his Chai to boost the health benefits. After some curious friends and family began to get in on his secret blend, he realized he had something the people wanted. From there, he started MUD WTR, a brand dedicated to selling his proprietary brew. Before long, the company blew up, and is now selling its products to millions of happy customers.I was stoked to have Heath, a long time friend, on the latest episode of the Split Peak Soup podcast. During our chat, we outlined the entire Mud WTR genesis arc, discussed mental health, surfing, longevity, fatherhood, as well as the importance of fitness. We explored caffeine addiction, his huge new deal with Costco, as well as his foray into the world of fictional mushroom coffee blends with the release of Mud Water coffee.It’s really great to see people you know and respect blowing up and making such a huge impact on the world, so this was another special chat for me.Enjoy!

Send us Fan MailI’ve always admired surfboard shapers. The amount of tenacity, grit, and dedication required to consistently produce boards that work is staggering. Materials are costly, and it takes thousands of hours of work and hundreds of finished shapes before a shaper can claim any semblance of mastery over their craft.In order to be profitable, not only does a shaper have to believe in themselves, they have to have a product that is undeniable in it’s ability to deliver that feeling that every surfer is looking for.Nowadays, where mass-produced giants of the industry have a stranglehold on the market, it’s amazing to see smaller scale custom surfboard brands fighting the good fight in the face of these corporate juggernauts. One such shaper is former professional surfer Scott Crump, of Sol Life surfboards. Since the 1980’s, Crump has been applying his vast ocean knowledge and love for design into his custom surfboards and the results speak for themselves. He’s forged blades for some of the best surfers in the world, including Adam Replogle, Bud Freitas, Gabriel Medina, and Shane Powell. Currently Crump is residing in Noosa Heads, Australia, not too far from the spitting sand bottom pointbreaks of the Gold Coast. Crumpy supported me during my own short run as a competitive surfer, so I was more than happy to have him on the podcast while he was in town to deliver some boards. During our chat we discussed his upbringing, introduction to competitive surfing, early sponsorships and mentors, time spent as a team manager for Billabong, design theory, and how he met his lovely wife, Tia.We also discussed the merits of his latest obsessions, twin-fins and channel-bottomed surfboards.Crumpy is a real one, and this is an episode that you don’t want to miss! 

Send us Fan MailIt’s no secret that professional surfers are a dying breed, especially here in Santa Cruz. Twenty-five years ago, in order to get a paycheck from a big surf brand, all you needed was a decent air game and a good relationship with at least one local photographer. Nowadays, if you wanna see any coin come your way, you better have that, a boatload of charisma, connections, and good looks.Luckily, thirty-two year-old Seacliff local Noah “Waggy” Wegrich, has all that, and then some. The lanky goofyfoot is currently enjoying his reign as the king of local Santa Cruz professional surfers—traveling to exotics locales to film movie parts, modeling for his sponsors, regularly nailing mondo airs, and marrying and making babies with his dream babe, Natalie.While getting paid to shred the gnar and look pretty doing it might inflate a surfer’s ego, that’s not just the case with Waggy. He’s respectful in the lineup and a true gentleman on land. I’ve never heard one negative thing come out of his mouth and he seems beyond grateful for all the opportunities his surfing has brought him.That’s why I was so stoked to have him on the latest installment of the Split Peak Soup podcast! During our chat, we touched on a range of subjects, including his humble beginnings as a South Side beach rat, first contest win and sponsorship opportunities, hopes for the afterlife, opinions on wavepools and sharky lineups, and much more.We also spoke about his excitement for the premiere of “Keeping in the Shadows”, an independent surf film he’s been working on with Perry Gershkow for the past six years.Waggy is a class act, so do yourself a favor, hit that play button and prepare to soak up some knowledge from a truly original Santa Cruz icon.

Send us Fan MailIt’s not rare for pioneers to be labeled as “crazy” or “lunatics”. After all, they’re treading ground where no one’s been before. From the outside looking in, this can appears reckless or misguided. While this reaction may have its merit, it falls short of seeing the big picture—as an action that seems insane or impossible today, comes to be routine and mundane tomorrow. Just look at big wave surfing or base-jumping—people are regularly pushing the limits of what’s considered possible. All because one individual had the courage to take that leap of faith.Enter Brock Johnson. Brock is a talented twenty-one year-old multidisciplinary athlete who grew up on Santa Cruz’s Eastside. At a young age he cut his teeth shredding 26th avenue and sharpening his skate tricks at the many parks in and around town. Along with snowboarding, Brock fell in love with riding bikes.As his love for riding grew, he began bringing his board sport chops to the streets—climbing up the bike and balancing with one foot on the seat and the other on the handlebars. Known colloquially as “bike surfing”, this obscure, and dangerous pastime does have a growing contingent of similar minded speed freaks, but Brock has made a name for himself by bringing it to the next level. Instead of just cruising down the street, Brock finds the steepest, sketchiest hills in the Bay Area and bike-surfs down them at breakneck speeds. One wrong move and it’s a four foot drop to the road and unforgiving cement landing. Brock bombs these hills like a bat out of Hell, with style to spare.In this episode, we delve into his radical obsession, exploring topics such his past as a surfer/skater, how he developed his bike-surfing style, his love for fitness and wellbeing, dealing with injuries, and how coped with the spotlight after his stunts went viral online.Brock’s wise behind his years— so listen closely. When you’re done, lick your lips, warsh yer hands, and wait patiently for the next serving of SPLIT PEAK SOUP!

Send us Fan MailWhat a gift it is to call Santa Cruz, California, home. For those of us lucky enough to have grown up in this idyllic beach town, familiarity with the ocean often starts at an early age. Whether the introduction comes in the form of surf lessons by a family member or participation in the Junior Lifeguard programs, we learn early on how to protect ourselves, and others, from the perils of an unruly sea.And beyond that? Many local surfers take the skills they’ve acquired during this formative time of their lives and apply it to a greater cause, including careers in lifeguarding and firefighting. One such local legend is Kyle Marty, who cut his teeth in the lifesaving biz working as a State Lifeguard, spending his summers making sure that ocean lovers could enjoy their time at Santa Cruz’s many beautiful beaches safely. From there, he graduated to the role of firefighter, joining an elite group of men and women, including his brother Dustin, responding to the calls of citizens in need.Marty is also an invaluable member of the Marine Rescue Unit— firefighters trained specifically for responding to calls involving the ocean. As a talented surfer, he also found a calling as a part of the Mavericks Rescue team— a group of courageous watermen who volunteer their time manning jet-ski’s to patrol the heavy waters of the fabled break in Half Moon Bay, performing dramatic pick-ups for downed big-wave riders.In this episode, we touched on his origins as a waterman, first responder, and big wave rider. We outlined the dangers facing uneducated surfers during extreme high tides along the perilous cliffs that line our shores, and how we all have a responsibility to educate and come to the aid of these misguided beginners whenever possible. It was a pleasure to have this talented young man on the podcast, and we could all learn a thing or two from his extensive experience. Kick back, grab a beverage and enjoy this educational and essential episode of Split Peak Soup!

Send us Fan MailFrom the late 1980’s, up until the late 2000’s, being a professional surfer in Santa Cruz was a legitimate career path. Sure, you had to have skill, a strong work ethic and enough charisma to secure corporate sponsorships, but there was enough money floating around during those years that a host of local surfers were able to forgo higher education and 9-5 jobs to live as handsomely paid pro surfers. Just look at the successful careers of guys like Jason “Ratboy” Collins, Adam Replogle, and Daryl “Flea” Virostko, just to name a few.After the global economic collapse of 2008, however, things got a little sketchy. Iconic pro’s began to lose backing from brands and global competition for resources began to skyrocket. Unless you were someone like Nat Young, whose insane free surfing and competitive prowess earned him a place at the top of the global ranks for many years, making it big as a successful pro surfer became an unrealistic pursuit.For guys like Tyler Fox, whose blistering surfing skill and ability to wrangle gargantuan rides at Mavericks would have seen him coasting by as a career pro in years past, this unpleasant truth came as a big wake up call. To pivot, he began a photo sharing website, Santa Cruz Waves, where surfers of all skill level could pay a small fee for snapshots from their session, taken by Fox and a variety of other local photographers. It wasn’t long until the site began to acquire significant traction and traffic.Encouraged by his success, Fox decided to leverage his connections and momentum to turn Santa Cruz Waves into a print magazine. For nearly a decade, Fox and the crew at Waves put out a quality, bi-monthly magazine that spotlighted local athletes, artists, activists and move-makers. Through it all, Fox kept surfing at the highest level, even securing two finals appearances at the Mavericks Big Wave events in Half Moon Bay.Despite shutting the doors at Santa Cruz Waves a few years ago, Fox has continued to stay busy as an activist, entrepreneur, and businessman. He got hitched, built a tiny home, and adopted a sweet pooch, proving that success can be found outside the glamour of professional surfing. In this episode of the Split Peak Soup Podcast, I was fortunate to have Fox come by the pad to discuss life— growing up in Aptos, giving professional surfing a fair shake, falling in love with big waves, the formation of Santa Cruz Waves, meeting his wife, as well as the ways in which he keeps his body and mind in tip-top condition. We also touched on the wave of up-and-coming surfers in the area and his involvement in the Santa Cruz Boardriders Club.It was another juicy chat, and I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to pick his mind. So, quit wasting time! Another flavorful serving of Split Peak Soup is just a click away!

Send us Fan MailThink about all the conversations you have throughout the course of the day. Unless you were at silent meditation retreat or alone in some remote, off-grid location, it’s safe to say you made contact with, and interacted with, a number of other individuals. How many of these encounters yielded anything deeper than a customary greeting or surface level life, love, health, or happiness update? Conversations such as these have utility, but leave a lot of meat on the bone.So what? It’s not like we are trying to learn the mail-man’s deepest, darkest, fears, but according to local writer, podcaster, and big-wave surfer Kyle Thiermann, there are some relationships in our lives that would benefit from some more carefully cultivated conversations. Namely, our parents. In his book, “One Last Question Before You Go,” Thiermann points to the interview as a container, one where clear questions can get pointed answers in a distinct atmosphere, one free of distraction where no subject is off the table. The idea for the book arose after he had his father, Eric, on as a guest on his podcast. He was so blown away by the amount of things that he learned in that discussion that he decided to devote a few years of his life to explore this theme in-depth.As Thiermann’s friend, and a fellow writer, I was thrilled to have the young author over for this latest serving of Split Peak Soup. Our discussion touched on the origins of his book, the merits of the “interview”, things he learned about his parents along the way, his writing process, getting published, his book tour, and a whole lot more. Thiermann is a bright guy, and his enthusiasm for his craft and curiosity towards life made him a superb guest. Enjoy!

Send us Fan MailThere is sometimes an unflattering, and often undeserved, stereotype of older surfboard shapers: that they are cantankerous and jaded old grumps limping through their shaping bays like lame prize horses, their brains frazzled from long-term exposure to hazardous resin, foam and fiberglass (that, or from all the acid they dropped in the ’60s and ’70s).Seventy-six year-old boardmaker and longboarder Michel Junod is none of that. He’s robust, clever, grateful and just plain stoked on life, even in the face of a market that is primarily focused on brand name, mass-produced shortboards and fishes. He has a winning business model—making people happy—that’s worked for him for nearly six decades.“People are stoked when they get a custom surfboard,” Junod says. “I’m known as a guy you can come to for a fun, custom board.”In this episode of the Split Peak Soup Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with this humble craftsman for an extended chat about his experience building surfboards. In the interview, we touched on a number of of topics, ranging from his humble beginnings as a beach rat in Santa Monica, introduction to shaping by surf icon Carl “Tinker” West, his time spent honing his craft in Santa Cruz and the North Shore of Oahu, the value of a working relationship with a custom surfboard builder, and the challenges of surfing into old age.We also discussed his move to Arizona in 2021, and how he’s been able to continue operating his business hundreds of miles away from the Pacific Ocean. It was a real treat sitting down with Junod, a longtime friend and true legend of surfing. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a snack, get cozy, and prepare for another nutritious serving of SPLIT PEAK SOUP!!!!!

Send us Fan MailSanta Cruz, California is well-known throughout the world as a surfing mecca. From iconic waves such as Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point, to surfing royalty such as Peter Mel and Nat Young, our town lives and breathes surfing. With such a reputation, surfers come from far and wide to live in and visit this gem of a surfing destination, bringing in valuable funds that greatly benefit the local economy. While surfing's impact to the livelihood of Santa Cruz has been long been understood, it's never been precisely quantified. Until now.Shaun Burns, along with Save the Waves Coalition, recently presented an economic study that determined that surfing brings in an annual $194.7 million dollars a year to the city of Santa Cruz. As Save the Waves reserve network coordinator, Burns has been tasked to present this groundbreaking study to the public. The study, which combined local expert knowledge, visitor data and economic modeling to come up with it's estimate, will be vital for the City of Santa Cruz moving forward, as it decides on measures needed to be taken to preserve this incredible natural resource.In this episode, Shaun and I discuss the study, including some of the problems facing Santa Cruz's many surf breaks, such as erosion and sea-level rise. We also touch on growing up in Santa Cruz, the East Side/ West Side rivalry, professional surfing, his sponsorship and work as Event Planner with O'Neill, life as a father and husband, and much more.Shaun is a class act, and someone I respect immensely. It was a pleasure to have him on the show and I can't wait to see what comes next for this well-spoken young man. EAT YOUR SOUP!

Send us Fan MailClifford Dinsmore is about as real as they come. As a young man coming of age in the early 80’s, he was attracted to the raw, rebellious, and raucous new phenomenon known as punk rock. In the beginning, he was just another rabid fan who cut his teeth on in-your-face acts such as the Circle Jerks and Black Flag. It wasn’t long thereafter that he started lending his violent vocals to M.A.D., a hardcore punk act that evolved into BL’AST. Before long, BL’AST became a critical success, allowing Dinsmore and the crew to begin playing gigs alongside hard-rock royalty such as Dead Kennedys, Youth Brigade, and Slayer, just to name a few. Dinsmore’s growling vocals paired perfectly with BL’AST’s heavy sound and helped cement himself into Punk Rock royalty.Since then, Dinsmore’s continued his musical pursuits with his other bands, Seized Up and Dusted Angel, who still play shows and release records to this day. His passion for punk rock and metal have kept him active in the scene for well over four decades, and he’s likely to continue for years to come.In this episode, we discuss his romance with punk rock, the chaotic era of the 1980’s, punk’s influence on skateboarding and surfing, the success of BL’AST, the gentrification of Santa Cruz, rocking into old age, as well as his experience dealing with some pretty scary health issues. Dinsmore’s been at this a long time, so you’re about to soak up some potent knowledge.So, what are you waiting for? Strap on that crusty bib, grab a spoon, and dig into this very special serving of SPLIT PEAK SOUP!!

Send us Fan MailComing back from a life-changing spinal cord injury has got to be one of the most difficult things a person could go through in their lives. These people are confronted with a choice....either rise to the occasion and make the best of their traumatic event, or submit to the enormity of it all. One man who is not letting his spinal cord injury get in the way of accomplishing his dreams is Claudio Morales Bettini, of Santiago, Chile. In 2012, Claudio was involved in a car crash that nearly took his life. After being stabilized at the hospital, it became clear that he would lose the ability to walk.Despite such a prognosis, the twenty-three year-old was able to navigate the perilous waters of prescription medication dependance, depression, and pain with grace and determination. After a year long, grueling physical therapy campaign, Claudio was able to get back into the water. He found that, with a dedicated crew and a modified surfboard, he could still enjoy the blissful sensation of riding perfect waves.Additionally, Claudio went back to school, became a psychologist, and is now helping other people in times of despair reclaim their happiness. He's become a force to be reckoned with in competitive adaptive surfing events, and has found community with non-profit organizations such as High Fives. In this conversation, we touch on all this, and much more, from moving from Chile to California in eighth grade, to working with clients suffering from substance abuse and mental health conditions due to childhood trauma. This man's story is both touching and inspiring. So what are you waiting for? Dig into this tasty serving of Split Peak Soup!

Send us Fan MailThe life of a professional artist is far from glamorous. The amount of hustle and discipline required to make it big is mind boggling. Rarely can you rely on natural talent alone--successful artists really have to think outside the box to secure that bag. One lovely individual who's doing a fabulous job of paving her own path in the world of art is none other than Anastasiya Bachmanova. Over the past decade-plus, she's been effectively sharing her ocean/nature inspired art to the masses through her gorgeous acrylic and watercolor paintings, which she sells as originals, as well as prints, greeting cards, and calendars. Originally from Russia, Bachmanova left her home land at the age of five years-old to move to Philadelphia with her family, where she remained until coming to California to study art at California State University at Monterey Bay. Since then, she's built her brand, Follow the Sun Art, into a sustainable business that shows no sign of slowing down. In this candid conversation, we discuss her upbringing, introduction to art, world travels, love for surfing, inspirations, teaching others the gift of art, as well as her latest endeavor, live wedding paintings. We also touch on the joys of motherhood and her devotion to raising Athena, her "mini-me". Ana's an inspirational human on so many levels, and it was such a treat to have her on the show. Please enjoy this extra special episode of Split Peak Soup Podcast!!

Send us Fan MailJimbo Phillips was born to be an artist. Son of legendary Santa Cruz artist Jim Phillips, who designed iconic Santa Cruz Skateboard graphics such as "The Screaming Hand" and "Classic Dot", Jimbo has forged his own path in the world of art, with similar success. Over the past 30+ years, he's been designing amazingly eye-catching skateboard graphics, logos, murals, rock posters, and more. In this podcast, Jimbo tells all, covering a broad range of topics, including his childhood inspirations, tutelage under Jim Sr., work ethic, opinions on A.I., painting surfboards, making music, and much, much more. We also touch on the Phillips art dynasty reaching a third generation with his son, Colby. A good time was had and I humbly invite you to join the fun! EAT YOUR SOUP!!

Send us Fan MailMeet Ethan Estess, an environmental artist and activist who is truly making a difference with his unique and eye-catching art. He takes literal trash from sea, such as fishing rope and golf balls, and transforms them into thought-provoking creations that not only look amazing, but send a powerful message as well. His reclaimed material art offerings have garnered the attention of surf giants such as Outerknown and the World Surf League, who've used his art in their promotions and events, to great acclaim. Here we discuss how got his career started, how he sources his materials, the responsibility of the individual, community action, his inspirations, and much more. Come take a peek into the world of this humble and thoughtful steward of the sea! EAT YOUR SOUP!!!!!!

Send us Fan MailImagine leaving your friends, family, and home country to chase your dreams in a foreign land, especially when your destination is known for being extremely hostile to non-native surfers. Well, that's what Brazil's Andre Gioranelli did back in 2006, when he uprooted from Rio de Janeiro and moved to Santa Cruz, California. Andre has made a name for himself as a humble human, expert surfer, and successful surfing coach. In this episode, we discuss his professional surfing career, move to Santa Cruz, coming back from a life-changing injury, thoughts on developing a strong mind and body, coaching approach, dangers of social media, toxic Brazilian sport fans, and much, much more. So, what are you waiting for? Jump in the bowl and EAT YOUR SOUP!

Send us Fan MailShane Rafferty is a force to be reckoned with in the Santa Cruz music scene. From his early days in the punk rock scene as lead singer of Lost Cause, to his exploration of Outlaw Country with his latest band, Wagon Wreckers, Rafferty has left robust musical mark. In addition to his musical pursuits, here we chat about the frustrations of surfing, battling addiction, raising children, being a brother of three, working in the solar energy business,  and spiritual evolution. Shane is one of those individuals who isn't afraid to tell it like it is, and would give you the shirt of his back. In the many years I've known Shane, he's always been like an older brother to me, and it was a blast going down memory lane and having some serious chuckles with our effortless banter. So, for the love of God, check this one out, and don't forget to finish every last drop of SOUP!!!

Send us Fan MailMeet Lanny Headrick of Sawdust Imagery. Lanny has been making truly whimsical wooden creations for years, from guitars to skateboards, robots to ravens. In this episode, Lanny and I have a hoot of a time discussing the road that led him to where he is today. Issues that we touch upon include: his upbringing, migration to Santa Cruz, time spent as a touring skateboard photographer, introduction to woodworking, falling in love and getting married in Costa Rica, his work as a cardiac nurse, fatherhood, the thrill of hunting reclaimed wood, as well as his latest endeavor, the creation of a children's book starring the wooden robot, Timber Mountain. Lanny is a well spoken, kind hearted man who deserves all the success in the world, and this benevolence is on full display in our extended chat. This is an episode you don't want to miss! Eat your soup!!!! 

Send us Fan MailA candid conversation with Matt Myers, of Myers Surf Mentorship. Here we discuss his role as a surf coach, what it takes to be a successful professional surfing in today's competitive environment, the current crop of hot talent coming out of Santa Cruz, wave pools, fatherhood, and more!!