Tom Carroll joins Pinch My Salt to talk about one of the biggest shifts happening in surfing right now: wave pools, the future of surf contests, the WSL, and whether competitive surfing is about to change forever. In this episode, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan dive into wave pool surfing, the Stab air contest, Huey Vaughn’s insane aerial progression, the WSL’s New Zealand/Raglan event struggles, flat surf contests, modern surf judging, the future of surf competitions, and why wave pools might become the next major stage for professional surfing.
Tom Carroll, two-time world champion and one of surfing’s most respected legends, drops in to talk about winning the first professional wave pool contest in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1985, beating Derek Ho, and what that strange moment in surf history says about where surfing is headed now. TC breaks down the energy of wave pools, the pressure of performing in front of a close crowd, Kelly Slater’s wave pool, Surf Ranch, the dream of pressing a button for perfect waves, and whether surfers still have the patience to wait on the ocean.
The boys also get into Sterling turning 40, surf legacy, getting older, pro surfers not mattering, Jack Johnson allegedly cussing, John John Florence’s fake music career, Walton Goggins aura, Kimana’s big-man power surfing, soft top chaos, public breastfeeding disasters, seaweed trauma, and the possibility of a future wave pool tour with DJs, celebrities, pool parties, and actual entertainment.
Is the ocean tour in trouble? Are wave pools the future of surfing? Can the WSL survive flat contests? Is Tom Carroll secretly the first wave pool champion ever?
You know the rules. Drop in, comment, like, subscribe, and pinch that salty button.
Featuring:
Tom Carroll
Sterling Spencer
Cousin Ryan
Pinch My Salt
Topics in this episode:
Tom Carroll interview
Wave pool surfing
Future of surfing
WSL surf contests
Stab air contest
Huey Vaughn air surfing
Kelly Slater wave pool
Surf Ranch
Allentown Pennsylvania wave pool contest
First professional wave pool contest
Derek Ho
Raglan New Zealand surf contest
Flat surf contests
Surf judging
Dream Tour
Professional surfing
Sterling Spencer birthday
Surf comedy podcast
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