Skelly Sister with Jesse James

[00:00:00] Scarlett 2i2 USB-4: Hello and welcome to the swell season surf podcast. I'm your host Tyler Brewer. Jesse James is a stylish, regular foot. Who is equally stylish on land. She grew up. As a tomboy in Martha's vineyard, where she developed her own personal style. The way she dressed the way she acted. And it always stood out.

[00:00:25] Eventually shoot finder way to New York and make a name for herself as a stylist. She's become ingrained in the New York surf community. Uh, she, we see her everywhere, helping out volunteering and being involved. And I just thought she'd be an amazing guest for the swell season podcast. Uh, she's someone who I've gotten to know through surfing.

[00:00:49] See now in the lineup and always a positive presence. And yeah, it's just always good to highlight some of the local characters here and she's definitely one of them. She [00:01:00] just got back from a trip to New Zealand, scored some epic waves, which we kind of dive into. Uh, but we also discuss other things like her friend, Dan, who had passed away recently. And we discuss her career and a whole bunch of other interesting topics.

[00:01:16] So I hope you really enjoy the show. Jessie is a true gem of a person and I'm super psyched to have her as a guest. I hope you all enjoy..

[00:01:26] Tyler: All right, so jesse, uh I want to start with this like you just got back from New zealand. Yeah, and I want you to tell me about that trip Like first like how did you guys come about planning it and how long did you go for? And yeah, some of some just give me give me a little little highlights of your trip

[00:01:50] jesse: new Zealand always just seemed like this like ideal place for me to travel and surf and like the idea of, you know, chasing the wave and driving around in a van [00:02:00] just seems so appealing to me always.

[00:02:02] And I, and I've done it to, you know, in California, I've definitely explored that and then done car camp trips to Baja the last few years, especially during the pandemic. And it's just, I think the freedom of it is just so exhilarating. And you're not like when you plan a trip, you know, you're lucky if the waves fall into that plan.

[00:02:25] But in this case, you're really like guided by nature. And that's like the only thing. driving force that's kind of like taking you to all these places. Um, so like, yeah, this idea of going to New Zealand and so, sort of just, you know, Chris and I haven't been dating for that long so it was a little bit of a risk just to say like, let's go.

[00:02:48] It was the test. It was the test. It's a big test. Yeah, it's a big test. And that's like my kind of rule of thumb. It's like any you know, even with friendships It's like traveling reveals [00:03:00] so much about people and your dynamic. Um And the situation and I kind of you know, it's like Step one go on a big trip and then let everything else follow And it went really well, it was really great

[00:03:15] Tyler: chris you passed the test

[00:03:18] jesse: There was you know, I was obsessed with like finding level ground to camp on

[00:03:25] Tyler: And

[00:03:25] jesse: he would and he would get flustered trying to park and that was probably like the biggest fight that we would get into

[00:03:32] Tyler: um

[00:03:33] jesse: But like other than that, like it was just So, the trip was very up in the air because we were actually flying standby.

[00:03:40] Wow. I want to give a shout out to my friend, Sander, who's a pilot. Nice. And he allowed us that journey.

[00:03:46] Tyler: Who, did you fly with, Qantas, or what airline?

[00:03:48] jesse: It was with United. Okay. Um, and so, that was like, I think, having, Um, having the open ended flight was sort of just like the theme [00:04:00] of the whole entire trip was the open ended flight led to, um, us, us booking the van last minute, everything was very last minute.

[00:04:07] So it didn't really feel real until we got there. And then it was just like this crazy whirlwind adventure and it was just so wild and raw and, um, New Zealand definitely is very, um, It's not raw in the sense of, like, the government and the societal structure, it's actually very, like, organized and, like, um, just very diplomatic and kind of very, um, Clean and easy, easy.

[00:04:41] Yeah, it's very easy. But I think the, um, just like the power of the land is what made it feel just like intoxicating. And it's, um, just like grand landscape and, and like the power of the ocean was like, unlike anything I'd [00:05:00] experienced. Yeah,

[00:05:00] Tyler: New Zealand to me conjures up like Fairy tale almost, you know, uh, definitely middle earth ish, definitely elvish and, and middle earth ish, you know, because obviously Lord of the Rings was filmed there, but you know, it's like, um, you know, I'd been in 2008, I went for like three weeks and it was like, uh, just phenomenal, right?

[00:05:26] Like you have such a diversity of landscape in a small, you know, Perimeter basically like I I assume you guys stayed mostly on the North Island.

[00:05:36] jesse: Yeah, we only went to the North Island Yeah, and it's

[00:05:38] Tyler: like you got the mountains, you know, which are crazy. You have volcanoes you have rainforests You have even deserty kind of areas like it's it's it's pretty wild in such a small space Yeah, that you can kind of like experience so many so much diversity.

[00:05:57] jesse: Oh for sure Yeah I think the feeling of [00:06:00] like fairy tale land was what really like resonated with me and it's interesting because I had this feeling of I was like, where did this feels familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

[00:06:13] Tyler: And

[00:06:13] jesse: in some ways I felt like it was unlike any other place I've been because I've traveled a lot.

[00:06:19] And the closest thing that I could compare it to is Martha's Vineyard where I grew up, which is all. And I think it's just kind of like the, the farmland Meeting the ocean and you know sheep and wildflowers and then there being a break right in front of you And I was like this kind of just feels like home but like on steroids.

[00:06:40] Yeah, like blasted and outer space

[00:06:43] Tyler: That's amazing.

[00:06:45] jesse: Yeah,

[00:06:45] Tyler: so I got a segue here and we'll go back to New Zealand, but I want to talk about that like where you grew up and and how you grew up like you, it seems like, um, you know, [00:07:00]Growing up where he did was probably somewhat isolating in some ways, but also like a bit of a gift

[00:07:07] jesse: For sure,

[00:07:07] Tyler: and the surf scene there.

[00:07:09] I imagine is pretty tight knit And how how did surfing get introduced to you?

[00:07:17] jesse: Um, so, so yeah, I grew up on Martha's Vineyard, um, I think the people's kind of like impression, you know, I'm actually backtracking to something else before the surfing part, is that, um, you're just assumed that you come from, you know, Privilege and there's this like idea that Martha's Vineyard is like this place that only you know The rich and famous vacation which it is.

[00:07:45] Absolutely Yeah but the local economy and like the local community is very different than that and I find myself like explaining that to people a lot when they kind of like assume like, Oh, fancy, you grew up on [00:08:00] Martha's Vineyard. I'm like, all my friends were like dirty fishermen and construction workers that like, you know, and it's nothing to say about like class.

[00:08:09] Cause there's so many different, you know, class and like, you know, there's land wealth and all of these different things, but just like the general feeling of the locals versus the people who vacation there is very, very different.

[00:08:22] Tyler: Yeah,

[00:08:22] jesse: um, and I think my mom so my mom um, you know was a single mom from when I was like a baby and she always would move gravitate towards like places on the map that like she had heard about and she thought were really cool and that also could be a Place that you feel like you're in a vacation because without you know, being able to afford going on vacation with the kids This is just where we live and she lived in some beach.

[00:08:56] She lived in like Santa Fe, New Mexico We lived in [00:09:00] Taos, New Mexico, and then we lived in a ski town in Colorado And then after that we moved to Martha's Vineyard.

[00:09:08] Tyler: How old were you?

[00:09:09] jesse: I was first grade, so all of that happened before first grade, um, and she was, you know, she was a single mom. She didn't have a lot of extra income and she got a job waitressing at the Black Dog, which is like a famous restaurant on Martha's Vineyard.

[00:09:26] Um, and so we lived there because it was like, So safe and there was this idea that the community kind of protected you Um, and we my brother and I would hitchhike all over the place when we're like six like so young Like so young and she was like would go to waitress at the black dog And then she would pick us up at noon and bring us to the beach So in the summer, we would go to the beach every single day um, and my brother got You My brother [00:10:00] got really into surfing from a young age just from being Near the ocean and my mom had like young surfer boyfriends So we kind of followed their lead.

[00:10:13] Um And so yeah, I think surfing for me It was like a big part of my life far before I officially caught the bug Because I was I was just obsessed with You Was obsessed with my brother.

[00:10:28] Tyler: No, like

[00:10:29] jesse: everything he did.

[00:10:31] Tyler: How much older is he? I'm assuming he's older Yeah, he's

[00:10:34] jesse: four years older than me. And so like yeah, it's that gap where they're just like your hero Like they're my

[00:10:41] Tyler: brother is same thing.

[00:10:42] Yeah four years, you know, and you're just like you idolize so cool Everything they

[00:10:46] jesse: do is so cool until you get

[00:10:47] Tyler: older and you realize like Oh my god, they're kind of nerds. Actually. Yeah,

[00:10:51] jesse: i'm not i'm finally realizing i'm way cooler than my brother now

[00:10:55] Tyler: same And i'm like,

[00:10:57] jesse: yes, finally [00:11:00] Um, but it was so I mean it was really cute in retrospect like I would dress exactly like him I would wear like giant like cargo pants and chain wallets and like skate shoes Um, and they used to call me Mikey's little brother, actually, which is embarrassing, but, um, yeah, it's sweet.

[00:11:20] Yeah, so, yeah, my journey with surfing was more just like, I just wanted to do anything that he did. Um, and like the same with skateboarding, like I bought a skateboard from a very young age, or I got one for Christmas. And, yeah, just like that. Doing all the board sports, but also that was like like fashion.

[00:11:42] It was just like trying to be cool

[00:11:44] Tyler: Yeah,

[00:11:44] jesse: so like I think I told everybody that I surfed before I actually surfed Like I went straight

[00:11:52] Tyler: you're not the first though to do that There's a lot of people who did that who who almost like took on the surf persona before they actually [00:12:00] even did

[00:12:00] jesse: it For sure. I'd be like I surf and I I would wear like roxy board shorts all the time Um And I even I remember like my signature.

[00:12:09] I made up my signature when I was probably like nine and and like I everyone used to call me jess not jesse and After the s it just went straight and then I drew like a little barrel with like a surfer guy in it So like I was like a poser essentially I was just like Wait, I guess are you a poser when you're that young

[00:12:30] Tyler: you're aspirational.

[00:12:32] I think it's aspirational poser is more I feel like if you got more into your teens and didn't surf but wore all the gear and talk the talk like Maybe that would be more poser vibe, right, but you were aspirational. You're young and aspirational. Yeah

[00:12:49] jesse: yeah, and I think that like a lot of people have a similar experience of like You Surfing is one of those sports that like it has such an amazing like [00:13:00] culture and aesthetic and like everything surrounding it is so aspirational

[00:13:05] Tyler: so

[00:13:05] jesse: people like I always wanted to be a surfer or my mom for my mom for example she's like I always wanted to date surfers

[00:13:16] And like I kind of felt like that when I was young I was like it's just so cool And there weren't there weren't a lot of girls doing it um, and like my my dad actually surfed too

[00:13:29] Tyler: Really?

[00:13:29] jesse: Yeah, so but he lived in california so my Like first exposure to surfing was going to California and my dad would like push me into whitewater and then Yeah, and then I think I just I always loved it so much, but I don't think that I got the like obsession until I was maybe like 18 or 19.

[00:13:53] Um, and, oh, that was the other thing. My brother would always make me use shortboards. [00:14:00] Oh, that's like the worst to start, though. He would just, he would always just say like, oh, you have, like, you have to have a shortboard. Like, he's, he's a bit, like, bro y when it comes to surfing. I'm much more alternative.

[00:14:11] He's

[00:14:12] Tyler: more like 90s surf, pro surfer, and you're like, 2000 surfer type of thing where like, it's a little bit more like, oh, I just like to ride, free ride, yeah, single fin, twin fins, like he's

[00:14:22] jesse: just like about getting barreled and riding thrusters, thrusters

[00:14:25] Tyler: and potato chip boards, totally, being core, yeah, having tribal tattoos,

[00:14:30] jesse: uh, thank god he actually, his tattoos are actually pretty good, okay, good, yeah, yeah, yeah, he's, he still is cool, he has got a good taste, Good.

[00:14:38] Um, but yeah, he, I think that like the alternative approach to surfing, which also like, you know, I think being a woman and especially being like a girl on Martha's Vineyard amongst all bro y surfers, I, my first, like the first board that I clicked on was a foam, 8 foot [00:15:00] foam board. Yeah.

[00:15:00] Tyler: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:15:01] jesse: But it was interesting because when you think of like when you ride foam boards you're in like beach break crowded Kooky beginner places, but I like had this amazing introduction to surfing being on Martha's Vineyard Because the waves get really really good and there's no one there and I don't like I don't I'm trying to shout out to like, all my island friends, like, I'm not gonna disclose the specifics.

[00:15:30] Don't name names. I definitely won't name spots or like, rusty mailboxes. Um, but it's like, I feel, I don't know, it's in some ways I'm like, I feel so lucky that I had, like, I was catching these like, My the first, you know, few waves that I like went down the line. It was like a perfect like waist to chest day And like I I don't necessarily know Like [00:16:00] nowadays like you're learning in a place.

[00:16:01] It's either going to be really crowded or it's going to be really like aggro kind of like You know, you shouldn't be learning in this place because you're just gonna get in the way and for me like learning on Martha's Vineyard on some of those like hurricane swell days that weren't too big on a foam board so I could sit out the back And like catch the bumps.

[00:16:23] Well, the thing is

[00:16:23] Tyler: also it's an island. So it's a small island So the swell wraps around so I imagine there would be More protected spots you can go to if it were pretty big. I would imagine. I don't know any spots. I'm not gonna name names Yeah,

[00:16:38] jesse: no, it's yeah, it's like anywhere where there are there's like, you know a point break that feels like generally Smaller and easier when another place is heavier.

[00:16:51] Like actually a lot of the the breaks on Martha's Vineyard are point breaks or like, you know rock piles like [00:17:00] um It's like a similar, geographically similar to like Rhode Island. Like,

[00:17:04] Tyler: you

[00:17:04] jesse: know, Point Judith, all that area kind of reminds me of how it is.

[00:17:08] Tyler: Um,

[00:17:09] jesse: and then there is like, you know, Beach Break, which can get really like heavy and barreling.

[00:17:15] Um, but just like a dream place to learn and, um, I think like I was growing up like I was one of the, I think I actually was the only girl who served. There was like, there were a couple of, um, women older than me that had, you know, moved away. And like, I remember there was like this girl, Meadow, who I thought was really cool.

[00:17:39] And then there was one other girl that was kind of like seasonal.

[00:17:43] Tyler: Um,

[00:17:44] jesse: But not a lot of my friends, my girlfriends surfed. So it was mostly just me and my brother and his friends, which had like part of it was cool cause they like protected me and they let me go. But then also like, there's always this feeling of [00:18:00] Be and I still feel this way and I'm sure a lot of women can agree that like It's like this feeling of having to prove yourself Constantly and it's just people assuming that you can't surf and then you have to be like I have to get that first wave To show that I can and then you'll like respect me But like you would have assumed that I could surf if I was on a shortboard and I was like a male In this lineup like

[00:18:28] Tyler: I I sometimes wonder about that because I've heard that from a few women

[00:18:32] jesse: but

[00:18:33] Tyler: But I sometimes I experience that every time I paddle out also where I feel like I feel like surfing in general because of the way the etiquette is and uh, how Maybe the culture And because of the, the, the male dominated culture overthat's developed over the decades, Um, you know, it's this more inintense feeling of like, [00:19:00] okay, you need to prove yourself in order to get waves.

[00:19:02] Because I do feel like that as a Big, tall male, even. I still feel that, that type of pressure when I paddle, paddle out here, even at, at 90th, you know, I still feel like, Oh, don't fall on that first wave or else they're going to, they're going to, they're going to just eat you up and not let you get anything, you know?

[00:19:21] So I do feel it, but I think there is obviously a more undercurrent feel that, that women pick up on then that I and other men probably wouldn't feel as well.

[00:19:33] jesse: Yeah. And I think it definitely has changed like there's so many incredibly like there's so many shredder women shredders in the lineup these days that I do feel like it has changed that You know, there's not this assumption that like you can't surf

[00:19:52] Tyler: but

[00:19:53] jesse: I think when I was younger and there, you know, there wasn't a lot of girls who [00:20:00] surfed and like my and you know, You In the area, like, it, it was this feeling of I'm maybe that was just like my general feeling of like having to prove myself like growing up with an older brother, too

[00:20:12] Tyler: Yeah, but I think it's I think like you said lots of women experience this feeling too And then it on top that you probably have to deal with them like The odd random guy coming up.

[00:20:24] Oh, hey, what are you doing out here and trying to

[00:20:26] jesse: yeah

[00:20:26] Tyler: mansplain a little bit or Still

[00:20:29] jesse: get that all the time all the time. I actually got that in new zealand quite a bit.

[00:20:33] Tyler: Really?

[00:20:34] jesse: Yeah And then i'm like, oh like because i'm Cooking out right now like I didn't get my first wave I felt and it's like this guy doesn't think that I can surf So now I have to go through this whole thing of like it's him having to explain to me How to surf and now I have to get a wave so he can you know And part of me wants to be like I know how to surf you don't have to Do [00:21:00]this, but

[00:21:01] Tyler: because you would never do it as a guy to another guy, right?

[00:21:04] Like they would never be like Yo, hey If you just like move up a little bit on the board, you'd be paddling a little bit better or you know

[00:21:15] jesse: As a man to a man you like don't want to get it's like why would you get them? Give them advice so they can like then go ahead and be better and take your wave But like I don't know maybe it's like a form of like flirtation, too

[00:21:29] Tyler: Probably some, you know, I think there's, there's a bit of that for sure, um, you know, and, and for the older guys, I imagine, I would like to imagine it's, it's, it's coming from an, like a good place at least of like, uh, fatherly, paternal kind of, uh, advice, but

[00:21:49] jesse: Yeah.

[00:21:50] Tyler: You don't know. Yeah, for sure. It's hard to tell. And, and that's the, the, the conundrum, right? Like you can never tell what they're actually thinking.

[00:21:57] jesse: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I don't, I like to like treat [00:22:00] it like case to case. Like, you know, I've had a lot of like, you know, older, older guys, like give me advice.

[00:22:07] And like, I'm like, yeah, that's thank you so much. That's great. Like I'm not, you know, I don't have this like general assumption that one is trying to mansplain like, you know, sometimes of course, like I appreciate, you know, all, I just try to like treat it like general tone and like character judgment.

[00:22:27] Tyler: I guess it's better than being told to fuck off, though, right?

[00:22:29] Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Yeah. It's like, better than some of the receptions I've gotten, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. I

[00:22:39] jesse: know. I know. It's all like, it's so, like, location specific, too.

[00:22:44] Tyler: Yeah. Do you, what would, like, What do other non surfers do, though, then, on Martha's Vineyard, like, for activity? I don't know. I'm curious, like, what would, like, what would your girlfriends be doing, uh, if they [00:23:00] weren't surfing or doing something, you know, like, the non surfing ones, like, what do you, because it's a small, pretty small town, small population, especially for most of the year, I imagine.

[00:23:12] jesse: Yeah. Um. Um. Well, yeah, that always like boggles my mind. I'm like, we have all this like playground and it's like, why wouldn't you embrace the things? But like, to be fair, like there was a long part of my like high school years where I wasn't fully embracing surfing and I definitely regret that. Like, I think everyone who surfs regrets not starting earlier, like everybody, like, even if you start when you're like a baby, you're like, Oh, I could have been like pro.

[00:23:42] Tyler: I wish I'd I wish I had just surfed more, you know I know and

[00:23:47] jesse: like I mean Martha's Vineyard really isn't that consistent. It's like east coast. Yeah, it's like hurricane swell. That's that's about it. But Um, yeah, so I didn't like i'm guilty of not fully embracing it my whole [00:24:00] life. Um, but like yeah as far as like People definitely, you know, a lot of my friends were fishermen.

[00:24:10] Like I actually had my like scalloping license. No

[00:24:13] Tyler: way.

[00:24:14] jesse: Yeah, cuz I was like so broke during college and my friend was like, Oh, you should just get your scalloping license because you're a resident of Chilmark and that season Chilmark was really abundant for scallops and he took me out on the boat and it was like brutal cuz you have to go out in the middle of the winter and

[00:24:32] Tyler: Oh,

[00:24:33] jesse: and you're like out on a boat and you're like, you're supposed to kill the crabs, which are an invasive species.

[00:24:41] But like, I was like, I can't do it. Like when he wasn't looking, I just like brush them off. I'm not going to smash a crab. But yeah, it's brutal. It's cold. And then you have to shuck all of the scallops. And that's like a whole other thing. But it's like it's good money when you're in [00:25:00]college You're like that's probably the best kind of money I can make and

[00:25:04] Tyler: it's also, you know character building I imagine yeah, you know, it's you know from that doing that to then Going to like a like if you did a desk job or something like that, it'd be like this is easy.

[00:25:16] jesse: Yeah, for sure I imagine

[00:25:19] Tyler: it hardens you.

[00:25:20] jesse: Yeah, and and like I think just in general, um, It was just such a unique experience growing up there. So I'm happy that like I did like I think that I Am I was and am like very much like an island girl like quote unquote like I just bought a truck and i'm like, oh my like younger self would be so excited for my current self and like it it does feel good to you know embrace your Like environment and your community and like I still feel the same Like, here in Rock, like, um, you know, I left Martha's Vineyard to be out of [00:26:00] the small town mentality, and here we are.

[00:26:03] Just drawn right back to it. The small town of New York City.

[00:26:07] Tyler: Yeah, it's funny how that, that works, right? Like, uh, especially like Rockaway, you know, while it's part of the city and we get a huge influx in the summer, it does feel like a small, you know, small community for the most part. Like I can go out on the boardwalk and, you know, run into like five to 10 different people, you know, just for a walk.

[00:26:29] Yeah. It's wild. You know, you don't get that experience elsewhere in the city.

[00:26:33] jesse: Yeah. I don't think there's any like I always feel like Rockway from my experience is like the tightest community you know that like That i've experienced in New York for sure. Like I had a community in Brooklyn, but it's just it doesn't feel It's different.

[00:26:51] Tyler: It's more scattered. There's more going on and people are going to more places. Yeah. Whereas here, it's like, if you go into the city, like, [00:27:00] you're planning to go into the city. It's not like you walk out your door and you're there. Yeah. And so, it takes an effort. So a lot of times, Especially when it's like shitty out like today.

[00:27:09] You're like, oh stay local. I'll go to the local bar go to the local restaurant Yeah, that's it. You know.

[00:27:15] jesse: Yeah

[00:27:17] Tyler: I want to I want to go back and ask like you Post a lot like every year like your relationship to your mom And it's it's seen it's really endearing and seems really close. Yeah, and I was hoping you can kind of You Expand on that a little bit.

[00:27:35] Like, what's your mom like? And, and, you know, was she encouraging of your surfing? Was she encouraging of all your, your kind of activities? Cause I, I see that on social and it's just like, oh, it's like, so it is. It's like so nice. And I love seeing that.

[00:27:51] jesse: Yeah, um, I love mom as my best friend and I know it's like a little cheesy to say that and people say that [00:28:00] all the time But she really is like we talk multiple times every day.

[00:28:04] Tyler: Yeah

[00:28:05] jesse: Wow, it's mostly tech. I know it's kind of crazy. So it's a lot. It's a lot texting like she's amazing text her like so poetic and like uses really like flowery like it's yeah, it's like she's fun to you know, parents usually are like what are they just using voice like Like what does this even mean?

[00:28:27] But she's so such an amazing writer. So we text a lot. Um, and yeah, she was like so encouraging growing up of It's like in some ways i'm like, you know You have these parents who hold this really really high expectation of you.

[00:28:46] Tyler: Mm hmm

[00:28:47] jesse: that I think I think it's good sometimes like from like an educational stance from a career stance and In some ways like I was like, I wish my mom like pushed me a little harder.

[00:28:59] Tyler: Mm [00:29:00] hmm

[00:29:01] jesse: You know and i'm like would I be You know further along in a career, you know, would my life be different but she was so so supportive of everything I did like If I got just like a c in school, she'd be like, yeah, but that you did amazing and you're asking So it's like it's so sweet and I think in retrospect i'm like no it was She really celebrated me all the time.

[00:29:27] Um And I think Just like, you know, she was It was hard for her as like a single mom like trying to figure out how to like support me and my brother But she gave us such a cool childhood like, you know, we rented a house Um in chillmark, which is one of the craziest real estates in the whole entire country So we couldn't afford to keep the house in the summer And so we camped out and we me teepee.

[00:29:55] No

[00:29:56] Tyler: way. Shut up Yeah,

[00:29:58] jesse: we were like literally on a [00:30:00] campground like or not a campground You We were camping on a friend's family farm and the farm was so beautiful and it was like right near the beach so it was like this really ideal childhood but it was like very alternative and it was like a lot of moving around and you know there were there were times where I'd be like Where are we gonna live?

[00:30:21] Like, are we gonna be able to afford rent? Like, there was this, like, uncertainty growing up, but it was, like you said before, like, so character building. Like, I started, I, like, went through puberty, like, on this farm and started, like, shaving my legs in the stream. And my mom was like, we gotta find a year round rental.

[00:30:42] Like, this is getting to be How,

[00:30:46] Tyler: where, how aware were you of that then, I guess, like, you know, I guess the disparity between, like, the sum, the people who would come in the summer and, and all that. Yeah. Was that, like, at the forefront of your presence, or was [00:31:00] that kind of like, More hindsight as you got older you became more aware of it.

[00:31:04] jesse: Um, I think there was definitely like an insecurity um, and like a self consciousness around it because like especially when you're that age like in the 90s to like our generation like now like You know being unique is so celebrated and back then it was like you just wanted like the house with the cool TV and the good snacks and like the wall to wall carpeting where all your and your friends could hang out like And I was just like come hang out at my like campsite and and like now I'm like, oh that was so cool

[00:31:39] Tyler: Right, and I

[00:31:39] jesse: wouldn't change it.

[00:31:40] But definitely back then I would have Like friends dropped me off at the end of the road which is like so sad to think about but yeah, I was definitely like I was like the weirdo who lived like up in the woods. Like they would always say I lived in the boonies, too Which i'm like at martha's vineyard is the boonies.

[00:31:57] Yeah You're the boonies of the [00:32:00] boonies of the boonies Yeah, so yeah, I think that there were like different parts to it

[00:32:07] Tyler: and and like And so, how did you end up in New York then? Like, what, let's, let's retrace that story a little bit.

[00:32:17] jesse: Um, so, ending up in New York, Well, well, going back to, um, Like, my mom's support and love and everything is like, She was so supportive of me wanting to surf.

[00:32:34] Um, so she, when I was applying for colleges, which also we couldn't afford and we took out a bunch of student loans, we were like part of the like financial crisis of 2009. Like it was like, just like, she's like, you're going to go no matter what, like, let's just do this. Um, and so I was, what I remember when I was applying to colleges, she said, like, do you want to snowboard or do you want to surf?[00:33:00]

[00:33:01] That's incredible. Your

[00:33:02] Tyler: mom was like, all right, let's pick a college where you can indulge in one of your totally. Oh my gosh. That's awesome. Which

[00:33:08] jesse: is so cool. And I wanted to surf, obviously. And I think, I think I applied to UC Santa Cruz and U University of Vermont.

[00:33:18] Tyler: Yeah. And

[00:33:18] jesse: I don't, I think I didn't get into UC Santa Cruz.

[00:33:21] It was like hard to get it hard to get out of state for sure. But so I got into UVM University of Vermont. So I was like, I guess. snowboarding it is, like, so into school in Burlington, Vermont, which I loved so much. Um, And then, I went back to Martha's Vineyard, and on Martha's Vineyard, there was like, in my early 20s, like, there was this, like, booming, um, like, art explosion, like, everyone was, it is a really creative place, like, similar to like, like, You know Rockaway like

[00:33:58] Tyler: yeah,

[00:33:59] jesse: and it's [00:34:00] whether like it draws create creative people in or people are there And then it kind of facilitates and like builds this creativity But it's a lot like my my aunt and cousins who I grew up with.

[00:34:14] They're all musicians And then I was like a dancer growing up in high school

[00:34:20] Tyler: Wow Um,

[00:34:22] jesse: it will, it was like modern and jazz and ballet and stuff when I was younger, but I was in a hip hop dance company when I was in high school.

[00:34:29] Tyler: No way. Yeah. It was just

[00:34:32] jesse: kind of embarrassing. Why is that embarrassing?

[00:34:34] Tyler: It's freaking cool.

[00:34:36] jesse: I think it's like, uh, yeah, just. Maybe felt okay. Who would you

[00:34:43] Tyler: list? Who would you dance to? That's the question then. It

[00:34:46] jesse: was like my dance teacher was from New York City. So it was like he loved Outkast and like Method Man and Wu Tang. Like it was cool. And I loved hip hop so much growing up and I still [00:35:00] do.

[00:35:00] Tyler: That's awesome. Yeah.

[00:35:01] jesse: So like, I think the embarrassing part was like, um, It was like we would travel around and we'd get thrown into these like very um, just so raw like it was literally would be like the pioneers of b boying and like popping and locking and stuff and then it was like we were like white girls from Martha's Vineyard.

[00:35:22] So maybe that was the embarrassing part but I still think it's so cool because it you know maybe there was a degree of appropriation in a sense but I think it was mostly us just loving it and wanting to celebrate it.

[00:35:35] Tyler: That's uh, that's always an interesting question right about whether it's appropriation or homage, you know Or showing respect or just enthusiasm for it, right?

[00:35:46] Like I don't I don't know like it's it's hard for me because i'm a white male So it's hard for me to comment, but I always feel like But I always feel like well if you really appreciate The culture of it and you [00:36:00] understand the history of it and you are doing it Obviously not really for a whole lot of financial gain.

[00:36:07] It's like because you're passionate about it I don't think that's appropriation to me at least like that to me feels like You are paying tribute. Yeah If you are going to do take a style to make money off of or use it For for your own personal benefit and not really delve deep in the history or page, you know Be knowledgeable of it then that to me is more feels like appropriation.

[00:36:35] Yeah And you know, and that's how I feel like with surfing, right? Like so many people, especially I feel like certain points where they wear all the surf gear, but they don't surf and you're like, yeah, I don't know anything about it. And you're like, that's appropriation to me. I would feel like, I

[00:36:49] jesse: agree.

[00:36:50] And appropriation also like claiming. Surfing as your own as like a white man or like, oh, you know, it's like this is my spot That's why I have [00:37:00] such a mixed feelings about like localism You can also go into but i'll go back to like the dance part. So like there was this explosion of um you know all of my friends who are musicians and filmmakers and so like I guess my Artistic expression at the time was dance You And my friend and I started this like Dance, um crew called the Skeleton Sisters.

[00:37:28] How's my instagram name? Yes Skelly sister. I love that. Um, and so yeah, we would perform like we would perform like we were a band Like we'd be like Skeleton Sisters performing on this like halloween show And so every and we also put on these like cabaret type things where it would be Like band dance someone would show a film someone would show art And so that was really cool to like, you know, I'm still in the small town that I grew up in but there [00:38:00] is Inspiring like cultural and artistic things happening around me But then a lot of people started moving to Brooklyn it was like 2009 to 2012 that like Indie like Boom of like music and art like Williamsburg just like exploding.

[00:38:21] Yeah, and like you're like, oh my gosh I want and like I guess I was like Like a hipster type person. There ain't no shame in that. No. There's no shame. Yeah.

[00:38:31] Tyler: I like Hipster doesn't have as negative connotation these days as it used to.

[00:38:36] jesse: Yeah, for sure And I think that like Brooklyn was the place to be that like I mean, it's still like it still is Yeah You know, New York is hotbed, still.

[00:38:47] Yeah, for sure. But then it was like, everyone wanted to move to Brooklyn. That was just like, this idea, and a lot of my friends from Martha's Vineyard, like, older friends, my brother's friends, started moving, and my [00:39:00] brother moved. Oh,

[00:39:01] Tyler: wow.

[00:39:01] jesse: And so, I was like, I gotta move. And I was so broke like I I was working in retail just like living off like a falafel a day so Just like classic like I just wanna and everyone's like, what do you want to do there?

[00:39:16] And I studied sociology and art in college. It was just like classic liberal arts. Yep You're probably not gonna get a job with it, especially at the time, but that's what I had And so I kind of yeah, I kind of just got did whatever I could and just like did the whole Brooklyn living thing for a while.

[00:39:37] Tyler: So I Gotta ask so for our listeners you you are a stylist, correct? So first I was hoping you could kind of just explain what that is and what that what you do on a day to day basis And then I really I'm curious like how you feel about Found that you know, I'm always I'm always very curious like how people find their careers [00:40:00] because I feel like a lot of time most People I know they go to college they study something and then they do something totally unrelated to that And and it's always like, oh, this just found me type of thing Yeah for a lot of people and so I'm curious like how that story played out for you and what you do exactly

[00:40:21] jesse: okay, so Yeah, I think that when I moved I didn't even know like what a stylist was when I moved to New York It was kind of just like a mystery to me um, it was Just kind of like a chain of random events that like a lot of people kind of find what they do.

[00:40:40] Um, but in my case I was I was really into like fashion, um, but not from like a You I don't like know a lot of a lot about fashion. It was more just like into like style from like a cultural perspective and like Even in [00:41:00] high school, like I was obsessed with Club, I was obsessed with style and fashion and on Martha's Vineyard.

[00:41:07] There's no Accessibility to like there's no malls. There's no like No

[00:41:14] Tyler: trendy thrift stores?

[00:41:16] jesse: Not really. There's an old lady thrift store called Chicken Alley. Um, and then there was a place which is really interesting. I tell all my friends this is, um, the, at the landfill, the dump. There was a little like shack that would accept clothing donations, and it was called the Dump tique And you could just go and like take clothes.

[00:41:42] Like you would just go and that's like literally how I like got into it And growing up, that's like where I went. And so I, it was like developed that developing this like sense of style, just from like found things. People have been, where'd you get that? I was like, I get it at the dump.

[00:41:59] Tyler: [00:42:00] Did you, did you look towards inspiration?

[00:42:02] Like, were you looking towards skate surf culture for those inspirations, hip hop culture, any particular people that you felt like influenced that at all?

[00:42:12] jesse: Yeah, for sure. Like. So when I was in middle school, I told you I just like would dress like

[00:42:18] Tyler: yeah

[00:42:18] jesse: my brother and I was just kind of I was obsessed with like skate and surf culture and I wore a lot of um, Like roxy and quicksilver and then like airwalk and stuff like that.

[00:42:31] Yeah Um, am I close? No, you're good. You're

[00:42:34] Tyler: good. You're good.

[00:42:35] jesse: Um, and so yeah, I was sort of this like grungy Style That I loved there was one surf shop on Martha's Vineyard. It's still there. It's called the green room Yes, but back then it was just like a tiny little shack and now it's like much bigger So my mom would let me get like a couple things a year from there So it's like I would have kept getting like a new thing was [00:43:00] like a big deal Yeah, and then in high school, I was definitely influenced by hip hop culture And wore a lot of like, I mean in retrospect, it's like kind of cringy, but like slick back hair and big hoops and like baby fat.

[00:43:15] I

[00:43:15] Tyler: love big hoops. I don't care. I'm into big, I'm bringing them.

[00:43:18] jesse: Yeah, I've, I've introduced them back into my life recently. My wife rocks them all the time. Yeah,

[00:43:23] Tyler: I think it's great.

[00:43:24] jesse: Totally. Yeah. So yeah, hip hop, surf, skate, um, and then not having a lot of, and I'm sure a lot of people, there were some people who would go off island all the time and go to the mall and I always was like envied that.

[00:43:41] Tyler: And

[00:43:41] jesse: I'm like, it's so interesting that I would get so excited to go shopping when I was little because I never could and now it's my job. Like I have to do it, like, I have to go to target. So I if I never have to walk into another target like look

[00:43:57] Tyler: I will say this though [00:44:00] Target is way more pleasurable than going to like a walmart.

[00:44:03] I think and and they they freaking Do a great job of merchandising. Yeah, I will give them that

[00:44:10] jesse: Yeah,

[00:44:10] Tyler: like it's like you go in there like the stores within the store vibes are pretty good

[00:44:15] jesse: Definitely, but I don't know if you'd say that if you had to go as much as I do You That's a lot. Yeah. Um, but so get, yeah, moving, going back to moving to New York.

[00:44:27] I, I started in that whole artistic boom of my early twenties on Martha's Vineyard. Um, I started making bags. They were called bandit bags.

[00:44:39] Tyler: Ooh.

[00:44:40] jesse: Um, and I was making them out of like linoleum flooring. What? Just like, you know. So they just like looked like wood or stone or

[00:44:49] Tyler: how would you make the lino linoleum in Tibet?

[00:44:51] Would you have to like break it up? And like

[00:44:53] jesse: no, it's actually like if you go to a like they have rolls of linoleum like the super cheap stuff That's [00:45:00] really shiny and it's it's like very malleable And it's like well not very but like as much as like a thick leather would be And it's it's thin enough to be able to sew through with an industrial machine So, yeah, so I I was making bags and And it was like this dream that like I want to eventually go back to like I do Want to I actually do have I started a small clothing brand But I'm ground patrol on

[00:45:28] Tyler: patrol love it.

[00:45:29] jesse: Yes. I need I do want to get back into that I've just been taken on like a you know

[00:45:36] Tyler: A bit of a journey. A

[00:45:37] jesse: bit of a journey. Um, and so I, I got introduced to this woman who was like a family friend, um, and she, I asked her if she could help me with my bags when I was in New York. And this was like, I was just like, you know, had the dream, I was just living the dream in New York of being broke, but like all of these big ideas.[00:46:00]

[00:46:00] And she said, I don't know how to help you with your bags, but I do have connections to this agency that represents photographers and stylists. And she was like, my friend's a stylist. Do you want, would you be interested in like assisting styling? And so yeah, I got introduced to her and then. I started working as an assistant and I had no idea what I was doing.

[00:46:26] I actually also worked in the Amazon warehouse in Brooklyn, which was terrible. It was horrible. Like no windows. You're just steaming clothes all day. And it's like the e com it's like if you go to the amazon website and you just see The models with the clothes on like it was just and I would have to steam like 200 t shirts in one day Yeah, it was it was terrible Um, but it did yeah, it was a lot of and it was like assisting stylists that were [00:47:00] super mean, um, just the classic, like, hazing.

[00:47:03] Rachel

[00:47:03] Tyler: Zoe, being really tough. Sorry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That type of, like, yelling, like, intensity. Yeah,

[00:47:12] jesse: not quite like Devil Wears Prada, but like, that sort of, like,

[00:47:16] Tyler: That vibe.

[00:47:17] jesse: The hazing thing that I, hopefully, I think is, like, fading out of being, like, Uh, Thing that people do

[00:47:24] Tyler: yeah

[00:47:25] jesse: in the industry because it's just horrible.

[00:47:27] Yeah,

[00:47:27] Tyler: it doesn't help anything No, you know you don't necessarily Learn from it. It's just to me. I feel like the hazing thing is just a way to weed people out who may not be as committed but that's That's a shame because you're probably missing out on some great talent then

[00:47:46] jesse: Absolutely, and I think people do it because they had it happen to them and they're like now I'm in the power to do it

[00:47:53] Tyler: Well, it's like surfing right?

[00:47:54] Like, you know, I think a lot of people who were brought up with difficult, you know local [00:48:00] Surfers and they had their haziness grommets and then they become adults and they feel they need to do the same But

[00:48:06] jesse: for sure

[00:48:07] Tyler: that doesn't happen as much it's phasing out to for sure I feel like

[00:48:10] jesse: that's the case with Most forms of oppression.

[00:48:14] Yeah is, you know, the oppressor You know, it's just like the the chain that someone has to break eventually, you know, and it takes like so so yeah, so I was doing that for a long time and then Eventually you start meeting producers who trust you to do like smaller jobs that the lead stylist can't do And then you build a portfolio um You But now, like, I think it took me a really long time, but I think I'm getting to a place in my career where, um, the sort of jobs that I'm doing are, like, aligning more with my personal style and my, you [00:49:00] know, just, like, culture.

[00:49:01] Like, you know, the last, I've gotten quite a, you know, Few jobs lately that have to do with surfing which is like so exciting for me You get

[00:49:11] Tyler: you get to like create a niche almost, you know an expertise in an area for sure. It's great

[00:49:16] jesse: Yeah and it's and I think getting getting like to all the the things in my life that I love to kind of like come into one and like you know, it's Like they're hiring me as a stylist, but also as, um, like a surfer, someone that can be kind of like an authenticity.

[00:49:36] Tyler: Yeah.

[00:49:36] jesse: Um, I don't know what you would call it. You're, you're

[00:49:41] Tyler: like, you know, you're able to basically. You know, make sure that everything feels authentic and feels legit and not posery and not phony and making sure the fins aren't backwards on the shoot or that they're holding the board correctly or whatever it is, you know?

[00:49:59] And

[00:49:59] jesse: I've [00:50:00] had experience, I won't name the company, but They were shooting, like, fins down in the sand, um, holding the, the leash, like, in, in their hand, and pretending they were, like, surfing, like, surfing USA style. And I just, like, gently approached the director, and I was like, I'm not meaning to step on your toes, but, like, no one would ever.

[00:50:23] Ever do that like, please stop

[00:50:27] Tyler: You're appropriating my culture right now

[00:50:31] jesse: And we had like um a local rockaway Lifeguard who I know and and I asked him because I need a lifeguard on set and he was just shaking his head And I was like, i'm sorry. I was like, this is not my project. I'm not a sellout please So yeah, it's interesting.

[00:50:48] Tyler: What do you what do you think of? Surf surfing fashion and style today. Do you I get a sense that it's kind of lost in many [00:51:00] regards Particularly because a lot of the big brands are are owned by a big private equity and oh, yeah, and so That doesn't really breed. Um Cordiness or legitimacy even you know or authenticity it's you know, and and I feel like the surfing style is Used to be very distinct right like in the 90s.

[00:51:25] Yeah, if you wore Billabong or Quicksilver like oh, I was a surfer yeah, like you identified with the brand and that was like your your Uniform. Mm hmm. And now I feel like there's nothing that really defines surf style.

[00:51:41] jesse: Yeah. Yeah Yeah, I think that It's like Surfing with like everything, um, like capitalism really has sort of like created this umbrella of, uh, cap, capitalizing [00:52:00] on a culture.

[00:52:01] Um, it's like you go, I was actually talking to this really cool guy in New Zealand

[00:52:08] Tyler: who

[00:52:08] jesse: was like super old school and he was like a wetsuit, um, tech, what would you call it? Engineer. Really? For like since the beginning and he even claims that like he was the first one to create The like proper like leash that we use now in new zealand.

[00:52:26] Wow Um, and yeah, he was kind of just talking about like how like patagonia is I'm not saying this is my opinion, but this is what he was saying. And like, something about need essentials being like need essentials needs you, but you don't need them. He was just like this classic old surfer dude who is just hating on surf.

[00:52:53] Um, Just like

[00:52:55] Tyler: sort of surf corporatization. Yeah, say

[00:52:58] jesse: exactly and so like yeah I [00:53:00] think that like a lot of those big companies like, you know, everything is being made by the same Factory, but just slapping the different labels on it and like you are losing that because like Like as in skate surf and skate like yeah It's the most core thing and like the idea of like, you know Localism and being a poser and all of this stuff and I think it's just become so overwhelming with people making money off of those two sports that it's like People are just like you give up at one point you're like, you know, everyone's a sellout to a certain extent um, and like yeah, so it's like hard to You know you need You need the wetsuit that works and like most likely it is going to be like a huge corporation So as far as like actually uh surf equipment You're depending on these companies that you [00:54:00] know do You know don't do the best like ethically actually patagonia Does environmentally?

[00:54:06] Yes, like I will give that's finnister's

[00:54:09] Tyler: pretty good Yes, uh, is it the sia is is really good too. They're they're out there. It's just you know They're they're they're not front and center and and I would I would argue Some of them stylistically. Aren't doing anything revolutionary or They're not I wouldn't say they define the surf style either, you know like they fit into it, but they're not like like I guess what I'm curious is if you were to style a photo shoot for surfing What would you pull together?

[00:54:47] Like to define a surf style, like what would you do, like what is a surf style today?

[00:54:52] jesse: Yeah, um, I think, well actually, I'm thinking of this photo shoot that I did for eMotion, which you know, We

[00:54:59] Tyler: love this [00:55:00] magazine very much, absolutely.

[00:55:02] jesse: Yeah, and so they're like, you know, they're, they are definitely like, it's, A really good friend of mine temby is just like doing amazing things and like, you know surf culture and inclusivity and like everything about it is just so Amazing and great and like female run and you know, there hasn't been something like this before so it's so awesome Um And the photo shoot that I did for them.

[00:55:29] I think that like small designers is like really important. Um, I incorporated a lot of like thrifted things to kind of give it this like sense of individuality and like an eclectic feel because it can feel very like homogenized. Um, and so yeah, like, you know, The smaller brands like there's you know, there's a surfer Noah Collins.

[00:55:54] I

[00:55:55] Tyler: was just gonna bring him up, you know He's doing some really creative stuff. [00:56:00] Yeah,

[00:56:00] jesse: it's really cool. And I think that's like arguably like the coolest brand in surfing Yeah Um, and so, and they were, he was in Emotion as well, so like,

[00:56:11] Tyler: And, and, fucking rips. Oh my god, I love watching him surf.

[00:56:17] jesse: Yeah, totally.

[00:56:19] Oh, he's so good. So good. I actually saw him when I was in Nicaragua, and then again in like a little gas station in Baja. Yes you do. And I was a little starshocked. Yeah, totally. Composedly. I saw you in Nicaragua and he was like cool. I didn't see you But yeah, so he that brand is really cool. I really love that.

[00:56:38] Um, and then yeah, I think that it's like there is you know, a really like cool guy alternative, um, Like surf culture emerging. I mean, it's it's been a thing for a while, but um You know all of the kind of freestyle surfers and it's like everyone [00:57:00] has really cool style and like there's cool like really cool bands and the Um those smaller brands i'm blanking on like thinking of another

[00:57:11] Tyler: well, it's it's like I feel like they a lot of the surf brands the quote unquote surf brands just It feels like a lot of them rehash everything now, like they just go back into the surfing library and they're just like, oh, let's bring this back.

[00:57:26] Let's, let's do like Quicksilver is doing like, let's do 2001 right now, logo graphic. You know, you're just like, God, can we like move forward? Can we like stop? Nostalgic, like nostalgic clothing. That's what I feel like the surf style and culture has been is like Nostalgic and like almost arrested development for sure.

[00:57:49] You know, it hasn't evolved much past. Yeah 2000

[00:57:53] jesse: totally. Yeah I know.

[00:57:55] Tyler: Our shorts are a little shorter and that's about it. Right.

[00:57:58] jesse: But now it's like they're getting longer. I [00:58:00] know it's like 90s nostalgia Um, yeah, like what russ I saw rusty a lot in surf shops in new zealand and i'm like that's just it's like It's really cool because like 90s style is so cool, but it's like just identical to their styles from the 90s

[00:58:16] Tyler: Yeah, so

[00:58:17] jesse: yeah, I think craving more innovation and like surf um culture and fashion and like Again, like Noah Collins, that is probably like, you know, moving it forward in a sense.

[00:58:30] Um, yeah, I think that And like women's

[00:58:38] Tyler: like women's clothing, how do you feel do you feel like the surf industry is getting women's clothing, right? Or are they still kind of playing on the old? Non functional wear, you know,

[00:58:52] jesse: no, I think I think that you know the functionality of all those new suits like you're saying like Sia There's one in [00:59:00] Actually, I think it's Australian Inner Realm.

[00:59:03] Um, and Jolin?

[00:59:06] Tyler: Was it Jolin? Have you seen that much? Got like, you know a lot of one piece type stuff. Yeah, that seemed very functional and very athletic yeah,

[00:59:16] jesse: and that is it is really fun to see and like for me, I I think like I Always no matter what like even if I go to the grocery store, like I put on like an outfit It's not like dressing up but it's just like I don't feel like myself unless I'm like have something that feels like my style or like being able to express myself with And it's not about, you know, you know, how much it costs or it's not about any of that stuff.

[00:59:45] I think it's just like feeling like myself in my clothes. And so I think in the water, like I always, well, you know, there's not a whole lot of options, like, especially growing up, it was just kind of like the black wetsuit. So now like [01:00:00] anytime there's like a fluorescent wetsuit or like all always just like By the craziest thing that I can find, even though there's not a whole lot, but there's starting to be more.

[01:00:11] Um, and so yeah, I think being able to like express yourself in the water is really cool. Um, and I was thinking with Grom patrol, like I really am trying to push that forward. It's just been on the back burner. Back burner a little bit, but my like next thing I want to make is neoprene scrunchies

[01:00:31] Tyler: That would be cool that'd be functional too.

[01:00:34] Yeah, and maybe some new neoprene headbands for for those of us who exercise You know the men totally. Yeah, I'm all about if you would

[01:00:44] jesse: rock a neoprene headband I mean,

[01:00:46] Tyler: I I work out with Lois on 87th, you know a couple times a week and I wear a headband You You know, and sure, my wife made fun of me at first, but it's functional and it works really well.

[01:00:59] [01:01:00] Totally. Yeah. Totally.

[01:01:02] jesse: I don't know. Yeah. And I would have to see, like, if it would get too heavy in the water. Like, there is, like, um, technical things that you would have to work out, but it's another, like, accessory that you would be able to be like, yeah, I'm in the water, but like, I still, like, want to express myself, my style.

[01:01:20] So, there aren't, like, a whole lot of things like that. You know, there's like different hats you can wear, but hats always kind of feel nerdy to another.

[01:01:28] Tyler: Yeah, there really aren't a lot of water based, uh, accessories to add, uh, you know, your, your own stylish flourish, you know? Yeah. Like, uh, you know, it'd be, here, we're going to go in a little brainstorm kick here now, okay?

[01:01:44] I hope you don't mind. No, no. I love this. I love bouncing ideas back and forth. So what if like, all right, I had a friend who studies wetsuits at, uh, uh, in California at a university. Like he puts heat things on and he [01:02:00] actually is like, you know, got paid to consult for Hurley and he told them what to do and they were like, nah, we're not going to do that because we can't sell it or market it.

[01:02:09] But basically he said all wetsuits should actually be thicker on the bottom and thinner on the top because you lose all your heat. You know down below and actually in the top you don't at all so you can actually do like a four mil legs Mm

[01:02:24] jesse: hmm

[01:02:24] Tyler: and like a two mil top and you'd be fine actually

[01:02:26] jesse: interesting

[01:02:27] Tyler: and but the other thing he said We're all the places where the water gets in around your wrists and ankles.

[01:02:33] Mm

[01:02:33] jesse: hmm.

[01:02:34] Tyler: Let's get some color like Wristbands and ankle bracelets to help keep the water from flushing in and out of the suit with like little pops of color Like yes

[01:02:47] jesse: Totally!

[01:02:48] Tyler: How cool would that be? You know, or a little Velcro, because when I was a kid I used to, you know, just wrap duct tape around all the seams and I even remember a couple wetsuits had like [01:03:00] little Velcro and zip closures.

[01:03:02] But I think that would be great and you know what would be great about that is actually if they made the wetsuit so it was looser around the arms and ankles so you can get in and out and then you just pull tight.

[01:03:13] jesse: Yeah. Brilliant.

[01:03:14] Tyler: There we go. I

[01:03:15] jesse: never even thought about that.

[01:03:16] Tyler: You know, some, some flair right there too.

[01:03:19] You can add a little flair.

[01:03:20] jesse: Yeah, totally. You

[01:03:21] Tyler: know, um, like that or, uh, what about like putting like, um, sort of like stretchy tape on the outside of the wetsuit to help with like your flexibility? Yeah. So like imagine like a really tight tape that went around and went over your knee and then under your calf and around your back.

[01:03:40] So when you bend down, it. Wants to pop you back up.

[01:03:43] jesse: Yep, and then you could even make that like a little pop of color Yeah,

[01:03:47] Tyler: you do crazy color flourishes and like prints even like Yeah, you do, you know

[01:03:53] jesse: for sure

[01:03:54] Tyler: or or even like Here next step Wetsuit repair kit [01:04:00] with Hawaiian lay print. Mm-Hmm. type.

[01:04:02] Neoprene. Or something that you can use as like for sure. Kind of like ding zap. Yes. With Joe. Yeah. But with like a color and it's just like neoprene over a hole. Yep.

[01:04:11] jesse: And then you would just have like the wetsuit and you

[01:04:13] Tyler: just have it all over. Yeah, like patches patchwork. Oh, patches for wetsuits too. Like

[01:04:17] jesse: a little scarecrow style.

[01:04:19] Yeah.

[01:04:20] Tyler: Now we're talking.

[01:04:21] jesse: Yeah, definitely. All of those things. There you go. Yeah, you I mean there is just there is innovation It's like people get stagnant and stagnant and not moving forward because like a lot of style As based on nostalgia, you end up going back but like technologically like there are advancements always like I mean and with surfboards like you're like Everything is advancing every day.

[01:04:48] There's some crazy surfboards coming out

[01:04:50] Tyler: much stuff One of the things I notice that's different when it comes to boards and and like surfing is like when we were younger It was all about [01:05:00] performance and how well the board performed for you, right? Now if we we pick boards based on how it will feel instead and not so much about performance.

[01:05:10] It's about You What kind of feeling you're getting right of it, which I really love I love that kind of concept of like Yeah, i'm not gonna bust airs on this mini simmons or whatever, but i'm gonna fly i'm gonna go really fast or i'm gonna get this Like lifting feeling in my stomach when I ride in the pocket on it, you know, that's like Where I think surfing is going and less performance based and more Feel based emotion based.

[01:05:36] jesse: Absolutely. Yeah, and I think like You Uh, you know, alternative surfing, different crafts, like all of that stuff. And there was like a quote, um, there's this book, I can't remember the author's name. It's called In Search of Captain Zero, Alan Weissbecker. Yes. So he, he was talking about, um, this, you know, how long boarding and short boarding [01:06:00] is different in the way that like the long.

[01:06:02] Board surfer will move with the wave and the wave sort of like guides them in this dance of just like Co existing and it's just this like symbiotic relationship Whereas the short boarder like it's not a negative thing, but they're more trying to like get you tear apart the wave. Yes. Like they're like thrashing through it and it's like ripping it apart and it's like this aggressive style of surfing where it's like you against the wave instead of like doing a dance with the wave and like I don't get me I'm not like a long border or a short border it's not like one or the other um but I think with all of these different um new like you know all these like Really cool alternative shapes and you know single fin twin fins and like the edge boards and all of this stuff is Sort of just like embracing like how amazing it is that we're like riding on top of the ocean Yeah, and like it's giving you this gift [01:07:00] of like, oh like let's feel how it is to like like The wave guides the way and you're being receptive to it and you're moving with it and you're not trying to like prove anything You're just like let's see how this feel like take me on this crazy trip or ride and like that's what I think like You know, that's what I hope how surfing is going.

[01:07:22] I

[01:07:22] Tyler: think so. I think it's moving. I think I think part of it is also you have so many people who started as an adult and they'll never be a Professional surfer, right? They'll never reach that performance where it's like they can tell the difference between 19 and a half and 19 and a quarter width board, you know, right, right So they're searching more for the feel and the enjoyment rather than the performance, you know Whereas I think a lot of people who grew up surfing maybe On short boards particularly had more of that kind of performance [01:08:00] of you know vibe to them

[01:08:01] jesse: Yeah, absolutely.

[01:08:02] And there's like more of an acceptance with people. Yeah learning totally which like there is like two parts to it You're like now there's There's so many people in the water, but also it's for everybody. Nobody owns the ocean. And it's like a beautiful thing that all these people can experience this feeling.

[01:08:20] And there's like way less judgment. Like it was hard to surf when we, I mean, when you, I'm sure when you, yeah,

[01:08:29] Tyler: it was, it was always like insecurity and no fear would be played into it a little bit and all of those things. And now it's like. Look like yeah, it's a little bit more crowded and and probably people in other parts of the world where the crowds are just unbearable Yeah, but I don't know like I still surf mostly alone here like I hardly surf with a crowd ever because I could just walk a [01:09:00] few beaches over now and And I think that's true in many places.

[01:09:04] Yeah, there's still plenty of places you can go without people it's just You just gotta be willing to either get a lesser quality wave, but you're gonna make up for it with so many more waves, you know? Yeah, I

[01:09:17] jesse: mean it is so nice in Rockaway that we have all these new jetties. It's like such a game changer.

[01:09:22] Tyler: It seriously, it's crazy, right? Like, it's so, it spread everything out so much more and has made it more tolerable.

[01:09:32] jesse: Yeah, I think there was a point where 90th was like pretty comical with the crowds. It was

[01:09:37] Tyler: getting out of control. Out of

[01:09:38] jesse: control.

[01:09:39] Tyler: It was getting so out of control and you also had the swimmers kind of in there as well, kind of mixed in and really.

[01:09:47] Chaos.

[01:09:48] jesse: Yeah, I

[01:09:50] Tyler: think I want to go back. I also had this other idea with the badges

[01:09:53] jesse: Okay,

[01:09:54] Tyler: you could do different badges for skill level kind of like the Boy Scouts Girl Scouts. You're like, oh I see you [01:10:00] got your pop up So you can tell now who's a good surfer or new is a bad surfer right

[01:10:07] jesse: brilliant, but who would judge it would it be self?

[01:10:10] Like, would you be the judge? Or like, would you have to take a test, like a black belt type thing?

[01:10:16] Tyler: That would be awesome, actually. Yeah. You know what you do is before you buy, you have to submit a video foot video of it. You're like We should

[01:10:22] jesse: do it. Oh my gosh.

[01:10:24] Tyler: I'd love that. You

[01:10:24] jesse: really can't be a poser now.

[01:10:26] Yeah. Or you really can't be like, I got barreled. It's like, we know you didn't get barreled. You have the beginner badge. I

[01:10:31] Tyler: know. You've got the beginner badge. Man, you, you, you, you don't even have, you're not even past the pop up badge. Come on here. You know? I

[01:10:39] jesse: mean, how many people claim barrels? Like, people claim barrels, like, uh, every day I hear someone claim a barrel.

[01:10:46] I

[01:10:46] Tyler: know.

[01:10:46] jesse: Like, there was no barreling waves today. How is it possible?

[01:10:52] Tyler: I saw a Yuri post, like, first barrel, and it was like, I don't know if that's a total barrel, but, uh, I'll give it to ya.

[01:10:58] jesse: Yeah. [01:11:00] I've gotten, like, Smacked in the head with the lip like so many times but like still I'm like, have I gotten a proper barrel?

[01:11:08] Like I think like if you don't know if you know

[01:11:11] Tyler: My hair got parted in another way. Yeah, so I got

[01:11:14] jesse: hit in the head a lot in the back of the head a lot

[01:11:18] Tyler: Um, I want to I want to now like kind of um I want to go back to, I wanted to talk about, um, a recent passing of your friend Dan as well. Yeah. Thank you.

[01:11:30] You know, could you, could you tell our listeners a little bit about him? 'cause I honestly, I, I don't think I knew him. Mm-Hmm. , um, yeah. You know, I, I, he looked very familiar, but I didn't really know him as much and Yeah, I know it was like a big loss to a lot of people here in the community. Yeah.

[01:11:46] jesse: Yeah. Um, yeah, I think that.

[01:11:49] You know, like we were talking about how close this community is. It's like, there's such like a heavy, um, just like [01:12:00] wave that comes over, you know, if any, like even you just, you know, seeing him around town or knowing people that knew him, like it's such, you know, just. There's just like this ripple effect that like goes over the whole community that is what makes the community so beautiful and amazing.

[01:12:18] Um, but yeah, it's just so, so devastating. Um, he was, he was just like a amazing, um, You know, like a lot of people who move out here, like you come out here as an artist and you kind of like take this risk of kind of living a alternative lifestyle, you know, especially living in New York City before and moving here.

[01:12:45] So he was a really, really awesome photographer. Um, and also, you know, more down to surf in any, like, conditions ever [01:13:00] than anyone else I ever knew. Like, almost comically, you're like, are you kidding me? He's

[01:13:06] Tyler: from Australia originally, is that correct?

[01:13:08] jesse: Australian, yeah, and he, So he loved he loved to bodyboard or boogie board.

[01:13:14] I don't know like which you say but um

[01:13:17] Tyler: tomatoes tomatoes tomatoes. Yeah

[01:13:19] jesse: Um, but he it's funny. He would always say like, hey, you want to go for a bug? But he'd always just surf like most of the time he was just surfing he was now he he loved boogying but his like way of saying do you want to go for a surf was do you want to go for a book and um, yeah, and and like Any condition, um, and I think that, like, you know, people always have regrets, like, after, you know, someone close passes, of, like, not, like, answering a text, or, like, not going more, you know, at, like, the amount of times he, like, asked, we had this group chat.

[01:13:57] Or we, we still do. It's called Opera [01:14:00] House and it's just like, you know, the jetty in front of the opera house type structure here, which is the only place that he would surf, which is so funny. Um, but so one of the last, the last texts that he wrote to our group chat was, um, if you never know, you never get, or sorry.

[01:14:20] If you never go, you never know. Which is like such a amazing, like just simple expression that he was talking about, like going and really shitty surf. Cause I was thinking he sent us a video of someone just bobbing around like a buoy out there. Like there was not even a ripple, like it was like comically flat.

[01:14:43] Um, and he was just like, if you never, if you never go, you'll never know. Um, and it's kind of this thing that like. I want to carry on in my life of just doing it, like whatever it is in your life, like you just have to do [01:15:00] it. And like, you know, with surfing, like we spend so much time looking at the cams and speculating and figuring out if we should go.

[01:15:08] And it's like, do you, have you ever gone surfing and just like regretted it? Like there's been a couple sessions where you're like, Oh, that was terrible. It was so crowded. I got a ding in my board. I got run over. But most of the time it's like. You just, it's life and like we have, we get so caught up and like the mundane, you know, just like routine of it.

[01:15:29] And I think, um, a lot of us know, like living out here is like, you are, you are taking a risk by being like, I'm going to break out of this routine and I'm going to make sure that like I get in the ocean and I'm, you know, close to nature and saying yes to giant trips. Just like part of me felt. We are responsible for going to going to New Zealand for a month because my car got totaled from a flood shortly before and I was like, I [01:16:00] should I should be buying a car.

[01:16:01] I shouldn't be going to New Zealand, but I think like the this feeling of like life is so precious and you just gotta just gotta say yes. And like, Dan would always. Just say yes, he was always down for anything always like There was this like really I love this story where he I think he was at like his Sister's apartment in Brooklyn and he asked her he was like, so like where do you guys watch the sunset here?

[01:16:37] And she was like, what do you mean, like, why, you're such a weirdo, like, why you're such a hippie, like, you moved to Rockaway and you're just, like, obsessed with watching the sunset. But he really was, like, he made it a point to, like, watch, go watch the sunset, like, drive out to Breezy, like, made it a point just to, like, no matter what, like, get in the water.

[01:16:59] And, like, [01:17:00] um, and he loved Breezy. He was so inspired by Rockaway and so inspired by like, you know, Fort Tilden, like just like walking, finding found objects on the beach, like finding a piece of styrofoam on the ground and making a mold out of it and creating this like beautiful sculpture. And like, he was obsessed with like his partner, Emma laughs, like.

[01:17:24] He's just obsessed with america. Like we all are just like fuck america. It sucks But he was just like loved the middle of america Like he just thought it was everything was just so he was just so enchanted by life And it was really like incredibly incredibly beautiful soul and person and i'm just So devastated and he was just yeah, like it just makes you want to like live life better and be a better person

[01:17:58] Tyler: It's it's interesting [01:18:00] like, um How everyone I feel like a lot of the people who move out to rock way it's like It's a group of us who can't quit new york, but need to and need the outdoor area and need that inspiration.

[01:18:20] It definitely attracts a certain type of person particularly like Once you know october comes like it's it's pretty Dead out here, you know, and there's not much else going on. But you find these moments, you know, and uh having that attitude of of having a dig, you know and going for it is is One like a like kind of a very aussie thing for sure.

[01:18:48] Yeah. Yeah, and two like it's It's a people having people in your life in your surfing life like that and in life in general I think are really healthy. Yeah, because it [01:19:00] it forces you to look at it and be like I should go I really should just go have a have a quick paddle, even if it's shit. Yeah, it's just nice

[01:19:11] jesse: Yeah, totally and like artistically it's interesting because I'm learning so much about him now Um Because he was relatively a new friend, but it was one of those friends that you're just like, oh you're like, this is it like you're We're in it for life, you know, and artistically such an inspiration and that like he you know Wouldn't go anywhere without a sketchbook and like, you know every single day was just like, you know you as artists you You know, you know everybody sets that intention of wanting to do that But a lot of people just don't do it and he did and so I think it's like one of those things where you're just Like I'm going to you know in his honor Like just do all those things that I say that I'm [01:20:00] gonna do and you don't do And yeah, like the the part about Rockaway drawing this like these this type of person and It's yeah, you feel connected to people here, even like for instance, like you're, you know, you never knew him, but you saw him all like around in the water, you saw him on the boardwalk and everything.

[01:20:26] And there's also just like a like mindedness you're like, we both moved out here cause we're like slightly like too salty for the city. And you're like, need to be, but there is this, um, artistic, like free flowing energy. That I feel. Yeah, it's just I don't know where I'm going. No,

[01:20:49] Tyler: it's it's it's interesting We've this community has seen some amazing creative people come and go, you know Like another friend of mine comes to mind [01:21:00] is this guy Tim Hill who used to live out here He passed away some time ago now, but he was You know, he moved out here in like the late 90s and, you know, he and Jimmy Dowd and a couple other people built the first skate park, you know, and like petitioned for it and everything and like, you know, built a garden and everything and like we're, we're involved in the community and, uh, you know, those people help rejuvenate the life here, I think, and it's important.

[01:21:31] jesse: Absolutely. Yeah.

[01:21:33] Tyler: Now. I want to get back to New Zealand. Okay, because we've we've done a nice little journey from there and Uh, what were some of your favorite breaks that you got to surf?

[01:21:45] jesse: um, okay, so Because we

[01:21:49] Tyler: talked beforehand actually and I did say like Ari Parra is kind of sick. Yeah, you did. You definitely

[01:21:56] jesse: said that.

[01:21:57] And it was like, this, these words were like, [01:22:00] totally like gibberish, man. I'm like, what?

[01:22:02] Tyler: Like Ari what? It's weird. Like you,

[01:22:04] jesse: you get, when I first arrived, I was like, Oh. God, I'm gonna totally botch all these names because they're really hard to pronounce like

[01:22:13] Tyler: Funga

[01:22:13] jesse: Matata, like you're like spelled with a d I was like so Kooky in the beginning being like Wunga Matata.

[01:22:21] Yeah. Yep Um, so now like being there for as long and it took me like a while to get the hang of it. It's hard It's really hard. Um, but we yeah, so I feel really really lucky in our timing because we actually were just like hitting all of these swells that were just Almost not like all time because new zealand experienced so many all time swells, but they were all over surf line They were and we're like we're here.

[01:22:51] It's on surf line and we're here like this is crazy. Um So our first really well, we went to raglan right when we landed [01:23:00] as you do as you do It's like a good jump. I like, you know, it's The most popular place on the North Island, I guess. Yeah. So you're kind of just like, this is where we're gonna start, um.

[01:23:11] And it's,

[01:23:11] Tyler: and it's big enough that it's all spread out, the crowd, which is great. Yeah, for sure. You have all those different sections you can kind of go to. Which is also really, makes it

[01:23:21] jesse: inviting. Yeah, for sure. And in comparison to like, if you're used to surfing in California or New, or Rockaway. Yeah.

[01:23:27] You're like, wow. This is nothing. Yeah. Like literally. No, nobody's out right now. Um, so that was really cool to start. And then we scored a really, really good waves. Waves in Fungo mata. Yes. At the, um, where's the spot? It's like there's an estuary and then there's this like big cliff right there. Mm-Hmm.

[01:23:48] Because you've been there, right? Yeah.

[01:23:49] Tyler: Yeah. And it's like almost like, um, AKA that wave. Mm-Hmm. , you know, it's,

[01:23:54] jesse: yeah. It's insane. It's so good and there were a lot of like pros like [01:24:00] well, I don't even know a pros but like all these little groms and a lot of little like little girls that were just ripping like So good, they were dominating There was like this group of like five girls and they had like war paint zinc and they were just like killing it They were getting so many waves.

[01:24:20] I was like So crazy. And then I remember that day there was this like giant, giant rainbow. It was like a double, it might even been a triple rainbow. And there was a rainstorm coming through the rainbow and it looked like it was just like dripping the colors. And I was like, I actually don't think I've ever seen anything this beautiful.

[01:24:40] And that cliff side there is just like fluorescent green and there's like wild flowers all over it. And there was just this perfect wave, like, and I didn't get that many waves because it was just. It was so good, and there were so many shredders, but the couple waves that I got were just incredible.

[01:24:56] Tyler: It's all you need.

[01:24:57] jesse: It's all you need. It was like, just so [01:25:00] amazing. Just the whole experience, um, and then another, so we, we kind of like traveled, we went to so many different places, but the highlights, um, like the most memorable surfs were the Raglan, the Fungamata, and then our, our Para. Yeah. Yeah. Is that how you pronounce it?

[01:25:19] Aripara. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Aripara, which is shipwreck, bay, um, and that's, you know, I have, I have friends actually from Martha's Vineyard who moved there and like, convinced their parents to like, um, build this, buy this land, like a lot, my friend's, um, brother. Best investment ever. Best investment ever, her brother Trevor, who we spent a lot of time with there, he went there when he was 17, just like.

[01:25:45] Backpacking around and like was just living off of like a jar of peanut butter And he convinced his parents like years later to buy a piece of land when it was still relatively cheap and then they um, Did construction on martha's [01:26:00] vineyard in new hampshire? and so they they um Just kind of convinced everybody to move there and it's like this incredible house So we stayed there a bit, but we mostly I mean besides those two nights that we stayed in a house We were in the van the whole time every single night trying

[01:26:18] Tyler: to find a level parking spot

[01:26:20] jesse: Trying to find even though if you're on

[01:26:22] Tyler: a slight angle, you know and your head's up high it helps with the snoring

[01:26:26] jesse: Like all the blood rushing to your head, like I have like Well no, the head,

[01:26:30] Tyler: heads up, head up, head up down So the blood's rushing to your feet

[01:26:34] jesse: Yes, I have like a weird circulation phobia So I think I was like, we need to find flat ground Which was the biggest fight that we had, which was a good thing Um, Um, but yeah, so that, there's a campground.

[01:26:48] Did you go to the campground right on the break there? And there's just wild horses everywhere. And it's so just unbelievably picturesque. And we [01:27:00] got a really, actually there was a really, really big swell there. And Chris and I were, you know, there's like. Multiple point breaks. It kind of almost feels like it's like challenging, it progressively gets more challenging, and then the inside bay there, presumably seems like it would be the chillest because it's the most protected, um, but actually, like, it's not.

[01:27:25] It was big and we tried we paddled out there, but the current was so so so strong that um I think that we both started panicking a little bit because it started to feel like you were just on a conveyor belt like that Feeling of just paddling and you're not moving anywhere um, and so I I was like I'm, not I can't just keep paddling because eventually i'm gonna get too tired and like i'm not you know I'm, not going anywhere but like You You know, like people always tell you like swim parallel to the it's like all the things that you know [01:28:00] to do when you're in that state of panic, you just end up like going against and it's like taps into survival mode and you're like I just need to get in and so I started just like panic paddling towards the the shore even though There was we got swept down enough that there was no safe like Sand to dismount onto, and it was just super sharp volcanic reef and like keyholes.

[01:28:28] Yeah. And so at this point I'm panicking. I'm paddling into the keyhole. I lose Chris , I don't know where he is. I he, he floats away into the current. Um, and I'm getting like, kind of like. Way big waves are kind of like starting to pound on top of me and I finally get to this like reef and This guy just like comes out of nowhere.

[01:28:55] Just this like angel and just pulled me out I like put my board up my [01:29:00] board got dinged the waves were Bashing onto the board and bashing onto me. He pulls me out and I'm just like cut up like that Cuz you know, you know when you're on reef, you can't feel if you're getting yeah But then you get out of the water and you're just you see all this wet blood going everywhere Yeah, how did that even happen?

[01:29:17] It's like there's like paper thin slices that you get And then I go back to the van and Chris is nowhere to be found For like a lot like it being like a half an hour It was really scary it and then like 45 minutes passed and I'm kind of just like there's there's um Jet skis that are like rescuing people.

[01:29:36] It was a big day and Super super strong current like crazy strong current and so I'm kind of like running up and down the beach and at that point I'm just like panicking and starting to cry and like shaking and I think an out Well, maybe it's 45 minutes, but it felt like hours pass and finally he just comes walking up and he's just [01:30:00] so cut up like shredded like just like His whole legs are covered in cuts and blood and he got swept So far down to the beach that he had to hitchhike back like in the back of a pickup truck.

[01:30:12] No Yeah, and he was like It would he was like it would have been like an hour and a half walk And but the same thing happened to him He like panicked and found like a little keyhole and was able to get out. Um, so that was a scary that was Yeah, I think that was probably there were some days that were really um big but that was definitely like the scariest

[01:30:35] Tyler: But then you got it when it mellowed out though, right?

[01:30:38] jesse: Yeah,

[01:30:38] Tyler: and it was like screaming

[01:30:40] jesse: We scored the couple days I think the couple days before and after the the big swells were kind of just like our time to shine um, and it finally and it was really crowded those few days there and then the the crowd thinned and we just I got some of the best waves i've ever gotten in my life just like [01:31:00] long Long long lefts

[01:31:03] Tyler: just walking back after each wave.

[01:31:05] Yeah, you do. Yeah, you definitely have

[01:31:07] jesse: to do the loop

[01:31:08] Tyler: Yeah, I remember When I went there with my friend and like we started surfing and it was like junk it was like Waist high and it was like a right we were surfing

[01:31:19] jesse: was it at the at shipwreck?

[01:31:21] Tyler: yeah, and then all of a sudden the set started coming in the tide started to switch and Like within a half hour the whole thing was transformed into the most perfect Left and there was only like a handful of us out and I was like, holy crap What we just paddled out in this garbage and now it's like World class and just going for ages.

[01:31:44] Was that

[01:31:44] jesse: in the bay or was it around the corner? Around

[01:31:46] Tyler: the corner, just around the corner.

[01:31:48] jesse: Which is monkeys. I think so. I

[01:31:50] Tyler: don't even remember like it was so long ago, but yeah. Oh, it's yeah listeners do yourself a favor go to New Zealand.

[01:31:59] jesse: Do not [01:32:00] go to the monkeys. And and

[01:32:01] Tyler: uh, you know and if the you know If you don't agree with the elections at the end of this year, just try to move to New Zealand.

[01:32:08] Or not,

[01:32:09] jesse: or not, because we can't blow up their spot. It's so, it's so amazing. It's all

[01:32:13] Tyler: right, they have a lot of restrictions on visas. They have a

[01:32:16] jesse: lot of restrictions. Also, they have a lot of restrictions on like, it's like, reminds me kind of the, of Martha's Vineyard, how it's like, you can go, but like, good luck getting there.

[01:32:26] Yeah. Because you need like a four by four. You need, you need to know the people. Unmarked path that you walk down, like people from here would be like, Hey, I'm going to Martha's vineyard. Like, where are the spots? And I'm like, literally it's like a rusty mailbox beyond the stone wall. And then it's like this long path down.

[01:32:45] And then you take a left at the like buoy. And then like, there's just no, there's a goat.

[01:32:50] Tyler: You want to talk to the goat and then walk past it and like, yeah.

[01:32:55] jesse: And so that's kind of like, actually where I feel so lucky. Our friend had, [01:33:00]um, Everyone has badass cars in New Zealand. Just like, everyone has sick trucks.

[01:33:05] With the little

[01:33:06] Tyler: flood things on them. You know, like, yeah. They have like the, the camper, they have like the tent set up on the top of their cars and all that stuff. And

[01:33:15] jesse: all those like, Amazing like imported Japanese cars that they don't have here like helix and stuff like that Which is also why I was so inspired to buy a truck once I got back I was like i'm getting a cool car.

[01:33:27] No matter what I had a prius before and now i have a tacoma nice. Yeah So i'm psyched on that. Um, but yeah, he our friend Took his like four by four and we drove on the reef to get out to the break So it's it's like you can walk out but it's tide dependent. I mean same with driving you have to wait for the tides So, you know if you wait for if you wait for high tide like you're stuck out there all day But you're scoring like waves by yourself or not all day for the when the tides up.

[01:33:57] Yeah,

[01:33:57] Tyler: so so where's the [01:34:00] next Adventure are you planning? Yeah, um

[01:34:05] jesse: Well, my so my brother just bought land in Nicaragua So yeah, so and that's like a that's an annual family trip and that's cool That's like his and I like main bonding time Because he's you know He has three kids and yeah, I think like we really connect when we're surfing cuz like our lives are really different at this point So it's really important for me to at least just do that one trip and he does it no matter what Because he's in landlocked texas now.

[01:34:34] Oh How

[01:34:36] Tyler: far from uh from the wave pool

[01:34:39] jesse: Um, he's in austin and he has gone to the it's

[01:34:42] Tyler: an hour and a half drive.

[01:34:43] jesse: Yeah, it's not bad I went to they're building

[01:34:45] Tyler: a new wave pool Yeah,

[01:34:50] jesse: um, yes, so the wave pool is cool, but it definitely doesn't like satiate that like daily need Um, but yeah, so I'll [01:35:00] go to Nicaragua and then kind of just open.

[01:35:04] Tyler: Have you ever surfed in the UK?

[01:35:06] jesse: No. I highly recommend it. Yeah?

[01:35:09] Tyler: I would, I would say it's worth the trip. Okay. It's an easy, easy way to travel.

[01:35:14] jesse: Yeah.

[01:35:16] Tyler: I love the beach culture there.

[01:35:17] jesse: Uh huh. I

[01:35:18] Tyler: love, the waves are really good.

[01:35:20] jesse: Like where specifically?

[01:35:21] Tyler: Cornwall. Yeah. Devon. Like, those are, like, phenomenal places, but you can get a camper van and, you know, Do all of that and then go up to Scotland, which is

[01:35:30] jesse: like, there's so many

[01:35:32] Tyler: nooks and crannies and you can explore and have adventures and yeah, I love it.

[01:35:38] And you know, it's like, and they got like, you know, I don't know if you like the meat pies in New Zealand. I loved, uh, I love my gas station, meat pies,

[01:35:47] jesse: a lot of meat pies

[01:35:48] Tyler: and corn roll, you get the Cornish pasty, which is the English version, which is lovely.

[01:35:53] jesse: Yeah. I love that way of having fun. Surf traveling just like it's not the most because you can go [01:36:00] like i've been to central america so many times and of course like that It's amazing to be able to surf in warm water like that but when it's like like the new zealand like and then i've been to baja a lot like Baja is kind of like rugged, like the terrain and the water is cold and I think I prefer that type of surf trip.

[01:36:20] So it seems like that could be kind of aligned with that.

[01:36:22] Tyler: You work a lot harder for your waves, you know, and it's a little less, less consistent. Maybe sometimes can be a little fickle, but you earn it, you know, and there's something satisfying about that, I think. Yeah. Oh, that's awesome. That's great. So, uh, Jessie, where can our listeners find you if they want to, if they want to hire you or look out for your clothing or something?

[01:36:48] Where, where can our listeners find Jessie

[01:36:51] jesse: James? Um, well I have my website, it's just jessiejamesstiles. com Nice. Um, and that's for where my [01:37:00] styling work would be, but I mean, I guess Instagram is always, you know, you're always like, Oh, my stupid Instagram, like when you're traveling, it's also just like, What's your handle?

[01:37:11] Yeah, it's always feels so cheesy. But like, it is kind of the like, Pat whole package, like you're just like, okay, my website is connected to it. So, um, and that's skelly underscore sister and that's from my old hip hop days. That's

[01:37:27] Tyler: so awesome.

[01:37:28] jesse: Um, yeah.

[01:37:29] Tyler: Nice.

[01:37:30] jesse: Yeah.

[01:37:31] Tyler: Well, Jesse, I really appreciate you coming on and sharing your story and, you know, just it's, it's been awesome getting to know you and see you in the water.

[01:37:42] And like, you've always like been very. Like enjoyable to surf with like I always have fun when I see in the lineup and it's always nice You know, it's just like I gotta get her on the show

[01:37:54] jesse: Right back at you. Yeah, like the nicest person in the water of all time. Like I think the number one person [01:38:00] in Rockwell Oh

[01:38:02] Tyler: That's because I let people drop in.

[01:38:04] It's no big deal. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We can drop, we'll make a pact. We can

[01:38:07] jesse: drop in on each other this summer. Yeah.

[01:38:09] Tyler: Well, Jessie, thank you so much for coming on. Really appreciate it.

[01:38:12] jesse: Thank you so much. My pleasure. You got it. Thank you. Awesome.