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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

Release Date: 06/13/2026

Amaury Lavernhe | World Titles, Heavy Waves & the Soul of Bodyboarding show art Amaury Lavernhe | World Titles, Heavy Waves & the Soul of Bodyboarding

The Temple of Surf Podcast

What does it take to become a two-time bodyboarding world champion and what keeps you chasing waves after reaching the very top? This week on The Temple of Surf Podcast, we welcome Amaury Lavernhe, one of the most accomplished European bodyboarders of his generation, for a fascinating conversation about competition, powerful waves, dedication, and a lifetime connected to the ocean. Raised on Réunion Island, surrounded by incredible waves and a passionate surfing community, Amaury discovered bodyboarding at an early age. What began as a childhood obsession eventually became an extraordinary...

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The Temple of Surf Podcast

Can science help create a better surfboard or does the magic still come from the hands of the shaper? This week on The Temple of Surf Podcast, we travel to Japan for a fascinating conversation with Keitaro Oshima, founder, shaper and builder behind Curvaceous Surfboards. Born in Tokyo and raised in Yokohama, Keitaro represents a new generation of surfboard builders approaching an ancient question from a very different perspective: What makes a surfboard truly work? Keitaro graduated from the University of Tokyo in 2023, but his academic journey unexpectedly became connected to surfing. While...

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The Temple of Surf Podcast

What makes a surfer, after decades in the ocean, decide to start again and enter an entirely different world? In this episode of The Temple of Surf Podcast, I sit down with Italian surfer and big-wave rider Alessandro Marcianò for a conversation about a remarkable life built around surfing. Alessandro’s story begins far away from the giant waves of Nazaré. Growing up in Rome and surfing the Italian coastline, he became part of a generation that helped establish and develop surf culture in a country where finding waves often requires patience, knowledge and an obsession with the ocean....

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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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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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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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The Temple of Surf Podcast

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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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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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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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More Episodes

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 surfboard technology, surfing performance, and the surf industry itself.

During this fascinating conversation, Roger shares stories from his journey as a surfboard shaper, discussing how surfboard design has evolved over the decades and what truly makes a board come alive beneath a surfer's feet. From classic single fins to modern high-performance equipment, Roger reflects on the lessons learned through a lifetime spent shaping foam and chasing perfection.

We explore the relationship between surfer and shaper, the importance of understanding waves, and why craftsmanship remains at the heart of great surfboard building despite advances in materials and technology. Roger also offers valuable insights into the creative process behind shaping, explaining how intuition, experience, and a deep understanding of surfing combine to create boards that perform at the highest level.

This episode is much more than a discussion about surfboards. It is a journey through surfing history, surf culture, and the enduring passion that drives dedicated craftsmen to spend decades refining their art. Roger's stories provide a unique perspective on how surfing has changed while also highlighting the timeless values that continue to define the sport and lifestyle.

Whether you're a surfer, surfboard collector, aspiring shaper, or simply someone fascinated by the rich history of surfing, this conversation offers a rare opportunity to learn from one of the industry's true masters.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Roger Hall's shaping journey and career highlights
• The evolution of surfboard design
• Classic versus modern surfboards
• The relationship between shaper and surfer
• Surf culture through the decades
• Craftsmanship and innovation in surfboard building
• Lessons learned from a lifetime in surfing
• The future of surfboard design

If you enjoy conversations with legendary surfers, master shapers, photographers, innovators, and storytellers from across the surfing world, make sure to subscribe to The Temple of Surf Podcast and join our growing global community of surf enthusiasts.

Listen now and discover why Roger Hall's contribution to surfing continues to inspire generations of surfers and shapers around the world.

 

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