PINCH MY SALT

Sterling Spencer's Health Update, Luke Cederman (Raglan Surf Report), and the State of Surfing | Pinch My Salt Podcast

Sterling Spencer is taking a break from the Pinch My Salt Podcast following a setback related to his traumatic brain injury (TBI). Cousin Ryan shares an important update on Sterling's health, recovery, and the future of the podcast before welcoming special guest co-host Luke Cederman, the creator of Raglan Surf Report and one of surfing's funniest personalities.

In this episode, Luke Cederman and Cousin Ryan dive into surf culture, professional surfing, soft-top surfboards, overcrowded surf breaks, beginner surfers, wave pools, and everything wrong (and right) with modern surfing. From Kelly Slater and Taj Burrow to Tom Curren, Griffin Colapinto, Gabriel Medina, and the World Surf League (WSL), nothing is off-limits.

Luke shares stories about hanging out with Taj Burrow in Bali, growing up surfing in New Zealand, his encounters with pro surfers, and why he thinks soft-top surfboards are changing surfing for the worse. The guys debate whether wave pools belong in Olympic surfing, roast viewer-submitted surfing clips, and discuss surf etiquette, localism, kook culture, and the future of surfing.

IN THIS EPISODE:

🏄 Sterling Spencer's health update and TBI recovery

🎙️ Wyatt Time! Sterling's son Wyatt joins Cousin Ryan

🇳🇿 Luke Cederman of Raglan Surf Report guest co-hosts

🔥 The Pinch My Salt vs. Raglan Surf Report rivalry

🍻 Luke's wild night hanging out with Taj Burrow in Bali

🌊 Are soft-top surfboards ruining surf culture?

🚨 Beginner surfers, dangerous reef breaks, and overcrowded lineups

🏆 Griffin Colapinto, Gabriel Medina, and controversial surf judging

🏄‍♂️ Kelly Slater, Tom Curren, and classic surfing legends

😂 Luke Cederman brutally roasts Pinchers' surfing videos

🌊 Wave pools vs. ocean surfing — should Olympic surfing move to a pool?

🎬 Taylor Steele's Momentum movies and old-school surf culture

🤙 Luke's three unforgettable tips for beginner surfers

A MESSAGE TO THE PINCHERS

Sterling has been dealing with the return of symptoms related to his previous traumatic brain injury following a recent accident. He's focusing on rest and recovery, and we're hoping to have him back as soon as he's ready.

We're keeping Pinch My Salt rolling with some incredible guest co-hosts in the meantime. Please send Sterling your love, prayers, and encouragement in the comments.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

Are soft-top surfboards ruining surfing, or are they making the sport better? Should Olympic surfing happen in wave pools? And how did Luke Cederman do filling in for Sterling?

Drop your thoughts below!

Subscribe to Pinch My Salt, hosted by Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan, for surf news, surfing culture, professional surfing stories, surf industry drama, hilarious surfing clips, interviews with legendary surfers, and unfiltered surf comedy.

Featuring Luke Cederman / Raglan Surf Report.

#PinchMySalt #LukeCederman #SterlingSpencer #RaglanSurfReport #Surfing #SurfPodcast
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Are surf movies dead? Did YouTube, viral surf clips, and social media kill the golden age of surf filmmaking? Professional surfer Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan dive into the history of surf movies, surf culture, and the videos that changed professional surfing forever on this special Halloween episode of the Pinch My Salt Podcast.

We're bringing back a never-before-released interview with legendary surf filmmaker Dave Malcolm, the man behind Surf Madness and the infamous Jeremy Flores viral video. Dave and Sterling reveal the untold story of how their Jeremy Flores parody went viral, sparked controversy in the professional surfing world, and led to a wild confrontation at the Surfer Poll Awards.

From Taj Burrow surfing in Crocs and the early days of Billabong surf films to Kelly Slater, the World Surf League (WSL), classic surf DVDs, and the rise of free surfing content online, we look back at how the internet completely changed the surfing industry.

Did surf filmmakers accidentally destroy the very industry they helped build?

This week, we're also celebrating FOUR YEARS of the Pinch My Salt Podcast!

Sterling and Ryan throw on their Halloween costumes, revisit the legendary 1987 surf movie North Shore, discuss Kelly Slater's ongoing refusal to acknowledge the podcast, and reveal a lost interview from the early days of the show.

IN THIS EPISODE:

🏄 The Death of Surf Movies — How free online surf videos, YouTube, and the early internet changed the surf film industry forever.

🔥 The Jeremy Flores Controversy — Sterling Spencer and Dave Malcolm explain the viral video, Jeremy's reaction, and what happened when they finally met face-to-face.

🎥 Dave Malcolm's Surf Filmmaking Stories — Behind the scenes of Surf Madness, Still Filthy, Billabong, and the legendary surf trips that helped shape an era.

🐊 Taj Burrow Surfing in Crocs — The ridiculous story behind one of Surf Madness's most memorable moments.

🌊 Kelly Slater and Pro Surfing — Why won't Kelly come on the podcast? Plus stories from the world of professional surfing.

🎃 North Shore and Halloween — Celebrating the greatest surf movie costumes and the unforgettable character Lance Burkhart.

📼 The Original Pinch My Salt — How Sterling's underground surf comedy website began in the early 2000s and eventually became a podcast.

🧠 Surfing and Mental Health — Dave discusses working with Sterling on a documentary about brain injuries and mental health in professional surfing.

❤️ Four Years of Pinch My Salt — From underground surf videos and surf industry satire to four years of surf podcast madness.

Whether you grew up watching classic surf movies, followed the Kelly Slater and Andy Irons era, remember the early days of surfing on YouTube, or just love funny surfing stories and unfiltered surf culture, this episode is for you.

Thanks to every Pincher who's supported us along the way. Four years of the podcast and more than two decades of Pinch My Salt history. We couldn't do it without you.

QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS: What's the greatest surf movie ever made, and do you think surf movies will ever make a comeback?

Subscribe for weekly surf talk, professional surfing stories, surf industry news, legendary guests, and completely unnecessary conversations with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan.

#Surfing #SurfMovies #KellySlater #PinchMySalt #SurfPodcast
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Professional surfing is facing serious questions after sexual assault allegations involving World Surf League (WSL) surfer Alan Cleland Jr. In this episode of the Pinch My Salt Podcast, pro surfer Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan discuss the allegations, Alan Cleland Jr.'s reported suspension, surf industry accountability, the culture surrounding professional surfing, and the responsibility of major surf brands, sponsors, photographers, and the WSL to protect young surfers.

Could this become a turning point for professional surfing? From the World Surf League and Championship Tour to the North Shore of Hawaii, surf sponsorships, and the darker side of surf culture, we're talking about issues that reach far beyond competitive surfing.

But that's not all. Sterling and Ryan also recap surviving a devastating Florida hurricane, scoring incredible hurricane surf in the Gulf of Mexico, and the chaos of life without electricity. Plus, Pinch My Clips returns with Kelly Slater's forgotten surfing era, Mick Fanning's acting skills, Mason Ho, Dane Reynolds, John John Florence, wave pools, surfboard design, and the never-ending debate over what makes someone a REAL surfer.

It's surf news, surf culture, pro surfing stories, ridiculous commentary, and serious conversations you won't hear anywhere else.

🌊 IN THIS EPISODE:

🏄 The Alan Cleland Jr. Allegations — A serious conversation about allegations involving the professional surfer, the WSL's response, accountability in surfing, and protecting young athletes.

🌪️ Surviving the Florida Hurricane — Sterling and Ryan share their wild experiences during the storm, the destruction around Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, and the incredible hurricane swell that followed.

🎥 Pinch My Clips — Viral surfing clips, unbelievable airs, Mick Fanning, Mason Ho, Kelly Slater, bodyboarding, skimboarding, and the weirdest corners of the internet.

🏆 Is the WSL Challenger Series Broken? — Why are young professional surfers spending so much money traveling the world to compete?

🌊 Kelly Slater's Forgotten Era — Revisiting one of the strangest chapters in the 11-time world champion's surfing career.

👟 Are Surfers Becoming Posers? — Dane Reynolds, Vans skate shoes, surf fashion, and why Sterling thinks surf culture has lost some of its identity.

🏄‍♂️ The Perfect Surfboard Quiver — Twin fins, fish surfboards, mid-lengths, thrusters, and giant 12-foot gliders. What boards does a real surfer actually need?

🤙 Remembering Larry Bertlemann — Celebrating a Hawaiian surfing legend and the classic surfing style that influenced generations.

🌊 Wave Pools vs. Real Surfing — Has progressive surfing become more like skateboarding than riding waves?

👇 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What's your take on the current state of professional surfing? What needs to change to make the surf industry safer for the next generation?

Leave a comment, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who loves surfing.

You know da rulez.

#PinchMySalt #Surfing #SurfPodcast
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Surfing legend Benji Weatherley joins Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan on the Pinch My Salt Podcast for one of our wildest episodes yet. From Kelly Slater and the Momentum Generation to Blink-182, Tom Curren, Shane Dorian, and the legendary lost surf movie Pickled, Benji tells unbelievable stories from the golden era of professional surfing.Known for his unforgettable appearances in Taylor Steele surf films, his friendship with Kelly Slater, inspiring Blink-182's hit song "Mutt," and his role in surf culture classics like Drive Thru, Benji Weatherley helped shape the personality of 1990s and early 2000s surfing.In this hilarious and completely unfiltered surf podcast, Benji talks about Kelly Slater stealing girlfriends, the rise of the Momentum Generation, the hidden story behind Billabong's Pickled surf movie, his wild surf trips with Tom Curren, and why the WSL dropped him from a Drive Thru project.We also dive into professional surfing, the surf industry, surf sponsorships, Jack Johnson, Donovan Frankenreiter, Kalani Robb, Joel Parkinson, and what life was really like behind the scenes during surfing's most iconic era.THIS WEEK ON PINCH MY SALT:🏄 Kelly Slater Stories — Benji talks about growing up around Kelly Slater, their friendship, rivalries, and the hilarious stories that never made it into the surf magazines.🎬 The Lost Surf Film PICKLED — What really happened to Benji Weatherley's legendary Billabong surf movie? Benji reveals the outrageous St. Barts trips, Tom Curren stories, the massive budget, and why the film nearly disappeared.🎸 Blink-182 and "Mutt" — Benji explains his famous nickname, his connection to Blink-182, and how he became part of punk rock and surf culture history.🌊 The Momentum Generation — Growing up alongside Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, Rob Machado, and the surfers who transformed professional surfing forever.🍻 Life as a Sponsored Pro Surfer — From Billabong and Bud Light to endless East Coast surf tours, Benji reveals what being a professional freesurfer was really like.🚫 Benji vs. the WSL — Benji shares his side of the story about getting removed from a Drive Thru project after a controversial Zoom meeting.😂 The Funniest Guy in Surfing? — Benji goes completely off the rails, roasts the hosts, and proves why he's one of surfing's most unforgettable personalities.If you grew up watching Taylor Steele movies, following the Momentum Generation, listening to Blink-182, reading SURFER Magazine, or watching Drive Thru, this episode is for you.Pinch My Salt is a comedy surf podcast hosted by professional surfer Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan. We talk surfing, surf culture, professional surfers, surf industry drama, nostalgia, music, and everything ridiculous about life.SUBSCRIBE for new episodes, legendary surfing guests, behind-the-scenes surf stories, and completely unnecessary conversations.Drop a comment: What's your favorite Benji Weatherley moment, and have you ever seen the lost surf movie Pickled?#BenjiWeatherley #KellySlater #PinchMySalt #Surfing #SurfPodcast
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Did Surfline, surf cams and modern surf forecasting ruin surfing? Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down what’s changed about surf culture, why Surfline cameras may have killed part of the mystery of finding waves, the loss of old-school surf knowledge, soft top surfers, crowded lineups, Magicseaweed, local surf culture, surf forecasting, waterman skills and the difference between people who surf and people who actually live surfing.

This episode of Pinch My Salt goes deep into modern surfing vs old-school surf culture — plus Kelly Slater, John John Florence, Dane Reynolds, Joel Parkinson, Herbie Fletcher, Mason Ho, Pipeline, Backdoor, J-Bay, Tavarua Fiji, Lowers, twin fins, foil surfing, surf contests, surf clips, surf style and some of the most legendary eras in professional surfing.

Sterling explains how surfers used to learn weather patterns, wind direction, swell, tides and even the smell and sound of the ocean instead of opening a surf cam and waiting for Surfline to turn green. Has instant access to surf reports made surfing better — or created an entire generation of “cam surfers”?

We also get into vintage Kelly Slater vs John John Florence, Joel Parkinson’s legendary style, Herbie Fletcher, old-school surf videos, twin fins after retirement, Dane Reynolds, foil boards, soft tops, surf influencers, crowded lineups and whether anything in surfing can still feel secret.

And because it’s Pinch My Salt, somehow we also end up talking about Lana Del Rey, IQ tests, neurofeedback, narcissism, getting older, marriage, golf vs surfing, disc golf, Aaron Rodgers, happiness, helping other people and whether surfers eventually become golfers.

If you love surfing podcasts, surf history, professional surfing, surf culture, funny podcasts, surf commentary, Kelly Slater, John John Florence, Dane Reynolds, Pipeline, Hawaii surfing, surfboard design, surf forecasting, surf clips or arguments about what’s wrong with modern surfing — welcome to Pinch My Salt.

COMMENT BELOW: If you could delete ONE thing from modern surfing, what would it be?

Surf cams?
Soft tops?
Foil boards?
Surf influencers?
Surf contests in bad waves?
Or the guy who says, “It was better yesterday”?

Subscribe to Pinch My Salt with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan for weekly surfing, comedy, surf news, pro surfing stories, surf history and completely unnecessary arguments about the greatest sport in the world.

#Surfing #SurfPodcast #PinchMySalt #KellySlater #JohnJohnFlorence #DaneReynolds #Surfline #SurfCulture #ProSurfing #SurfPodcast
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