Episode Notes

Kelly Slater’s controversial Tahiti wild card, Outerknown’s connection to the WSL event, and the future of professional surfing lead this episode of the Pinch My Salt surf podcast. Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan debate whether Kelly Slater deserves the Tahiti Pro wild card, whether a sponsor should be able to put its own co-founder into a World Surf League contest, and whether the 11-time world champion can still win in heavy Tahiti barrels.

We also break down the biggest surf news, viral surfing clips, surf culture debates, and pro surfing controversies: Louis Vuitton and Pharrell bringing Mikey February, Raimana and twin-fin surfboards into high fashion; Jack Johnson getting caught riding a soft-top surfboard; Rob Machado’s effortless surfing technique and pop-up; Kai Lenny’s surf training; wave-pool airs versus real ocean surfing; surf etiquette, women getting waves, dangerous kooks, Blue Crush, Keala Kennelly, Alana Blanchard, women’s surf history, Paris Hilton surfing a wave pool, WSL judging, Griffin Colapinto, Ethan Ewing, Jack Robinson, Tom Curren, Skip Frye and the question every core surfer is asking—is surf culture dying?

This is surf comedy, surf commentary and honest surf-industry talk for fans of WSL surfing, classic surf videos, surf podcasts and core surf culture worldwide.

Did Kelly Slater earn the Tahiti wild card—or did Kelly and Outerknown find a way to give themselves a spot in the contest? Sterling and Ryan agree that surfing is better with Kelly in it, but question whether another young Tahitian or up-and-coming surfer should have received the opportunity.

The boys also discuss why professional surfing struggles to create stars, whether the WSL needs legendary surfers such as Kelly Slater, Tom Curren and Tom Carroll judging events, and why current surf contests feel disconnected from the culture that created them.

Drop your opinion in the comments:

🏄 Does Kelly deserve the Tahiti wild card?🌊 Could Kelly Slater actually win the event?⚖️ Should former world champions judge WSL contests?💀 Is surf culture really dying?

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This episode contains adult humor, questionable advice and extremely serious discussions about soft-top surfboards.

Kelly Slater Tahiti wild card, Kelly Slater wildcard controversy, Kelly Slater Outerknown, Outerknown Tahiti Pro, WSL Tahiti, World Surf League, professional surfing, surf news, surfing podcast, surf comedy podcast, Pinch My Salt podcast, Sterling Spencer, Cousin Ryan, Rob Machado surfing, Kai Lenny training, Jack Johnson surfing, Jack Johnson soft top, Mikey February Louis Vuitton, Pharrell surf fashion, Raimana surfing, Keala Kennelly, Alana Blanchard, Blue Crush, Griffin Colapinto, Ethan Ewing, Jack Robinson, Tom Curren, Skip Frye, wave pool surfing, surf etiquette, women’s surfing, WSL judging, surfing industry and surf culture.

#KellySlater #Surfing #PinchMySalt