Eric Searcy discussed his early years surfing in Ponte Vedra Beach. He also spoke about some of his favorite surf spots in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, and the annual surf trips he takes to North Shore, Hawaii.
Jeffrey Sturtevant discussed moving to St. Augustine as an eighteen year old. He began shaping boards and opened his own business with his friends. He also spoke about his experiences surfing in South America.
Robbie Wiles discussed his early progression as a surfer, from using a boogie board to then using different types of short boards. Further, he talked about his surf travels, his short-lived rap career, and what makes the St. Augustine surf community…
Ross Howatt was born in August of 1986 in Jacksonville Florida. He moved to St. Augustine as a child and he grew up surfing Vilano Beach. His father encouraged him and he competed on both East and West Coasts in his teens and twenties.
Chris Ropero discussed how his father got him into surfing, his use of the Blue Sky Surf Shop, his favorite surf spots in St. Augustine, and a few hurricane swells that he’s experienced.
Terry Drozd grew up in St. Augustine Beach and earned his reputation as a grommet of St. Augustine surfing. McDaniel began surfing in Vero Beach and became involved in the St. Augustine surf scene through his son. The two discussed what surfing has…
Casey and Dan Stahr discuss the Vilano Indians, their favorite surf spots around the world, Zealand Stahr (Casey’s son), and the future of the surf community in St. Augustine.
Lester Goode is a native of St. Augustine and one of the first people to start surfing at the St. Augustine Beach Pier. In 1967, he became injured after joining the military. When he returned to St. Augustine, in 1971, he wrote about surfing, and…
Ric Schilling was born in Jacksonville, but he grew up surfing in St. Augustine. He traveled to surf in Hawaii, South America, and Puerto Rico. He was friends with many other local surfers and board shapers. He had a successful career as a…
Eric Norton discussed his first surfboard, bought and shipped from California. He also spoke about some of his surfing influences and what it was like to surf around the St. Augustine Pier in the 1970s.
Matt Jeffs moved to St. Augustine with his parents in the early 1970s. Jeffs began lifeguarding in 1978 and became a member of the elite lifeguard corps at Anastasia Park. He discussed local board shops and shapers, harrowing rescues, the power of…
Brandi Schmidt attended Flagler College, and moved to St. Augustine Beach to have better access to the surf. She began surfing Eastern Surfing Association contests and then the Op Pro. She discussed her family’s surfing background, her first board,…
