Writing Point Break: W. Peter Iliff on Crafting a Surf Legend - Interview with The Temple of Surf - The Podcast
Release Date: 11/12/2025
Surf Photography Icon – Tom Servais and the Stories Behind Legendary Images
The Temple of Surf Podcast
Surf photography has played a crucial role in shaping the identity of modern surf culture. Long before social media, iconic images published in magazines defined how surfers around the world experienced waves, style, and progression. In this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we welcome legendary surf photographer Tom Servais, whose work has helped document some of the most important moments in surfing history. Based in California, Tom Servais has spent decades capturing the evolution of surfing through his lens. His photography is widely recognized for documenting the rise of professional...
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From Township to Surf Champion – Joshe Faulkner | 2X South African Surf Champion
The Temple of Surf Podcast
Surfing has the power to transform lives. In this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we welcome Joshe Faulkner, a two-time South African surf champion whose life story is as powerful as the waves he rides. Born and raised in the township of Jeffreys Bay, Joshe Faulkner grew up surrounded by both incredible waves and difficult realities. Jeffreys Bay is known worldwide for its legendary right-hand point break, Supertubes, one of the most perfect waves on the planet. But for many young people growing up in nearby townships, life can be extremely challenging. Joshe’s childhood was shaped by...
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From Switzerland to the World’s Waves – Fantin Habashi Surf Story
The Temple of Surf Podcast
Surfing has become a truly global sport, with athletes emerging from cultures and backgrounds that once seemed far removed from the ocean. In this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we welcome Fantin Habashi, an inspiring surfer whose life journey reflects resilience, perseverance, and an unwavering passion for waves. Fantin Habashi’s story is unique within the world of surfing. With roots connected to both Switzerland and Egypt, his early life was shaped by movement between different countries and cultures. Although Switzerland is a country surrounded by mountains rather than...
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Michaela Fregonese Makes Big Wave History | Temple of Surf Podcast Interview
The Temple of Surf Podcast
There are moments in surfing that redefine a career. And then there are moments that redefine what is possible. Michaela Fregonese has just claimed Ride of the Year and Biggest Wave at the SURFER Big Wave Challenge Awards, a monumental achievement that places her among the elite of big wave surfing worldwide. Two of the most prestigious honors in the sport. One surfer. One fearless commitment. In this powerful new episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we sit down with Michaela to unpack what it truly took to earn this title. Because awards are the surface of the story. Beneath them lies...
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Japan’s Surf Revolution Masatoshi Ohno on Waves Competition and Culture | The Temple of Surf Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
In this powerful new episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we sit down with Japanese surfer Masatoshi Ohno to explore his journey through competitive surfing, the evolution of Japanese surf culture, and the waves that shaped his life. Japan has quietly become one of the most exciting forces in modern surfing. From Olympic recognition to world-class wave pools and a new generation of elite competitors, Japanese surf culture is no longer emerging, it is established. In this deep and inspiring conversation, Masatoshi Ohno shares firsthand insight into what it meant to grow up competing in Japan,...
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The Man Who Shaped Modern Surfing – Rusty Preisendorfer | The Temple of Surf Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
In this very special episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we sit down with one of the most influential surfboard shapers of all time Rusty Preisendorfer. This is a rare interview with a true icon. Rusty almost never does interviews, which makes this conversation not just important, but historic for surf culture. Founder of Rusty Surfboards, Rusty Preisendorfer helped define the modern era of high-performance surfing. From the explosive progression of the 1980s to the power surfing revolution of the 1990s and beyond, his boards have been ridden by world champions, innovators, and free-surf...
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Dave Tourjé | California Locos, Surf & Skate Art That Defined a Generation - The Temple of Surf - The Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
In this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we sit down with Dave Tourjé, the visionary artist and co-founder of California Locos, a collective that helped define the visual language of modern surf, skate, and California counterculture. Dave Tourjé’s work sits at the crossroads of surf culture, skateboarding, fine art, street art, and West Coast rebellion. From board graphics and murals to gallery walls and underground scenes, his influence reaches far beyond aesthetics, it’s about identity, attitude, and freedom of expression. In this conversation, we explore how California...
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Brodi Sale — Pipeline Is Earned, Not Given | Inside the Mind of a North Shore Charger - The Temple of Surf - The Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
This week on The Temple of Surf Podcast, we welcome Brodi Sale, a North Shore of Oʻahu surfer known for his deep respect of Hawaiian surf culture and his powerful approach to heavy waves like Pipeline and Backdoor. Brodi Sale represents a generation of Hawaiian surfers who prioritize knowledge, patience, and presence in the lineup over visibility and social media hype. Raised on the North Shore, Brodi learned early that surfing Pipeline is not about forcing waves, chasing clips, or proving yourself, it’s about earning respect through consistency, discipline, and understanding the ocean. In...
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From Hossegor to 100-Foot Waves: Laurent Pujol and the Soul of Surf Photography - The Temple of Surf - The Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
This week on The Temple of Surf Podcast, we welcome Laurent Pujol, an underwater cameraman and surf photographer whose work has helped define how modern surfing is seen, remembered, and felt. Laurent’s career sits at the crossroads of risk, patience, and absolute precision. Shooting from inside the impact zone, often beneath moving mountains of water, he has developed a rare sensitivity to timing and positioning, the kind that only comes from years spent reading the ocean at its most unpredictable. In this conversation, we go beyond the surface of surf photography to explore what it...
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Jerome Sahyoun — Morocco’s Big Wave Charger and the Reality of Heavy Surf - The Temple of Surf - The Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
This week on The Temple of Surf Podcast, we sit down with Jerome Sahyoun, a Moroccan big-wave surfer whose life has been shaped by powerful oceans, remote coastlines, and a deep respect for waves that demand total commitment. Born and raised in Morocco, Jerome Sahyoun represents a generation of surfers who grew up far from the spotlight, but close to serious water. Morocco’s long Atlantic coastline, exposed to relentless swells, became his training ground, a place where patience, observation, and humility are essential. In this episode, Jerome shares how surfing in Morocco forged both his...
info_outline13TH SEASON FINALE!!!
In this exclusive episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we dive deep into the mind of W. Peter Iliff, the legendary screenwriter who brought one of the most iconic surf films of all time to life : Point Break.
Written in the early 1990s and directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Point Break became a cultural phenomenon, blending the adrenaline of big-wave surfing with the raw energy of undercover crime and spiritual brotherhood.
Peter shares the incredible story of how Point Break came to be from his early writing days in Los Angeles to the moment the film caught the attention of Hollywood. We talk about the creative process behind the screenplay, his collaboration with Bigelow, and how characters like Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) and Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) became timeless symbols of freedom, rebellion, and the search for meaning through surfing.
Iliff opens up about the challenges of writing a movie that went beyond surf clichés and instead captured the soul of the ocean, the philosophy of living on the edge, and the spiritual bond among surfers and outlaws alike. We also discuss how Point Break continues to inspire generations of surfers, filmmakers, and dreamers more than 30 years later.
From behind-the-scenes stories to the deeper message of “If you want the ultimate, you’ve got to be willing to pay the ultimate price,” this episode explores why Point Break remains one of the greatest surf movies ever made, not just for its action, but for its heart.
Peter also shares updates about his current projects, his reflections on Hollywood storytelling today, and his personal connection to the surf community that embraced Point Break as a spiritual anthem.
Whether you’re a surfer, a movie lover, or someone chasing your own wave in life, this conversation will remind you why the ocean and cinema are both places where truth and freedom collide.
Tune in to The Temple of Surf Podcast and join me for a powerful, nostalgic, and inspiring journey through surf culture, art, and storytelling with one of the most influential screenwriters of our time.
🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.
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