Michaela Fregonese Makes Big Wave History | Temple of Surf Podcast Interview
Release Date: 03/02/2026
Camden Hoover | Surfing Without Limits: Shortboard, Longboard & Beyond
The Temple of Surf Podcast
What happens when you refuse to let surfing fit into just one category? In this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, I sit down with Camden Hoover, a surfer whose relationship with the ocean crosses different boards, different waves, and increasingly, different sides of competitive surfing. Camden is equally comfortable expressing herself on a shortboard or a longboard, bringing an approach to surfing built around versatility, progression, style, and a genuine love for being in the water. But her journey is evolving. Beyond competing and riding waves herself, Camden has also stepped into...
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Alo Slebir | Mavericks, Monster Waves & the Pursuit of Progression
The Temple of Surf Podcast
On December 23, 2024, Alessandro “Alo” Slebir rode a wave at Mavericks that immediately sent shockwaves through the surfing world. The first estimates were extraordinary. Some believed the wave could have exceeded 100 feet, potentially making it the biggest wave ever surfed. After months of analysis and debate, the official measurement came in at 76 feet—still an absolutely monumental wave and the winner of the 2025 Men’s Biggest Wave award. But this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast is about much more than one number. It’s about the young surfer behind the wave. Based in Santa...
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Eric Rebière | The French Surf Pioneer Who Chose Giant Waves
The Temple of Surf Podcast
From professional competition to some of the most powerful waves on the planet, Eric Rebière has lived an extraordinary surfing journey. In this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, I sit down with Eric Rebière, a pioneer of European professional surfing, two-time European professional champion, and the first French surfer to qualify for surfing’s elite World Tour. Eric’s story takes us back to a very different era of professional surfing. Growing up surfing in Brazil before moving to France as a teenager, Eric pursued a dream that, at the time, very few European surfers had achieved:...
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Matt Bromley | Big Waves, Surfing & a Life Built Around the Ocean
The Temple of Surf Podcast
What does it take to build a life around surfing some of the most powerful waves on the planet? In this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, I sit down with South African big wave surfer Matt Bromley for a wide-ranging conversation about surfing, big waves, adventure, preparation, mindset, and a life shaped by the ocean. Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, Matt developed his surfing surrounded by an extraordinary coastline and a culture of surfers willing to challenge serious waves. From an early age, the ocean became much more than a place to surf, it became the environment that...
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Inside the Shaping Bay | Master Shaper Fabio Giacomini
The Temple of Surf Podcast
Welcome to another episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast. This week, we are honored to welcome one of the true pioneers of Italian surfboard shaping: Fabio Giacomini. For more than four decades, Fabio has dedicated his life to the pursuit of the perfect surfboard. Beginning his shaping journey in 1980, he became one of the first professional surfboard shapers in Italy, helping to build a surf culture in a country where the sport was still in its infancy. Through decades of research, experimentation, and craftsmanship, he has earned a reputation as one of Europe's most respected custom...
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She Charges Nazaré | Christina Gindl on Big Waves, Fear & Finding Freedom
The Temple of Surf Podcast
Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast. This week, I am joined by Christina Gindl, Austrian big wave surfer, ocean adventurer, filmmaker, and one of the most inspiring voices in modern surfing. Born in the Austrian mountains, Christina's path to surfing was anything but conventional. After moving abroad and discovering life on the ocean, she fell in love with surfing, eventually settling in Portugal, where she has become known for charging some of the Atlantic's most powerful waves, including the legendary breaks around Nazaré and Ericeira. Today, she is also an...
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Breaking Barriers in Surfing | Yvette Cave on Inclusion, Equality & the Future of the Ocean
The Temple of Surf Podcast
For decades, surfing has been celebrated as the ultimate expression of freedom. But who truly gets to experience that freedom? In this inspiring episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, we welcome Yvette Cave, founder of Wave Wahines and one of the leading voices advocating for equality, diversity, and inclusion within the surfing community. Driven by the belief that the ocean should belong to everyone, Yvette has dedicated her career to breaking down barriers that prevent people from experiencing the transformative power of surfing. Through Wave Wahines, she has created opportunities...
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The Untold Story of Gorkin | Surfing's Legendary Aaron Cormican ⭐
The Temple of Surf Podcast
Welcome to another unforgettable episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast. This week, we are honored to present a truly special conversation with one of surfing's most legendary and enigmatic figures: Aaron Cormican, better known around the world as Gorkin. For decades, Gorkin has earned a cult following among surfers for his fearless approach to waves, his unmistakable style, and the stories that have become part of modern surf folklore. While many know the name, few have had the opportunity to hear directly from the man behind the legend. Making this episode even more unique is the...
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Inside Surfer’s Hell | Belgian Surfboard Craftsmanship, Custom Boards & North Sea Surf Culture
The Temple of Surf Podcast
Welcome to another episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast. This week, we are honored to welcome Oscar González Torres, founder of Surfer's Hell, one of Europe's most respected names in Beligium Surf Culture. Based in Ostend, Belgium, Surfer's Hell has become synonymous with quality craftsmanship, surfboard innovation, and an unwavering dedication to the surfing lifestyle. In this fascinating conversation, Oscar shares the remarkable story behind Surfer's Hell and how a passion for surfing grew into a brand recognized throughout Europe and beyond. From shaping surfboards and developing...
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Roger Hall: The Legendary Surfboard Shaper Behind Decades of Surfboard Innovation | The Temple of Surf Podcast
The Temple of Surf Podcast
Welcome to a brand-new episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, where we dive deep into the stories, craftsmanship, and personalities that have shaped the world of surfing. In this episode, we sit down with legendary New Zealand's surfboard shaper Roger Hall, a respected craftsman whose decades-long career has left a lasting mark on surfboard design and surf culture. Roger Hall belongs to a generation of surfboard builders who helped define the evolution of modern surfing. Through years of experimentation, innovation, and hands-on craftsmanship, he has witnessed firsthand the transformation of...
info_outlineThere 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 years of preparation, wipeouts, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of heavier conditions.
As an Italo-Brazilian athlete, Michaela carries a rare blend of passion and precision. Brazil fuels her fire. Italy anchors her mindset. Together, they shape a competitor who remains composed when the ocean transforms into moving mountains.
We talk about the wave itself, the size, the speed, the commitment. What does it feel like to paddle into a wall of water that most people would not even consider? What happens internally in the final seconds before takeoff? In big wave surfing, there is no room for doubt. There is only training, instinct, and trust.
Winning Ride of the Year is about execution. Winning Biggest Wave is about courage. Winning both is about mastery.
This episode dives deep into her preparation routines, breath work, physical conditioning, and the psychology required to operate in extreme environments. Michaela shares the unseen side of big wave surfing, the teamwork behind jet skis, the safety protocols, the mental recalibration after heavy wipeouts. Because glory in the ocean is built on structure and respect.
We also speak about what this recognition means for women in big wave surfing. The ceiling continues to rise. The waves do not discriminate. Performance speaks. And Michaela’s performance spoke loudly enough to echo through the global surf community.
For the Temple of Surf audience, this is more than a celebration episode. It is a study in resilience. It is a reminder that fear can be transformed into focus. That preparation turns chaos into opportunity. That when the horizon darkens and the swell stands tall, the difference between watching and committing defines everything.
Michaela Fregonese did not just ride a wave. She rode a moment that will stay in surf history.
🎙 The episode is now live on all platforms.
Step inside the mindset behind Ride of the Year.
Respect the ocean. Honor the commitment.