Lines, Curves & Soul: The Art of Shaping with Ian Byrne - Interview with The Temple of Surf - The Podcast
Release Date: 12/07/2025
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...
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Surfing, Storytelling, and the Hidden History of Waves | Andy Martin on The Temple of Surf Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
In this deep and compelling episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we welcome professor, writer, and one of the most insightful voices in surf literature, Andy Martin. Known for his ability to explore surfing beyond performance and competition, Andy brings a rare blend of academic depth, lived experience, and poetic clarity to the conversation. Andy Martin has spent decades writing about surfing as culture, obsession, language, and way of life. As a professor, lecturer and a lifelong surfer, he bridges the worlds of academia and the lineup, showing how waves can be read like texts and how...
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Chasing Light & Heavy Water 🌊 Vincent Kardasik on Surf Cinematography, Timing & Truth - Interview with The Temple of Surf - The Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
This week on The Temple of Surf Podcast, we sit down with Vincent Kardasik, a director, cinematographer, and visual storyteller whose work bridges the worlds of surf culture, film, and ocean-driven narratives. Vincent is known not only for capturing powerful surf imagery, but for directing and crafting moving stories that go far beyond a single frame. Through film, cinematography, and photography, he explores the emotional depth of surfing, the patience, the tension, the silence, and the moments of release that define life in and around the ocean. In this episode, Vincent shares his creative...
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Joe Blair: The Art of Hand-Shaped Surfboards & the Soul of Surf Design - Interview with The Temple of Surf Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
This week on The Temple of Surf Podcast, we sit down with legendary surfboard shaper Joe Blair, a true craftsman whose influence on modern surfboard design runs deep through decades of wave riding, innovation, and hands-on shaping. Known for his commitment to functionality, flow, and timeless outlines, Joe Blair represents a generation of shapers who learned their craft in dusty bays, under fluorescent lights, driven purely by feel, intuition, and an obsession with waves. In this episode, Joe Blair takes us back to the roots of his shaping journey, how he first fell in love with surfing, the...
info_outlineIn this week’s episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we sit down with one of the most quietly influential craftsmen in modern surfing: Ian Byrne, master surfboard shaper, designer, and the visionary behind some of the equipment trusted by surfers around the world. Known for his deep respect for tradition and his relentless drive to refine the feel of a surfboard under the feet of everyday surfers, Ian has built a career grounded in precision, humility, and an authentic love for the craft.
Across our conversation, Ian takes us on a journey from his early days learning the fundamentals of shaping to his evolution into a respected figure in the shaping community. He shares insights into what truly defines a great board, the fine balance between performance and accessibility, and why every board, whether a high-performance shortboard or a playful twin carries the imprint of the surfer it’s made for.
We explore the shaping philosophies that guide his work today: the importance of hand-foiling, the role of intuition, and the ongoing dance between tradition and technological advancement. Ian reflects on the lessons learned from years spent in shaping bays around the world, and how various coastlines, breaks, and surf cultures have influenced his approach to design.
He also dives into sustainability, discussing how shapers can push toward more responsible materials and smarter production processes, without compromising quality or performance.
For those fascinated by surfboard design, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a shaper who deeply understands how subtle changes, a rail tucked a little differently, a fin placement adjusted a few millimeters, a rocker line re-imagined can transform an entire surfing experience.
For surfers simply looking to better connect with their equipment, Ian offers thoughtful guidance on how to choose the right board, how to communicate with your shaper, and what it really means to find a board that “matches your surfing.”
We also speak about the current state of the surf industry: the pressures on hand shapers, the impact of machine shaping, and the rise of boutique brands that are pushing creativity forward. Ian’s perspective is refreshingly grounded — honoring the past, embracing the present, and remaining optimistic about the future of surf craft.
Whether you’re a seasoned surfer, a board collector, a design nerd, or someone discovering the beauty of surf craft for the first time, Ian Byrne’s story is a reminder that behind every great wave ridden, there is a board and behind every great board, there is a shaper with passion, patience, and a willingness to chase perfection one curve at a time.
Tune in to hear a conversation that celebrates craftsmanship, creativity, and the timeless relationship between surfer and shaper. Another inspiring episode from The Temple of Surf.