The Beach Kickback with Quest Soliman

[00:00:00] Tyler: The Swell Season Podcast is recorded by the New Stand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by the Swell Season Surf Radio Network.

[00:00:55] Hello and welcome to the Swell Season Surf Podcast. I'm your host [00:01:00] Tyler Brewer. Quest Solomon has become a staple in New York surfing over the last few years. I've rarely seen someone who has started surfing so late in life take to surfing the way he has. He's been ripping the beaches of Rockway, but has also made a huge impact on the community and has given back in so many ways.

[00:01:21] Whether it's organizing events for surfers young and old, fundraising for great causes, or just inspiring the next generation. Quest has solidified himself a spot in the lineup. His travel exploits with his sometimes cohort Paul Gaudet, under the label Stop Playing With Him, is the classic surfing hero's journey archetype, and a comforting reminder to us older crew that the more things change, the more they stay the same, in all the good ways.

[00:01:50] Like Hinson and August, Naughton and Peterson, Turner and Potter, Solomon and Gaudet, and just the next generation of explorers. [00:02:00] Quest is currently helping to organize a Juneteenth event. Beach kickback surf event on June 22nd at 90th street. And he is our guest on this episode of the swell season surf podcast.

[00:02:14] And I am so stoked to have you here. Wow. That was amazing. Yeah. You like that? Yeah, that was really good. Well, it's interesting. Like when I see you and Paul, particularly, like you guys have this great. Little travel buddy kind of vibe going and it reminds me of like some of the older surf travelers Like I mentioned like I don't know if you're familiar with like Kevin Naughton Craig Peterson But these guys I idolized as a kid and in the 70s they left home when one was like 16 and one was 18 And they like explored the world surfing, they wrote about their exploits and they, they promoted it and did these great articles in photography and it's like super cool to see that legacy [00:03:00] going on with each new generation and like seeing you guys, I see that.

[00:03:04] I see that spirit of adventure in both you guys and it's awesome to see and inspiring and makes me think like You know a lot of people like to bitch and complain about younger generations and i'm just like nah, man They're just following the same template in a in their own way in their own style.

[00:03:21] It's true.

[00:03:22] Quest: Yeah Nah, it's yeah, it's actually crazy because like I said the way paul and I met we grew up skateboarding and then in rockaway um Yeah, meeting and learning how to surf because we started surfing later in our life. So, yeah, going on all these trips really just like set the standard of like the lives we want to live.

[00:03:42] Paul and I have never climbed up a coconut tree to go get a coconut like growing up. That's just not in New York. So, doing even little things like that, I'm like, wait. Like, we're noticing, we're like, Wow, you actually don't need anything. Like, you could just get some mangoes from the trees, some coconuts, and if you got a place to live that's like, you know, a few [00:04:00] hundred bucks a month, you could survive off that.

[00:04:01] Like, we would cut, look down to like, What can we survive off of, like, with the least? And like, all we needed was maybe like a two dollar boat ride a day to go surf. 5 meal to go eat and then just like you start adding up and you're like, Oh, this is how much my life could cost. I'll survive to keep surfing.

[00:04:18] Like, okay, cool. Like it's not about luxury or glamping or none of that. It's like. Yeah, and getting cool with the locals because that's how you like, that's how they'll be like, Oh, hey, I got a friend renting a spot for this much. Don't go to that hotel. And when you learn how to travel like that, it's really becomes more of a lifestyle versus you just being like, Uh, a tourist.

[00:04:41] Exactly.

[00:04:42] Tyler: You're more a traveler than a tourist. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. Um, you know, it's interesting, like Kevin Naughton and Craig Peterson wrote a little thing about that where they're like, tourists go on a trip and they remain unchanged. Travelers go and they go on a trip, they come back transformed. Yeah.

[00:04:58] You know? Wow. That's so cool. [00:05:00]

[00:05:00] Quest: That's a good one right there. I like that.

[00:05:01] Tyler: You know, and that's like the difference. And I always felt like surfing is like the gateway drug to travel. Yeah, but it's just great. Yeah. You know, it's like you go to surf, but then you experience

[00:05:14] Quest: so much more. Yeah, so much culture, food, fans, all that.

[00:05:18] And now that I feel like I have that mindset when I travel, it really just kind of comes to me. I'm like, okay, cool. Like, I'll just keep doing what I did in the last place. Mm hmm. There you go, I find myself, like, eating, like, somebody's, like, grandma's food in, like, a little sh shack somewhere, like, Yeah, like, that's the vibe, and then, it's funny that you say that, cause, my girlfriend and I, we went on one, like, regular trip with our friends, No surfing, we're like, alright, let's just do it this one time, and then after that, we're like, we're never doing that again.

[00:05:46] Cuz it's like you realize you just be spending money to go do things and I'm like you don't have to spend money to go Surf like obviously you do you got to get your boards and all that. Yeah, when it comes down They're just going to surf you can occupy your whole day and feel like you did so [00:06:00] much and the

[00:06:00] Tyler: surfing also Is a way to connect with a lot of local people there.

[00:06:05] It's your in it's that shared experience that you have And I mean, obviously it depends on what the location is and how the locals receive you, but I, I, I also feel like being from New York, it gives you a bit of a, an ace in your, in your card, you know, where they're like, where are you from? And if you're like from California or Florida, they're like, meh, but if you're like, I'm from New York, you're like, okay.

[00:06:27] Quest: Yeah, no later I swear any place in the world I've gone and I said I'm from New York it has helped me Yeah, like even to the point I probably says on the last podcast but like in Panama the scariest dude there He loved Wu Tang. Yeah, when he found out we were from New York He wasn't he didn't like us at first and then he found out we're from New York.

[00:06:45] He's like you guys are good and I was like Wow, like, thank you, New York, like, and as a New Yorker, when I go travel, I really like to embody New York. It actually makes me appreciate being from here, um, and just like, being [00:07:00] from New York unapologetically, like, you know, I don't want to hide anything or just, I don't know, like, I feel like, how do I say it?

[00:07:07] Like, yeah, just being from New York, it's, it's different than Cali and the other surf places that people come from. So people look at you differently, and they're just like, really? You surf? How, You know, but people are starting to learn. Where are there waves in New York? Or

[00:07:21] Tyler: you surf in the winter, you're crazy.

[00:07:23] And there's that instant respect. I found that too, like, I actually, the traveling really made me much more proud to be from New York. New York, yeah, exactly. I used to, as a kid growing up, I'd be like, I was from California or Florida where there's warm water and waves all the time. And then as I traveled, I was just like,

[00:07:45] Quest: New York's where it's fucking at.

[00:07:46] Yeah, it really is. It's funny you say that because I grew up skating here and I never was that good at street skating. But then I found a niche for like bowl skating, but at the time there wasn't anything to skate out here really. There was that one mini ramp [00:08:00] in Tribeca back in the day. It was like a wooden ramp.

[00:08:02] And then they built Chelsea And then that's how I like was like, Oh, okay. I want to bowl skate. But I didn't even put bowl skating and surfing together, like at all. When I was a kid, like, Well,

[00:08:13] Tyler: so I want to dive into this, like your origin story, um, for surfing, you know, it doesn't take place in New York though, which is fascinating, you know, it, it, it was in another cosmopolitan city, uh, Sydney, Australia, and more explicitly Bondi beach for like, How does a kid from Fort Greene end up surfing in Bondi Beach?

[00:08:36] I really want to know this story, and like, how that happened.

[00:08:40] Quest: Um, so, uh, It's really unlikely, you know? Yeah, no, it really is. So, I was, I was, um, skating New York, and then I met an Australian girl. Aw, yeah. Yeah, exactly, my first, like, interaction with Australians, really. And I was like, oh, this girl's kinda cool.

[00:08:58] Like, we started [00:09:00] kickin it. And then, um, kickin it turned into dating. And dating turned into her dad wanting to meet me. And he was like, hey, like, come through. Like, I wanna meet you. And I didn't even think of surfing. I was like, alright, I'm just gonna go skating. But she would tell me her family's a surf family.

[00:09:16] And they go on these trips. And I'm like It didn't make sense to me at the time. I was just like, okay, cool, like, I'll just see when I get there. But then, yeah, I went to Australia for a month in December, and, um, for Christmas, her parents bought me some surf lessons. And I took, like, two of them, and then I felt like it was almost kind of, like, not holding me back, but I was, like, able to get up right away, and they're like, nah, you need to continue surfing, like, you're a natural.

[00:09:41] I don't believe you've never surfed before, and I was like, nah, I grew up skating, like, it's the same thing. And they're like, no, it's not, like You need to continue surfing. So then, I would, instead of going to like, the, the lessons, I would just go to the side a little bit, and then keep practicing. But then the funny part about that story is we ended up breaking up on that trip.

[00:09:59] [00:10:00] So, I was like, so far from home, I was only with her family. Don't get me wrong, her family is amazing, shout out to them. But I was just with them, and I was like, wait. Why am I out here? Like you could have, you know, you could have broke up with me and I would have been in New York. It's all good, but it wasn't meant to happen because I was meant to find surfing.

[00:10:16] So yeah, we were breaking up on the trip. She's spending time with her friends and her family as she should, because she hasn't seen them in a while. I'm like, Hey, I don't even really want to hang out with you and like all your friends, like just leave me at like Bondi or leave me at this beach and come back for me at this time.

[00:10:33] Cause I didn't have service. I didn't have nothing. So when she left me, I was on Australian beach by myself. And then. Yeah, there was times I could have totally got hurt too, because like I was like scorpion ing, like scorpion ing, whatever you call that, and then where your feet go over your head when you're trying to, um, go for a wave, and yeah, I just, I learned how to surf out there, and then as, I guess like our breakup almost like fueled me wanting to get good at surfing.

[00:10:57] I was like Like, I'll show you. [00:11:00] It's kind of crazy and childish to think about now, but like at that time I was just like, You know what? I'm gonna get really good at surfing. Like, okay, let's try it. And then I fell in love with it. Like, I felt, I liked it in Australia, but I wasn't in love yet. But then when I went to New York and my, I met my friend Sam Jackson.

[00:11:17] He actually runs the sailing school. Um, he's one of the teachers of the sailing school at the Marina. He was like, we met at a bar and he's like, you're going to move to Cali. Like, cause that was my plan after Australia. He was like, man, don't go to Cali, like get good at surfing, then go to Cali. And I was like, He's like, you can surf in New York.

[00:11:34] And this was the winter time. I'm like, no, you can't. You're what are you talking about? He's like, all right, in May, cause I don't have a thick enough wetsuit. Call me in May and we'll go first day of May. And then I hit him up like months later and we went surfing. And then he was like, Hey, like I never go surfing.

[00:11:48] Like keep my board, keep my wetsuit, keep my board bag, take this and use it. If you're going to really come here a lot. And then from that day on, I came to Rockaway like two to three days a week. That's [00:12:00] awesome.

[00:12:00] Tyler: Yeah How did you connect them with like Paul and and some of the other crew that that you've been surfing

[00:12:06] Quest: with?

[00:12:07] Um really through station. Yeah, but I connected with Paul. Well the first time I ever met Paul he did like I was trying to learn how to do floaters, like, on YouTube, and that was my favorite trick, and I really That was my life goal. I didn't care about turns. I'm like, I want to do a floater. And then I saw Paul do a perfect one in front of me, cause Paul had a few years ahead of me.

[00:12:28] And I was like, how did you do that? And then You know, Paul's really nonchalant, and he's like, I don't know, I just went on top of the wave, and I was like, Okay. But then once I showed Paul my skateboarding videos from Chelsea, I think that put a little more oomph of like, Oh, okay, he has potential to get good at surfing.

[00:12:44] And then, yeah, we just started kicking it off from there. And then Pharmy, um, I feel like I met through kind of like Laura Bae and Station, and then eventually Pharmy lived with me for a little bit. And, yeah, no, it's, it's been a great energy to like, [00:13:00] Kind of grow up together and learning surfing together and seeing the different lanes We're taking in like the industry and stuff like that.

[00:13:07] Tyler: It's it's super cool because it's like You know, like I've always, I always think of surfing, uh, generations, like they come in these waves, right? And, and like I can, in my head there's like this visualization of like, you know, uh, there's this crew from the nineties that I surfed with and then there was like an older crew and then there's like a little bit younger crew and now like you guys are like that next generation, which I think is like inspiring because you're, you know, you, it's, it's inspiring.

[00:13:38] Yeah. It's definitely like, I think, as one gets older, you start to wonder like, Oh, do the kids even care about surfing? Or will they learn about it? Will they embrace it like you did? Or will it be changed? And, and I think a lot of older people sometimes get afraid of that change. But I always look at it and I'm like, yo, like these guys, like when I see you guys, [00:14:00] I'm like, oh, they're following the template.

[00:14:01] Like there's nothing, not to say that you aren't doing anything new, but it's like, Oh, I see myself here. I see myself in them. I see myself in you guys and what you're doing. It's like, it's comforting,

[00:14:15] Quest: I think. Yeah, and it's almost like social media has made it a lot easier for like, I guess brands to reach out to us and do different things.

[00:14:22] Cause it's not like, like I'm not the greatest surfer in the world. I just started surfing. Like, I feel like I have so much to learn, but I'm realizing I'm like, Brands really just want to back, like, who you are as a person, and like, what you provide for the community, and things like that. Cause I knew once I tried surfing, I'm like, oh, I want all my friends from New York that can skate to surf.

[00:14:41] And I want, you know, and then when I go to different places around the world, I always try to give back to the locals in some way. And I'm like, If brands are going to back me, I want them to back that image of me of giving back because it will make it easier for me to give back. Like, all I really want to do is just go on sick surf trips with my friends.

[00:14:58] Like, it's all [00:15:00] good. But yeah, I think it's been made it way more accessible and not to say, like a lot of the older generation of Rockaway too, like They've kind of paid the path for us in a way, you know, like I heard Rockaway used to be like, it was kind of like hard to go surf in Rockaway. It wasn't always, you know, it was

[00:15:17] Tyler: banned,

[00:15:18] Quest: you know, like we,

[00:15:19] Tyler: we, you know, like up until 2005, like you weren't allowed to surf like in the summer, really.

[00:15:25] Quest: And you would

[00:15:26] Tyler: get tickets,

[00:15:27] Quest: Ray, shout out Ray. Yeah, Ray would literally tell me all these crazy stories. Like how he would paddle five jetties so the cops would stop following him so he wouldn't get a ticket. Yeah, you

[00:15:37] Tyler: know, it was crazy. And it wasn't just Rockaway, it was like all of New York. Uh, you know, I remember like, we used to go to, my, my stepdad used to take us to Robert Moses and we used to have to hide the surfboards in the car, cover them with blankets because you weren't allowed to surf there.

[00:15:55] And then we had to go field five, park all the way at the end, run down, [00:16:00] go run. We couldn't just run into the water. We had to run to the nude beach, which was like a few hundred yards down. And as like a 10, 11 year old. Freaking sucked like seeing all these nude, nude people. Like it wasn't, it wasn't like, Oh, I'm going to go to the nude beach.

[00:16:17] It was like, Oh, lots of wrinkly, you know, asking like, where are you going? Surfing, you know, Long Beach, it was only Lincoln Boulevard and Azores where you were allowed to surf. We had limited beaches. Uh, you know, I remember watching Robert Moses kids get their surfboards confiscated and get, like, arrested for surfing.

[00:16:38] That's crazy. You know, we were, like, surfing was considered outcasts. And, and, and in the 70s, even, there, you know, surfing was fully banned. And, uh, they had to fight with City Hall to open up surfing, you know? That's crazy. So it's, it is, like, yeah, Rockaway and, and New York surfing in general, Has come a long way, you know?

[00:16:57] And it's all, we all stand on the [00:17:00] shoulders of giants, you know? And I

[00:17:01] Quest: feel like we're, like, our career you'll be talking about is, like, pretty accepted by that, by the community, you know? Like, it's cool. But also, too, like, we're actually, cause there's a lot of, I feel like a lot of people that are from Rockaway, they have, like, a thing about people coming that are from wherever and living their, like, surfer life.

[00:17:18] But then, like, I feel like, The people that are usually like that in Rockaway are like, Wait, nah, these three are actually from New York. Yeah. We can't hate on them because they're, they're like us. We, we went to public school in New York. We did this, whatever. And like, yeah, I don't know. It's, it's interesting.

[00:17:32] Tyler: Oh,

[00:17:32] Quest: we

[00:17:33] Tyler: claim you as our own. Yeah, no. That's the thing.

[00:17:36] Quest: I'm definitely, I'm from Fort Greene, Brooklyn, but I love Rockaway, man. That's, that's my spot right there. Well, I

[00:17:41] Tyler: want to ask, I want to go into that a little bit. Like, what was your upbringing like in Fort Greene? I mean, you're, you're from a pretty prestigious neighborhood.

[00:17:49] Culturally, uh, particularly for black culture. It's like a very Staple. It's, I mean, it's like Spike Lee, you know, like You name

[00:17:58] Quest: it, everyone's from Fort [00:18:00] Greene. And, um, yeah. My mom had me when she was young, probably like, 22. She was, um, she was a model, and she stopped model She used to model with Wilhelmina, and like, uh, Tyson Bedford, and all those Shut up.

[00:18:13] She was like, part of that whole crew. And then she got pregnant with me, and she was like, Alright, I'm either gonna, like, raise my son, or I'm gonna be like, a professional model, and like, My grandma's gonna help out a lot. And she chose to, you know, like, really just take care of me. And, so yeah, I grew up with a single mom, and um, My grandma lived in the house for periods at a time.

[00:18:32] So it was like, I was a raised Were you only a child? Yeah, so it was really just me and my mom. But the cool thing is like, I feel like the way I travel now is every summer my mom and I would go travel somewhere. So like, we go to like Italy, like she would work our ass off all winter while I'm going to school and for the summer we're gonna go away for like a few weeks for sure.

[00:18:50] So, uh, yeah, a lot of places I went to, but not even with a surfing mindset and not even a skateboarding mindset because I wouldn't bring my boards or anything. And [00:19:00] yeah, like growing up with my mom was like really cool because she always like pushed me to do whatever I really wanted to do. So if it was skateboarding, she backed it all the way and like, Yeah, even as an adult, it was funny when I got into skating, I mean, surfing, she was like, oh, now you could wake up at 5am.

[00:19:17] You telling me all these years I was trying to wake you up for school, you know, like three alarms, she would get special alarm clocks to wake me up, like ones that you had to like put a code in and like, it was crazy. And I was like, I'll never forget that. She's like, Oh, now you can wake up at 5 a. m.

[00:19:33] Tyler: Do you, I mean, like, yeah, she missed out on a bargaining chip, really, you know?

[00:19:38] Quest: Go surf before school, but no, it's, it's great. And then, yeah, there was, there's definitely periods of my life that like, kind of was pretty dark. Like, I moved out of my mom's, my mom was a great mom. She raised me right. Like, it was me on my own end wanting to move out and explore New York City. Like, so I'm, whatever I'm about to say has nothing to do with my mom.

[00:19:57] So it was like, I was moved [00:20:00] out when I was 16. And um, I was like living at girlfriend's, like a girlfriend's house. And like, just doing a bunch of crazy, like, New York shit, I guess. A lot of people look at that and it's like, I don't even know. It's kind of like that movie, um, Obviously, yeah, but without the ending.

[00:20:17] Without

[00:20:17] Tyler: the ending or beating the shit out of people with a skateboard, you know? I

[00:20:20] Quest: don't know, I didn't do any of that, but You know, it was really like that movie in its own way, like I was in Tompkins Square Park, I was in the Lower East Side Cause the thing is, I'm from Fort Greene, but my mom was like, Oh, all these schools are bad, cause that's the time Fort Greene was still a little rough And she was like, nah, you're gonna Go to school in the Lower East Side.

[00:20:41] So, she sent my, my uncle had a house, like, had an apartment there, so she said that I lived there, so then my district could change. So then, ever since I was young, I was always able to have, like, city friends. And then as I got older, Like I realized I was the connector of like a lot of Brooklyn and Manhattan relationships of like when we were like [00:21:00] first starting I'm like man, like let's get out of Fort Greene, bro You ever been to the Upper East Side, bro?

[00:21:04] Like, like literally cuz it was like that like me and my friends like I never went To the Upper East Side when I was younger. I was in Brooklyn, Lower East Side, that area. And then when I went to high school, I was in the Upper East Side. So I like had all these friends I started connecting and it was It was interesting, because I didn't have, like, I have all this energy, and I'm great at connecting things, but, like, I feel like that time I didn't have the guidance of, like, what I really wanted to do, so it was like, some things were for good, some things were for bad, and it was just kind of all over the place, and then eventually, like, I was like, okay.

[00:21:34] Like, let me get my life together, let me figure this out. And then surfing came into I I got back into skating. And then that's what was like, Okay, you love skating? And do you know Andrew Gellis? Um, Substance Skate Park? Yeah, okay. So, he gave me like one of my first like, job, like real jobs, and was like, Hey, like, If you want to teach skateboarding camp, um, I'll give you 120 bucks and you teach from 8 till 2.[00:22:00]

[00:22:00] Easy. And I'll get you lunch. And I was like, wait, what? Like, okay. And then my thing was, like, he was really cool. He was like, alright, I'll take care of the little kids. You go hang out with, like, the 12 and, like, 14 year olds. So that just became, like, us skating and be like, okay, who can do the highest air?

[00:22:17] And I was, like, I had a great time. That's when I learned I can teach, like, what I love. And I was like, alright. Skating, I'm always going to teach this, but I also got really good at skating because I would spend from 8 in the morning till the kids would leave at 3 and then I would stay until the park would close at 6.

[00:22:32] So I was there like really 12 hours a day, getting paid the 120. I was chilling, I was like, wow, like Putting in also

[00:22:39] Tyler: By the way, like, the muscle memory of riding a board, and, and, you know, especially if there are ramps, and, and, kind of, banks, like, I

[00:22:49] Quest: mean, Chelsea is, if you guys look it up, look up Pier 62 Skate Park, it is all waves, like, it's not even just the bowl, it's like a snake run with a bunch of, like, oververt waves, like, concrete [00:23:00] waves, and, That's where I learned how to like get good at surfing because I was like once I figured out surfing and skating are similar I started trying when I sucked at surfing.

[00:23:09] I was like, okay I'm gonna start skating like I want to surf and then eventually it just all like morphed into like one thing But like I would not ever Vsurfing the way I am now, if it wasn't for me teaching at that camp. Because I was also like, teaching kids the basics again. Like, okay, when you do frontside, you need to do this.

[00:23:28] And when you do rock to fakie, or just all of these things where I was like, oh, okay. Well, it gets you thinking about the body mechanics, right? And you start to

[00:23:35] Tyler: break it down and analyzing it. And then when you surf, you're like, Oh, this is familiar, you know, to a certain extent, I mean, sure, there are a lot of, you know, quackery online with people teaching surf, skate and stuff, but I'm gonna say right now,

[00:23:51] Quest: I am not a fan of the carver and I will, I will tell you, I'm so glad I have this right now to go on, go on, lay it out, lay it out because I [00:24:00] tell everyone this, if you want to skate or you want to surf, skate, Loosen your trucks.

[00:24:05] Yeah, because in my opinion, this is my opinion. Don't take it for anything when you ride a carver It's very front truck oriented And when I'm riding my surfboard and I'm pumping the way people want to on their surfboards for me It's all in my back foot and my front foot just guiding it Yeah But when you're on the carver you're leaning on your front foot and you're throwing your front hip around and just to me like I can See in ways don't get me wrong if you know how to ride the carver with your back foot Yeah, and it works, but when you're learning and you're seeing If you're starting, learn a real skateboard first, learn to loosen your trucks every week you go on.

[00:24:38] That's what I would tell people when I teach lessons. You want to ride looser, just go like this one time, weep, weep, every week. And eventually as you're riding, you'll just get used to it. And get thicker wheels. Yes, yes, definitely thicker wheels for sure. But yeah, like, I'm not a hater on the surfskate. No, no, no, no.

[00:24:53] It's a hustle, like, I understand, but.

[00:24:56] Tyler: If you're starting out, it's better to do a skate. Which, you know, when I was a [00:25:00] grommet, like, I started skating first also and it was like of the era of like thick wheels and loose trucks Yeah, which allowed me to have that body mechanic until the 90s when everything went like stiff ass trucks tiny wheels Yeah, it was just about getting ollie and pop, you know Yeah, cuz back

[00:25:18] Quest: in the day skating was for the surfers when it was flat Yeah, and if you look at certain tricks even you know, it's crazy like my favorite First, um, skate trick I could ever do was the Bertelman.

[00:25:29] Like, I didn't I didn't know how to I didn't Like, I saw Lords of Dogtown and I didn't even think Bertelman. I'm like, oh, I'ma do what they're doing, that's sick. And then now I'm thinking about it, I'm like, wow, one of my favorite surfers is Larry Bertelman. Like, my first skateboarding trick was the Bertelman.

[00:25:44] And like, now I can like Put it all into surfing and like, yeah, it's crazy.

[00:25:49] Tyler: Dude, the Bertelmann, and you know, he, you know what he used to call aerials. What? L'Aerials. L'Aerials, yeah, yeah, yeah. Man,

[00:25:56] Quest: I, I, coming back to that time period, like, that [00:26:00] time period is what made me be like, oh, I'm a surfer. Because, When I saw the movie Style Masters, um, that is my favorite surf movie of all time.

[00:26:09] Greg Weaver, Spider Willis. Yeah, it's amazing. The narration is awesome. Yeah, it's amazing. And that's what made me realize I'm like, wait, like, yeah, I'm a skater. This is what I feel, like, I feel Larry Birdleman, I feel Dane Kiloha, I feel Buttons, and I'm like, even just seeing those guys, like, rip the way they do, I'm like, Oh yeah, that's, that's who I want to be viewed as, like, just like a, a great, a legend.

[00:26:32] And not even necessarily for like, surf skills, but just like, The personalities. Their personalities, their vibration in the water, what they give off. And to me, that movie's like, people are like, if you watch a 1970s, like, kung fu movie, and everyone got their own style, there's like the grasshopper, and then this guy got this, If you watch Style Masters, everyone is like their own kung fu master, and they all surf different.

[00:26:54] And, like, one guy's way better at backside than frontside, or this, um Or switch stance, you know? Yeah, buttons can [00:27:00] do switch, and that's like When I saw that now, I love New Surfing Naomi Romba. It's a program now, it's the front air, back air, aerial, like, and those are sick, but that whole movie, you barely even see anyone doing airs, and it's like, the deepest, realest turns I've ever seen, where I'm like, I feel that more than I, this might look better, technically, or whatever, but when it comes down to this, it's like, people were inventing things back then.

[00:27:23] Tyler: They, they were, and it was like, It was, it was beautiful. I mean, and the thing is also at the time you didn't have video on demand. And so you would go maybe to see a movie in a, in a theater or a school or whatever. So everything you saw mostly were from magazines. So you only got a freeze frame of a maneuver.

[00:27:46] And so you had to imagine what came next. And what that did was allow you to develop your own style, your own sensibility, because. You had to interpret what

[00:27:56] Quest: they

[00:27:57] Tyler: were gonna do. What you saw in a magazine. Exactly.

[00:27:59] Quest: Yeah, and then I'm [00:28:00] sure once these certain surf movies came out, it was like, mind blown. Then you

[00:28:04] Tyler: can mimic, yeah.

[00:28:04] And then you can mimic, or you'd be disappointed. Yeah. Because you'd see someone, you'd see a photo of a turn and you're like, oh! And then you're like, wait. And then you watch the video and they eat shit after. Yeah, you're like, wait, what? You're like, I tried my whole life to do that. I, I wanted, I wanted to ask, go back and, go back to Fort Greene though.

[00:28:23] Yeah. And this is like something that I also think is like interesting because it's like it has to do with surfing to a certain extent is like you've kind of posted in the past about like the gentrification of your home. Yeah. And, and your neighborhood. And I was hoping you can expand on it a little bit because to me that is something that also happens in surfing.

[00:28:43] Yeah. It has happened. And even like Rockaway, it's happening in certain extent or other countries. Totally. It's

[00:28:49] Quest: happening everywhere. And now that I'm traveling, I'm seeing it. And, um, Yeah, I think Fort Greene, for me growing up, I was like, the generation where it started to shift, but there [00:29:00] were still deep roots, like, where you couldn't deny Fort Greene for what it was.

[00:29:05] And, I guess for example, like, daily, like, weekend barbecues, basketball tournaments, kids fighting in the street, like, I don't know, like, yeah, that might look crazy now as an adult, but like, to me, even it's like, oh, wow, this represents home, it's summertime, people fighting over this, or like, for us, like, To fight gentrification almost, it was funny, I didn't even think we were realizing we were doing it.

[00:29:28] There was, uh, I was the generation where the double decker tour buses just started coming through Fort Greene. And we would be like, What the heck? And then what we started doing, we started filling up water balloons. No way. But we were like, hey, we were like middle school. And I was like, we'd be like, welcome to Brooklyn!

[00:29:44] And then just And just like literally six kids on each side. We knew it was coming, but we couldn't wait all day. So we'd just be playing basketball, hanging out. And we'd be like, and we'd fill up the water balloons before. And then one friend would be like,[00:30:00]

[00:30:02] And then all of us would drop our games, whatever scooters, whatever we were playing with, grab these and then just do that. And it was like, I don't know, like, I love my neighborhood because it's a real neighborhood. Like if I got, If I snuck out of the house, my mom was a single mom, she would work late, gave me opportunities to sneak out the house or just leave the house.

[00:30:19] There's been times where I did that and then it got back to my mom through my neighbor and it's like They say it like it takes like a village to raise a child and to me I really felt that way because my mom did have me when she was younger. She was always working and Everyone in the neighborhood kind of like loved our family.

[00:30:36] So and we loved them, too So to grow up with that and just the kids we grew up with And kind of to see where our neighborhood is now. We almost knew it was changing and And I feel like now that we're adults, we're like, we just say little things like, Damn, like, nobody's in the park right now. Like, if we were, like, there would be a hundred kids in the park, and then you got, like, the gangsta dudes doing pull ups, smoking blunts, like, and [00:31:00] we were the skater kids, like, and it was cool, because all the guys in my neighborhood that were into kind of crazy things, they would be like, Man, stay with that skating shit.

[00:31:07] Like, you don't, you don't want to hang out with us. Like, we just, like, we cool, hang out with us, but, like, don't be around us, kind of. And I appreciate that, because And that's where I say the village, because it could have been the neighborhood where they're like, oh. Yeah, we're in this gang you should be doing and that was the time the Fort Greene I grew up with there were still gangs You didn't really feel comfortable going to Myrtle Myrtle Avenue.

[00:31:27] Oh, yeah. Fort Greene Park at nighttime was a no go Yeah, like I'll never forget seeing my like with my friends We were just like probably like eighth grade and we're just walking Fort Greene Park and we were like Why is she suntanning here? Like we were so like, tripped out by that like, and we looked at each other and were like, man this neighborhood changing like, like it was just these little moments where I'm like, and that's why for me it's important, I embody New York wherever I go, I represent it cause I'm really from here and it's like, There's a lot of people that come through and make it here and I, that's, that's the New York [00:32:00] way.

[00:32:00] You've been here over 10 years, you're a New Yorker to me. It's like, that's just what it is. But my neighborhood to me is, I felt like I was raised by my neighborhood. And don't get me wrong, there's still like the pizza guy I've been getting pizza from since I was two years old. I got a piece for him yesterday, like, yeah, there's still memories of it, but it's drastically changing and, um,

[00:32:20] Tyler: What do you think, what do you think it, like, what are the negatives that come with it, other than the pricing out, like, What do you, cause, cause I, Oh,

[00:32:28] Quest: people entitlement.

[00:32:30] Yeah. Seeing people that aren't from the neighborhood talk to people like store owners a certain way or just like they're there for them. Or complaining

[00:32:38] Tyler: on a neighbor, I imagine. Yeah, yeah,

[00:32:40] Quest: but that honestly never works out for them. Like I've, we have our local bar that like all the locals go to and like they're, they do a lot of great things for the community, but they have their block party sometime and like the neighbors, like new neighbors be trying to call the cops and it's like bro, we've been doing this for like Since I was before I was born like it just [00:33:00] isn't a thing, but I don't know there's don't get me wrong There's some positives to it, too.

[00:33:04] You know like Yeah, I mean it's kind of hard to say well. It's

[00:33:08] Tyler: safer in some ways.

[00:33:09] Quest: No for sure Yeah, like there was times I was a kid where I would avoid certain blocks because I'm like Nah, like that's scary. Like I'll just go on this block. It's fine here. So it's, it's, it's a dual edge.

[00:33:20] Tyler: It's a dual edge sword.

[00:33:21] And part of it though, I imagine is like one of the things that I see at least. And, and you know, I'm a white guy. I'm not from the city. I'm from long Island, but I've lived in the city for 20 something years. And, you know, I've traveled enough to know, like when I go somewhere, I have to be respectful of the locals.

[00:33:41] I have to be respectful of their traditions and what they do. And I also want to ingrate myself in there. I want to get to know those people. I want to walk down the street and wave to my neighbors. And, and what I notice a lot of people when they come in, they're coming from places not from New York.

[00:33:59] They're [00:34:00] not used to the things and then they don't wave. They don't say hi. They don't make an effort to be part of the community, which I think is That's the core issue, and I think I see that with surfing sometimes. When people come in from out of town and want to surf here, but they don't, you know, make themselves part of that community.

[00:34:20] They don't really make an effort. Or they, they act entitled. Yeah, it's

[00:34:24] Quest: the entitlement. Even especially surfing too, it's like I don't know, like, some people are just really rude to the locals when they're getting their food, not saying good morning, not saying thank you, and, um, I feel like the locals can see that, like, pretty much say somebody's in line before me, they're rude, and I just give the local that look like, Man, don't worry about him.

[00:34:43] And then they're like, oh my god, I'm not crazy, like, this person's an asshole, and I'm like, Yeah, bro, like what's your name? My name's Quest and like I feel like just those little moments It almost like makes it easier for me to connect with the locals cuz I'm like, hey like I know this is completely different But this should [00:35:00] happen in my neighborhood too.

[00:35:01] Like I understand and that's like I'm sure we'll get into this But I I just purchased land in Nicaragua and like my main Like, goal is for people to be like, hey, he gave back, like, there's certain people that moved to Fort Greene from other places and they did events and they did all these things for community and like.

[00:35:21] I want to build skate parks out there. I want to help people that own boats do boat tours with me. And I don't even make a crazy amount of money. Like I, like I said, for me, a simple living is just being able to surf every day, eat and feed my family. Like, you know what I mean? That's how I look at it. Like I don't need too much, but if I have the resources to finagle this and finagle that and be like, okay.

[00:35:41] This will go to this community. That's as good as it gets for me and like that's where for me It was almost not good that Fort Greene got gentrified but good for me to witness it and then become a surfer and be like nah I'm not finna be like one of these people coming to Fort Greene and like yeah, I just brought this brownstone here [00:36:00] Yeah, I

[00:36:02] Tyler: deserve a spot on the local council and

[00:36:05] Quest: we got to change

[00:36:05] Tyler: how the school

[00:36:06] Quest: is done and

[00:36:07] Tyler: all this

[00:36:07] Quest: stuff Yeah, it's Yeah, it's crazy, but you know what, like I said, it's happening everywhere in the world and you have to learn There's a fine line of just like learning how to kind of like adjust to it You can't adjust to it and just talk shit on it and not do anything about it Cuz then you're part of the problem, but if you are seeing what's going on, you'd be like, okay I'm gonna adjust to what's going on and then okay on some Robin Hood shit.

[00:36:31] How can I like Really just show out for my people again and still play these both sides and make it cool because there's a way where everyone can coincide Some of these people just don't have the knowledge too and I realized that like when you're coming from kind of like the middle of nowhere you coming here and You're trying to figure it out like I've seen people, you know, the whole mindset, um, shifts from moving to New York.

[00:36:54] And then I'm realizing, wait, I have to give you grace too, because I got, I'm lucky to grow up in [00:37:00] this and see this and see all these different cultures. You only had this one thing and now you're just experiencing it into adulthood. And me giving you grace is me like, say, if something's a little off, like I'll just explain it to you without belittling you or making you feel some type of way.

[00:37:14] Cause there is a fine line of like, Oh, you're gentrifying my neighborhood. Fuck you, like, that's not, you know. Well, it doesn't help, you know. Yo, it doesn't. It makes more hatred on both sides.

[00:37:24] Tyler: It's, it's, it's, I always like to take it back to surfing with lessons, but you have, you know, you have to be like water.

[00:37:31] Water redirects energy as opposed to fighting energy. Right? Like, you want to redirect them, educate them, teach them, bring them in, and same with surfing, like, it's like, you have a lot of new people who have no clue, uh, of, like, the people who came before, and the sacrifices some of them had to make, and you could be a hard, hardened local and, and bitch and yell.

[00:37:54] Quest: Doesn't help anything.

[00:37:55] Tyler: Exactly. All it does is create more fear and animosity, and it's [00:38:00] better to just be like, take them under your wing or try to Yeah. Show them like, hey, so and so has been here for a while. This is Jimmy Doud. He's been doing this forever. This is Nigel. This is Ray. Don't drop it on him.

[00:38:12] You know, it's

[00:38:13] Quest: like all of those things. Yeah, but some people don't know any of those things and you got to teach them because then you're just being like a hard ass and you're like You should know all this already, and it's like, there's no growth with that, and I feel like, yeah, like, I, I pretty much rarely get into arguments with people in the water, like, I never.

[00:38:33] Yeah, like, it's just not worth it at all, because I, I always say when people want to say something to me, I'm just like, bro, we're surfing, we should be smiling, happy, man, like, Exactly. And, like, I know this because, like I said, like, the Fort Greene, I grew up in the generation before mine, they're dealing with real shit, mental health issues, jail, whatever, and then I see this guy and he's, like, mad that he can't get away, but his life is good in all other aspects, and I'm like, bruh, you should be smiling, [00:39:00] like, like, there's so much that you could be going through right now, and all you're worrying about is this wave, like, you know, like, it's a respect thing, don't get me wrong, I'm all for that, but there's a fine line of just being, like, a hard ass for no reason.

[00:39:12] Tyler: One of my favorite, uh, surfing lesson stories, um, of Bruce Brown, who made the Endless Summer, and they were, uh, doing a test shoot for Endless Summer 2, and they were at the ranch, the Hollister Ranch. And Bruce is paddling out with Pat O'Connell and Wingnut and this guy is riding this wave and he gets a sick barrel and then kicks out right in front of Bruce Brown and Bruce is like, Oh, that was sick.

[00:39:41] And the guy just gave him a scowl and a nasty look and then paddled away back to the peak. So Bruce Brown paddles up to the guy and he's like, You know, if that wave can't make you smile, you might as well just shoot yourself now, because what's the point? Yeah, and then the guy laughed and smiled and like that's [00:40:00] That's like yeah, man, like that's so true.

[00:40:03] These waves can't make you smile and happy like not worth it Why are you even living? And I

[00:40:08] Quest: feel like it's I feel like it's been easy almost like That's why it's been easy for me to acclimate into line certain lineups, like in the world, like, you know, like even Uluwatu and like, I just be like doing me smiling, surfing, and then like, randomly, I'll just be hanging out.

[00:40:23] And then some, I guess, a veteran that surfed Uluwatu forever. It's like, Oh, I loved your energy in the water. And then my friend's like, do you know who that is? And then like, I don't really know who he is, but like, he's one of the best surfers I've ever seen, like in my face. And I was just like. Wow, like, all it really takes is just, like, good energy, smiling, cause that, but I'm not even forcing it, like, that's how I feel when I surf, like, I feel like a kid, and it's like, yeah, I don't know, I feel like people see that energy, and people feel like it's refreshing, too.

[00:40:53] Especially from an older generation Stan Peele of like really having to go through that because now it's been all watered down people are allowed to [00:41:00] surf It's a lot more chill, but then I guess to them. It's like I had to deal with these nasty people So you have to deal with me being nasty.

[00:41:08] Tyler: I mean grommet abuse was a thing Yeah, you know they used to talk in Australia and Bondi.

[00:41:14] Yeah They would tie the Groms up to the flagpole of the leash and piss, throw piss and shit on them, you know? Yeah, that's exactly, it's like,

[00:41:21] Quest: See, but there's that thing where, that fine line where I'm like, Nah, motherfuck, I'm still from New York, you ain't gonna do that to me. You can't do that to me. Yeah, nah, for

[00:41:28] Tyler: sure, but.

[00:41:29] It, it, it is like, I feel like, When I used to travel, um, yeah, that was it. Like I always just had a smile or I'd always be super respectful and humble about it. And I would get, I would get accepted. I would never have any issues when I traveled because of that attitude. And I, it always I'm always befuddled, like, when, when someone comes who's, who's a very competent surfer even, like an excellent surfer, and they come in with a scowl and a bad [00:42:00] attitude.

[00:42:00] It's not good. Yeah, I mean, it sucks when, when you see that. But it, it happens. Yeah, I remember Bingin, actually. This is a, this is a fun story, you'll like. I was surfing, I was living at Bingin for, for a while, and, uh, in Indo, and. It started, it started getting like peak tourist season, and um, Argentine guy with his girlfriend, and he ripped, and his girlfriend ripped, and she was beautiful.

[00:42:29] And this guy, paddle out, right to the peak, cut everyone, get a barrel, no smile, go right back out again. And I remember I had just had a mushroom shake, and I was, so I was kind of tripping when I was in the water. Yeah. And I remember talking to people and being like, Dude, how is this guy not smiling? He has the hottest girlfriend who surfs.

[00:42:53] He's getting barrel after barrel, and there's not one smile. Like, what's the point, man? I thought [00:43:00] everyone

[00:43:00] Quest: was laughing. No, literally, what is the point? If you're not surfing and smiling, you got to recheck yourself. Seriously. If you're listening to this, you really do, because surfing and smiling is everything.

[00:43:11] It brings good energy into the water, like the ocean. Like, when one person laughs, another person laughs, so it's the same thing with a smile, especially in the water, like, I, I see somebody get a sick wave, I'm gonna go up to them and be like, Yo, that was, that was fuckin sick, like, and people are even surprised that, like, you know, I'll do that or whatever, but it's like, No, like I'm gonna give you your props or even if you're a beginner and we've been surfing together and Say it's been two weeks and I saw you get finally the sick wave you've been wanting I'm gonna try to go out my way to tell you cuz when people told me that was the oh shit people notice like And as a winter surfer in New York, when you surf in the wintertime, nobody give a fuck about what you're doing in the water.

[00:43:48] Because, even if I'm surfing with my best friend, I don't care about his waves, cause I'm duck diving 30, 40 degree water. I'm like, ugh. Like, nobody's looking at each other, but the summertime, and you go travel. You can, I, I think it's [00:44:00] important to give back what you would want. If you got a sig wave, you would want somebody to be like, Hey, that's awesome.

[00:44:05] And people are scared to do that because they're like, Oh, I don't know if I should do that or whatever.

[00:44:10] Tyler: I love doing that. I love making someone's day by, by, you know, cause one of the beautiful things about surfing is also, you know, it's not like, baseball or basketball where if you're bad like you're losing the game and you're you know people You know, no one's gonna be like, yeah, that was a really nice brick.

[00:44:27] You just threw you know,

[00:44:28] Quest: yeah, but

[00:44:29] Tyler: with surfing You can gauge, like, oh, this person, they're at this level, so that was a really good way for them. I'm gonna compliment them, you know? And like, they,

[00:44:39] Quest: especially at that, when they're just learning, like, when people notice that you're getting better at surfing, cause it's one of those things, like, you don't really, you feel like you're plateauing a while when you first start, and, until somebody's like, hey, whoa, that was sick, and they see your progression, it's like, That's all it takes and it's like I might have not had to say it or whatever but to me it's like [00:45:00] yeah like I'm gonna tell you you're progressing because that's the thing to do and that's how we all progress as humans like just helping each other piping like even that intro you wrote about me I'm like damn like he did his research like yeah no it's it's great and what you do for the community too is great and hearing all these stories and like This is only gonna age like wine and people are gonna be older and whatever and I hope so I hope the sensibilities

[00:45:25] Tyler: don't change to the point where I get canceled

[00:45:29] Quest: Definitely not But it's like I look at it like, you know People's kids are gonna be able to look at this podcast one day and learn about their like whoever you know It's it's history.

[00:45:37] It's our history. Yeah, exactly rockaway history and it's uh It's great that you're doing it because you've been coming to the community like you said the first time here is 1990 right in Rockaway Yeah, like that that's amazing. You know and then even before you there's Simon who probably came here in the 70s

[00:45:54] Tyler: Yeah,

[00:45:54] Quest: and it's like before like Simon It's crazy.

[00:45:57] Like the way Simon tells stories, I'll be like, oh yeah, this [00:46:00] guy's Simon, but Simon, when he tells stories, he has a guy that was just like Simon. He was like, oh no, this guy showed me Rockaway. And there's always like a lineage. I wish we could have like a family tree of like, how did you get to Rockaway?

[00:46:12] And it's like, you know?

[00:46:14] Tyler: There is so, there is such a family tree actually. It's crazy. It's, it's super interesting. When I interview, Like I did, I did some, some, some older people and also my father, you know, he was, he owns one of the oldest surf shops in New York. So like I, I grew up around all of those guys and you could see all of that, the lineage, the traditions passed on, even surf styles, you know, kind of get handed down.

[00:46:40] Like my brother and I, we, we pet the cat and that's from this guy, Charles Bernowitz, who grew up, who we grew up surfing and idolizing at Lincoln and Long Beach, you know, it's You know, it's all of those things. I, I, um, I'm curious, like, so you, you've purchased some property in, in some foreign [00:47:00] lands. And, and I'm curious, like, what are your plans for those, actually?

[00:47:04] Like, I'm, I'm, here's your chance to kind of pitch it or sell it or, you know, get investors even. Yeah, literally. Um,

[00:47:11] Quest: okay, so the two countries I own in, um, One is in Indonesia in, uh, Lakey Peak, Sambawa, which is like, if any surfer knows that area, like, that's a good move. And then another place that's closer is Nicaragua.

[00:47:27] So, one property I'm invested, um, in with my girlfriend, and one property I'm invested in with one of my best friends. Obviously my girlfriend's a part of everything I'm a part of, but like, Logistically, that's what it is. So for each one, I'm really looking to do like a, a few villas kind of to start off with.

[00:47:46] Um, I want to build one and this is the same plan for both places. Like we want to build a, like a master villa that I'll live in while the other two or three villas are, are making RenovU. And then eventually, obviously doing surf tours [00:48:00] through that, um, only incorporating locals, teachers, videographers. If they have a videographer, he don't got a camera.

[00:48:06] We going to get him a camera. Like. That type of mentality. And, um, yeah. Eventually build main houses for both of the properties. But that's years down the line. And right now I'm just focusing on building these villas for sure. So, hey, any investors? Hit me up. I already got the land. And, yeah, I'm also part of this great collective.

[00:48:27] I'm stopped playing with them obviously. But I'm part of the great collective Ebony Beach Club. And we My friend Brick just put together a summer camp in Costa Rica. I was there for 10 days and he got 40 people to come. So it's like the fact that we're getting people that have never tried surfing, some people didn't even know how to swim.

[00:48:46] And like the whole time we were teaching them how to swim in the pool and like just bringing water and outdoor activities to black culture really. And, uh, it was amazing. Cause honestly the whole camp was like 37 [00:49:00] females. And that made me realize I was like, Whoa, Women really invest in themselves to learn things.

[00:49:06] And it's like, we almost need to create camps where like guys are like, don't feel like it's corny to be like, Oh, I'm going to go on this camp and I'm going to learn this. And like, it was amazing. Cause a lot of the guys who run the surf camp, cause, um, Ebony beach club, really it's brick, but everyone helps under that umbrella are mostly men, but we all had girlfriends.

[00:49:25] So it was really like an even playing field of like, Hey, like we really here just to teach y'all and just make sure you guys learn. And it was. Like, every woman who went there, like, felt safe, had a great time, and they were like saying how they would come back, and it was like, it was a big test for us in our own way, like, we set the camp up, and then we're like, whoa, bro, 37 women just booked, like, we have to attend to their needs and make sure they're good, is there a place they can go get, you know, like, um, products for themselves, or, feminine hygiene, yeah, exactly, so, the fact that we did that, like, And everyone was happy, [00:50:00] had good reviews, 40 people.

[00:50:01] That's amazing. It was like, oh wow, like we can do this worldwide. And like, and we teamed up with locals, we teamed up with local surf school, um, divers, some local restaurants, and I feel like we really helped out with the community and all the locals looked at us like, wow, these guys aren't just throwing like a, like a self centered retreat.

[00:50:19] It's like a retreat where the whole point of the retreat is to show y'all how to connect with locals and how to do this. And

[00:50:26] Tyler: yeah, it was really cool. It's the anti colonial. Yeah, literally. Well, it's, it's interesting, right? Like, you know, I think like 2020 was, was quite a turning point, I think, uh, for our culture, uh, not just surfing, but.

[00:50:43] The greater culture at hand, you know, with, with George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and honestly, too many names to name. Um, but, you know, it's interesting that I feel like there was this push, right? Like there was this renewed, this, this [00:51:00] attention that was brought on to, um, you guys particularly. Uh, which fairly or unfairly, to be honest, but it, it was put onto you.

[00:51:09] And. I wanted to ask, like, four years on now, how has, how do you think surfing has changed? And do you feel you've seen that change? And do you feel that it's become more, uh, welcoming to people of color?

[00:51:26] Quest: Um, yeah, nah, I would definitely say that, okay, so, that's like a whole thing. Sorry, yeah, yeah, yeah, no,

[00:51:32] Tyler: take your time, take your time, you know.

[00:51:34] Um, how do I break

[00:51:35] Quest: this down? I guess, like, breaking this down for me, it was like, harder to understand that, like, black people didn't really surf at first. Because I learned how to surf in New York, and I saw black people surfing. I saw Chuck surfing, Nigel, you name it. Like, there's black people that surf in Rockaway.

[00:51:53] There's representation. Yeah, there's representation. It's not even just black people. Cause I'm mixed. I'm a lot of things. And then you

[00:51:58] Tyler: discover, you know, also like [00:52:00] Buttons and Bertelman Yeah, literally. So at

[00:52:02] Quest: that time I was like, oh, okay. It's like skating. Like, cool. When I went to Cali is when I realized I was like, oh wow, like this is more systematical.

[00:52:10] Like this is, is deeper than this. Like everyone that owns property by the waterfront is filthy rich. Like, okay. And then all these filthy rich people are going, oh, I'm local here. And it's like, oh, like none of the people from like, you know, Carson, inner city places in Los Angeles. They can come to the beach, but they're never gonna feel welcome because they're not quote unquote local.

[00:52:32] And it's like, when I like looked at that, I was like, damn, like, that's when I feel like, okay, I guess me being like a surfer, because my friends and I have been talking about it. It's like, there was a thing in 2020. It was like, Almost kind of like, to me, it was like a trend to be like a quote unquote black surfer.

[00:52:50] As these years have gone by, I'm like, oh, like, bruh, I'm just a surfer. Like, at the end of the day, I'm not gonna label myself. I'm this and I'm that. [00:53:00] Just for this to, like, show out. I'm like, yes, I represent black culture. I'm from Brooklyn. I'm, I'm mixed. I'm all of these things. But at the end of the day, like, I never went to myself class.

[00:53:10] I'm a black skateboarder. And like, I just did it like real, real talk. And I have nothing against for people that identify with being like, Oh, I'm a black server because it is important in, in this community. Because when you go around the world or like Indonesia, like I probably only saw. One or two black people like for the whole month I was there that surfed and it's like okay this is why it's important for us to just be surfers and be ourself and Show our cultural our culture out and when I wherever I go You know like I'll be in Indonesia bumping Jay Z out the speaker like chillin like about to go surf everyone looking at me like It could just be something as simple as that.

[00:53:50] So it's like surfing has definitely, um, I don't know, everyone has different viewpoints of like what surfing has changed or done for them. But to [00:54:00] me, surfing is kind of the same. And in the way of like, what are the people in those communities doing? To betterment and from 2020, it has gotten so much more inclusive to the fact that we have all these great groups, Laura Bay, uh, color of the water, texture waves, stop playing when I'm Ebony Beach Club, I can name all these, you know, all these collectives that are making it accessible.

[00:54:22] And that's, I feel like the only thing that matters because to just be like, Oh, it's unfair. I'm a black server. I'm outnumbered. It's like, yes, that's facts. We all know that, but what are you doing? How are you helping? So, for instance, you mentioned an event I have, um, coming up June 22nd. Um, we are teaching people from New York, from the community, how to surf 50 free slots.

[00:54:48] Unfortunately, there's only 14 left. So, we'll see how it filled up in a day. And these are all people from New York, you know what I mean, all different types of people, people of color, Asian, white, whoever, can come because it's [00:55:00] not just about that. And, to me, that's how we're gonna change surfing, and it's like, yeah, those, like, people that have those older outlooks of surfing are eventually just gonna get flooded out, and we'll end up really just looking like, hate, like, looking at it like, oh, they don't like the progression of surfing or where it's going.

[00:55:17] And that's on them, but it's up to you to be like, okay. It's so easy to just get your group of friends together and just be like, all right, let's do this every week. Let's add more people. Let's teach people how to serve. Let's teach this. And if you care about surfing like history or whatever, then you're going to teach people etiquette.

[00:55:35] You're going to teach people how to treat locals, right. Versus. Oh, we're just surfers and we're not going to teach you anything. And then somebody might go off and do the wrong thing and it's not their fault. So yeah, it, that topic to me is really interesting. And like, I love where it has taken me because I'm not going to lie, being a black server has helped me.

[00:55:54] And because it's not many people that do it from New York, from Brooklyn. And it [00:56:00] gave me my own lane, but I want to remind everyone to like, My lane is I'm a surfer from New York, and I just happen to be black and I rep my shit wherever I go And I want to do that and apply that to everyone and everyone should do that You know see

[00:56:16] Tyler: like I've always growing up.

[00:56:18] I've always identified as a surfer first and foremost Everything else like I'm Jewish. I'm German. I have This and that I'm a fucking surfer first and foremost before any of that other stuff and obviously it's easier for me to say Of course, of course. No, totally though, but that's how you want to be seen.

[00:56:38] Quest: Yeah, like like the skating thing I never ever me and my friends are black skaters and never been like we're black skaters Nah, we skaters, and like, yeah, like, There's no differentiation. You know, we might got a little more steez or something, but like, But, but then look at skate brands like DGK, for instance.

[00:56:56] Dirty Ghetto Kids, that's their name. This was the first black [00:57:00] dudes to be like, Yo, we're black skaters and this, but they weren't out here being like, Playing kind of like a, a victimization role. They were like, Yo, we black skaters, we gon wear these baggerini jeans, we gon do these do rags, we gon do what we want to do.

[00:57:11] And we're proud, you know? And we're proud. And they were one of the biggest skate brands for black children to be like, Yo, I want to become a skateboarder. And to me, it's like, when mother when people look at Stop Playing With Em, I want them to look at it like that, like, Oh, everyone can look at Stop Playing With Em for what it is, but like, even just like, urban youth to look at that and be like, Yo, these two guys, they're just like me, they're from New York, they're traveling, they're getting little brand deals, they're doing all this stuff.

[00:57:36] Y'all can do this too. And that's what I want to like apply to them. I feel

[00:57:40] Tyler: like, um, you know, it's, it's, uh, it's interesting, like I feel like surf culture needs people from different backgrounds Yeah. For it to, to really blossom. And I feel like, to be honest, like, and I, I, I want, I, I want to ask you about this, but the surf industry.

[00:57:59] [00:58:00] Do you feel the surf industry has embraced that diversity and that type of, uh, attitude? Definitely. See, that to me is like, I was saying this like 20 years ago. I remember even, I went to a Stoke mentoring event and I remember thinking, We need people from many different backgrounds in order for surf culture to grow and for it to really thrive Because what I notice is so much of surf brands and industry Just recycle the same old shit over and over and all I keep seeing is like, oh, we're back to retro You know 90s or we're in this and I'm like, oh you guys are just rehashing the same shit Like let's Let's bring people from other backgrounds.

[00:58:42] New flavors to the pot, you know? Totally. Nah, I

[00:58:46] Quest: feel that for sure.

[00:58:47] Tyler: You know, and it's also like surfing style, right? Like, look at Mikey February. Yeah. And his style is super unique. I got a good

[00:58:55] Quest: Mikey February story. Oh yeah? Yeah. Go on. Go on. [00:59:00] So when I first started surfing, um, I was surfing in Rockaway and it was a windy, sloppy, random day in the summer.

[00:59:07] Nobody was out. And I look to my left, and I'm like, Oh, Black Su Mikey February! And he was in the water at 90s, and he was with Chris from Pilgrim. But I didn't really know Chris at the time, so I just looked at it like Okay, Mikey just with this one dude, like I'm paddling up, and this is the time like, I feel like even right now, I wouldn't have paddled it up, paddled up to him the same way I did, because I'm more like, alright I understand, but I was so new to surfing I'm like, Bruh, I'm meeting like Tony Hawk right now, like I gotta go say what's up.

[00:59:36] Absolutely. I paddled up to him and uh, we chopped it up, I asked him who his favorite surfers are, who inspired him, like, and then he kinda got a wave or two, and I saw him get these waves where I'm from, and I'm like, oh my god, and then he, I was like, okay, cool, he's kinda playing it cool, but then he paddled up to me, and he's like, yeah, what's your name, where you from, and then, yeah, like, we, like, he followed me on Instagram since that day, and then Chris, [01:00:00] Always tells me like, Hey man, like he was so surprised that you knew him out here.

[01:00:04] And like, he was so stoked that people in New York know him for his surfing and black kids from New York. And he was like, yo, like it made his day. And it's cool. Cause you know, he follows me now and like, he'll never like comment or like on anything. But then if I post a video where I even notice where I'm like, Oh, okay.

[01:00:21] That's something new. He'll like comment something random and I'm like, wow, like he's watching because he called me onto a wave when we first, when I first started and I couldn't get it because I was just learning and it's like, imagine meeting your idol and your idol is like, go, like

[01:00:36] Tyler: Kobe

[01:00:36] Quest: Bryant passes you a ball and you shoot an air throw like that's literally what happened to me and I was so embarrassed.

[01:00:41] And then for him to be like, I see your progression just suddenly is like. Just made me want to go like so much harder, but yeah, that's my I met him in New York I got a picture. I'll send you the picture so you can show people and stuff, but yeah, like my first year into surfing I was watching Mikey February religiously And then I met him and then even my my girlfriend [01:01:00] at the time that didn't know anything about surfing I'm like, I met Mikey February today, and she was like, whaaat?

[01:01:04] Like, cuz that's how much I was watching his videos at that time like, shout out

[01:01:09] Tyler: Mikey February. Dude, I am such a huge fan of his surfing. So good. But he's amazing and the other surfer I really admire and I look up to is Victor Bernardo Oh,

[01:01:21] Quest: yeah,

[01:01:22] Tyler: dude, like I would love to see them in a heat. Yes Oh my god, he's such a good heat cuz how about just a surf trip?

[01:01:30] You know, it's

[01:01:31] Quest: sad to know a lot of my favorite favorite surfers. Like I don't mean I love yeah There are certain goofy surfers that I love. Yeah But most of my favorite surfers are regular and it's such a bummer, bro. I'm like, Oh, I would love to surf that way. Like, don't get me wrong. It's backside. I could do it, but it's like, it's just not the same.

[01:01:48] Tom

[01:01:49] Tyler: Curran's my favorite.

[01:01:50] Quest: You know, like it's, it's no, we got Aki. We got Kalani, Rob Kalani, Rob

[01:01:56] Tyler: Machado, Tom Carroll, you know, like we, we [01:02:00] have it. But I mean, Curran for me, it's like, it's all about Curran. And, and I. Mimic that. That's awesome. That's, I try, try to do all that stuff. You know? I don't care if he's regular.

[01:02:10] I'm no, same. I try to mimic too. I'll just mirror his surfing too. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. I love, I love it when they like the mirror surfing on YouTube. Yeah, I, it's the best man. It's so good. It's so good. My brother did like a whole one with Kerr in his goofy foot and it is great. Yeah.

[01:02:24] Quest: I guess that, yeah. Yeah, that what other, no,

[01:02:27] Tyler: no, no.

[01:02:27] I mean that, that's like. And it's, it's amazing like the, you know, we're, we're getting to see more of the representation and I think the more people see it, the more comfortable they are because like, I remember I, when I used to do the surf film festival here in New York. You know, we showed the movie Whitewash, you know, I don't know if you're familiar with it.

[01:02:49] And it was a whole movie on, on black surfing and the history and he talked about Nick Gabaldon, but then like was assessing the surf culture at the time, which was probably around [01:03:00] 2008, 2009. And looking around and being like, why? Why aren't, why don't we have more people from different backgrounds and different, you know, color out in the water and it's like examining kind of all the systemic things that, that have prevented, you know, and also he would go and interview people like, uh, you know, down in the West village at the basketball courts, you know, and be like, if you surfed and, and hell

[01:03:24] Quest: no, what'd you mean, you're going

[01:03:26] Tyler: to get bit by a shark that like black

[01:03:27] Quest: people

[01:03:28] Tyler: surf, you know,

[01:03:28] Quest: they're asking literally, and that's why it's important.

[01:03:32] Right. Yeah, I think it's beautiful. Like a lot of staples in Rockaway, like young kids are kids of color trying to do things, get back. And yeah, that's why this event we, it's our third one. And last year it took like a few weeks for people to sign up. And yesterday it 45 people signed up and I can tell all these people have never served.

[01:03:53] And it's like, wow, my event or our event, um, is really going to just [01:04:00] staple for First time I ever surfed, and what happens if, say like a, a, a woman learned how to surf, she never tried again, but she got a kid in the future, and, and she's like, no, I tried surfing, you, you would like it, you should try this, and it's like, it's the littlest things that will trickle down into like, you know, a, to a big tree, like, ripple effect, yeah, exactly, the ripple effect, and,

[01:04:22] Tyler: you know, yeah, it's, it's sick, tell, tell me about the event, so, so, you know, first, like, tell us, Tell our listeners what they can expect from it, what they need to bring, what they need to, you know, come, you know, how, how is it going to go down?

[01:04:36] What's the, the, we're on a show. First of all, I

[01:04:38] Quest: want to thank our sponsors. Yes. And sponsors of the event, um, Fat Tire and Finister. Shout out to them, they, without them, this would not be able to happen, so. Yeah, to come to the event, um, RSVP for the surf lesson specific, um, it actually turns out we will be having the event the same day as Rockstock.

[01:04:59] Oh, [01:05:00] wow. So, that kind of like lined up in a way, we were like, oh, snap. And then, you know, Jimmy's so cool, so he was like, man, we gon collab on this. Yeah. And so, like, we're gonna be on the right side, Rockstock's gonna be all over. And it's just gonna be a great Rockaway day, I think, and so yeah, people, bring your beach gear, bring your sunscreen, bring some snacks, there will be empanadas, um, I think we're gonna get 250 empanadas, first come, first served, so.

[01:05:21] Fried or baked? Um, fried. Okay. Yeah. I just wanna make sure. Yeah, fried. And they're from, uh, Nigel's sister. Nice. Josie Delites. Um. Yeah, she has amazing food, and yeah, we're really, it's just gonna be a really great Rockaway day. People, like I said, bring your towels, sunscreen, um, you don't even need to bring a wetsuit.

[01:05:40] Shout out to Finister, they gave me ten wetsuits. Five men's, five women's, from small to large. If we don't have your wetsuit in that size, then we can get one from FaZe. Uh, the surf lot, that's where we're gonna do the after party. So, a lot of this, um, the point of this was really just to incorporate Local teachers, local [01:06:00] businesses, and local New Yorkers, and Yeah, just really give them a day at the beach where they can look at it other than just going swimming in the water.

[01:06:08] They can learn how to surf and they can see people that are like them from New York doing it in the surf industry and trying to open a lane to them, you know. Are

[01:06:17] Tyler: you still looking for people to help with instructing, by the way? Yes, for sure.

[01:06:21] Quest: If you, if you'd like to instruct, Um, the more the merrier, um, please DM me at questmarley, Q U E S T M A R L E Y.

[01:06:32] But yeah, like anyone that wants to come help, um, it's a great day and we're trying to get more instructors so that the instructors we have don't have to just teach the whole time. So we kind of want everyone to maybe teach one or two classes, which is like, uh, altogether like two hours. So then. We can all switch out and just enjoy the day as well and not just be about you teaching everybody.

[01:06:54] So, we want everyone to have fun from the surf teachers to the surf students. And [01:07:00] then the surf students are going to bring their friends and their friends are going to see them. And these people might ask for surf lessons and this is how we can give back to the community. In a way where everyone just, you know, benefits.

[01:07:10] Thanks to Fat Tire for giving the beer for the after party. And Finister really for providing the wetsuits. And they also, you know, donated as well for us to be able to pay some of the surf teachers. So it's like, yeah, like it's amazing that it's all come together, it started. Just as a random idea. And we really got it, um, The layout for it.

[01:07:32] I mean, people do beach kickbacks all the time, But our friends in California, Ebony Beach Club, Really started, like, a lane with this. Like, they just started it as a beach kickback, And then it re like, two, three years later, Like, 8, 000 people attended. Dude,

[01:07:46] Tyler: the thing looks Insanely awesome. Like, it looks like one of the best parties I've ever seen.

[01:07:52] The kickbacks. Like, holy shit. Like, people, go check it out. Cause it, on social, like,

[01:07:58] Quest: it

[01:07:59] Tyler: looks like one of the [01:08:00] coolest beach parties. And, you know, it's interesting, right? Like, I was thinking about this, like, I was like, again, The more things change, the more they stay the same. They used to do this shit in the 60s, you know?

[01:08:12] Major

[01:08:13] Quest: league, and it was, it felt like blanket bingo, basically, you know? Yeah, exactly. It felt like that, but you know, it was, and it was interesting because this is Cali, and where they were doing in the 60s was California, but now, it's just so important because you had like, People from all neighborhoods of Los Angeles, and even honestly, cause I'm not from there, I, I learned after, there were some neighborhoods there that really did not get along, and like, are known for like, you know, fighting and doing, cause you know, we're talking about inner city Los Angeles now, gang culture is big out there.

[01:08:43] There was not one fight, there was not one argument, and I'm talking about 8, 000 people showed up to a beach party. And it's like, Because surfing was the main thing, being outside, learning about the history of Ebony Beach Club, um, pretty much, yeah, Ebony Beach Club was [01:09:00] a club that got shut down by California, and even my friend, Brick's grandpa, signed up for it, and before anyone could go, The city shut it down because they didn't want to see that many black people on the beach.

[01:09:12] So to him, for him to revamp it and kind of rebrand it and look at all these people on the beach now partying and having fun, doing board games, learning how to surf for the first time. That is what opened my eyes and I'm like, wow, we got to do this in New York. So, you know, I hit a break and I was like, Hey, are you cool with me doing this?

[01:09:28] Obviously anyone could throw a beach bounce, but that's my boy. So I got to, you know, respect. Yeah. This is how inclusive it is where he's like, bro. Like. Do your thing, bro. That's only gonna make everything bigger. And like, once he said that, it was just on go, so. Yeah, we're doing a stop playing with him, beach kickback, and um, I think uh, Red Bull is gonna be with Jimmy Dow, um, and Rockstock and our friend Brianna King is coming through.

[01:09:51] She's a really great skateboarder. You should have her on the show, actually. She's really sick. But yeah, yeah, no, I will. And yeah, like, Everyone's just coming [01:10:00] together. Everyone's supporting each other. And those parties went from just a party on the beach to being able to book 40 people in Costa Rica to learn how to surf and do all these amazing things.

[01:10:11] And it's like, it's only going to just get better and become more worldwide. Like, and it's really about having a good time on the beach and bringing people that aren't used to going to the beach. To go to the beach and learn about it.

[01:10:22] Tyler: Yeah, I mean, it's, it's gonna, you know, it's gonna change lives. You know, like, you look at your life, right?

[01:10:30] Like, and I look at even my life, like, surfing changes your life. I, I know it sounds so cliché and so corny, but it really does. It really does. It shows people like another avenue, you know, like for me even growing up like all my friends, you know It was like a very straight Avenue. We're just gonna go we'll go to college.

[01:10:53] We get a job and that's it Have family boom. Yeah, and and I was like nah, man, like I'm gonna go [01:11:00] travel. I'm gonna go travel and surf I'm gonna go live on the beach. I Everything I do is geared towards surfing. My job is going to be something that I want to allow me to surf, you know? Like, I don't want to be limited on that.

[01:11:13] And, and it, it really does open up so many new interests as well. You know, you start to realize, Oh, I don't even have to be a pro surfer to make a living in surfing. You know, that's the, the coolest thing about it too. You can find, like, you could be a marine biologist. You can be a All these things, and surfing is, is just that wonderful vehicle to transport you to a better place.

[01:11:36] Yeah, and

[01:11:36] Quest: it gives you drive, like, to where you want to put your money, and where you want your life goes to be, or where you buy certain properties, and I'll tell you, surfing comes with happiness, so, you're going down the right route, some way. You know, your wife might not be happy, but

[01:11:52] Tyler: There is, there is that, I mean, uh,

[01:11:55] Quest: your, your partner, she surfs, right?

[01:11:56] Yeah, Tati, my love, yeah, she surfs, um [01:12:00] I got her into surfing. She wanted to surf, um, and the crazy thing is she knew it about it through her other friend, Yasmeen, that surfs. She's an amazing surfer and skateboarder for the community. And she's like, Oh, I see Yas surfing. I want to learn how to surf. And we met, um, surf lessons turned into us dating and us dating turned into us traveling and really just, yeah, I've gone on most of my surf trips now with her.

[01:12:23] And it's amazing because We have, like, I wanna go surf, like, kinda like, you know, reef waves, gnarly waves, and she wants to go surf chill waves, so it's perfect that we'll kinda go on surf trips together, but we'll still have our own surf journey. We'll go surf, sometimes we'll surf together, don't get me wrong, but if it's pumping, I'm doing my thing, and she knows that, and she's gonna do her thing, and then we're gonna come back together for lunch and talk about our session, and like, it's, it's perfect, and I knew, like, Yeah, this was gonna be long lasting when she never complained about me surfing.

[01:12:54] Like, I go surf for eight hours and she won't say a damn thing about me surfing, and like, the relationship [01:13:00] before, I surfed two and a half, and she's like, Oh, where you been? Why'd you leave me on the beach this long? And I'm like, the minute she said that in my head, the last relationship, I was like, Ooh, I don't

[01:13:10] Tyler: know.

[01:13:10] Dude, it's a, it's a relationship killer sometimes. No, it is. My wife calls it my mistress, you know, and I call, and then I tell my wife, no, you're the mistress, actually. Don't tell her that.

[01:13:25] Quest: Yeah, literally. Yeah, you're like, don't tell her that. You're like, oh, can

[01:13:27] Tyler: we delete that part out? Gonna post edit. No, but it is like, you know, but it's, it's nice.

[01:13:33] Like when you have someone you can surf with, that's awesome, you know?

[01:13:37] Quest: great. And see her progress. Um, cause like I said, like I, I started teaching her and then we, she's been able to progress so much because I'm like just dragging her on these surf trips. I'm like, I'm going to Panama for a few months, come through.

[01:13:49] That's when we first started dating. She came for a month, got way better at surfing. And then we started really dating, living together. And I'm like, all right, we're going to Bali for three months. You're going to learn how to surf and get [01:14:00] really good. And what does she do? She got really good at surfing.

[01:14:03] She started understanding how to like get out in gnarly waves. I really just. through her in the deep end, obviously being with her and supporting her the whole time. But being like, yeah, you're going to go to these spots that are like world class waves, but there's always a chill spot around that. And you're going to learn how to serve really well.

[01:14:19] And she's getting there and it's, it's great to see your partner becoming, going on their surf, own surf venture. She actually just went on her first surf trip by herself. Yeah. So I went to Indonesia with my friend Brick and she went to Morocco. Whoa! Bought Solo Traveller by herself. Wait, and she went to Tagazood, I assume?

[01:14:39] Um, Im Im Im Swan. Im Swan. Yeah. She went, and she was telling me, she was like, Quest, I seen people get like three minute rides today.

[01:14:46] Tyler: Dude, Im Swan is like the dreamiest wave. I, I was there like 2002. Yeah. When it was like nothing there. Yeah. And um, yeah. I remember surfing and I was like, Oh my god, this is the most [01:15:00] ridiculously fun, easy wave And you just catch a wave forever and then you walk back And you walk back, yeah!

[01:15:04] You know, and then you just walk back and I'm like, you don't paddle back? She's like, no, no, no, no You walk You walk, and then you jump right into the peak Wow And it starts as a smaller wave, and then it builds a little bit Yeah You know, so it's not as intimidating either to take off No, literally Because it's smaller

[01:15:19] Quest: She said she got some of the best waves And it's funny, like, now that she's back in Rockaway She's I miss my Yim Suan Wei, it's like, and I'm like Yeah, cause it's

[01:15:26] Tyler: hard as hell to surf here.

[01:15:28] Surfing Rockaway, like,

[01:15:29] Quest: it is. Like, even for me, when I first come back I'm like, how do I surf a beach break again? Like, like my hips hurt. Like I'm doing all this balancing and stuff like reef breaks. You can just flow down, flow up, let the wave give you the energy. But in Rockwell, you got to, unless it's pumping, you have to create your own energy

[01:15:44] Tyler: and, and it's, it closes out a lot, you know, so you don't get to like practice your cutbacks as much and the reefs are so nice.

[01:15:53] Cause you know, like, Oh, this section's coming up, this section's coming up, you know, to prepare and

[01:15:57] Quest: paddling out too. You [01:16:00] can literally, like, if you make it to the channel, you can just send the channel, watch your boys get waves, rockaways, if it's big, like, You always might get a wave on the head. There's nothing you could do about it.

[01:16:10] Like, and we got new jetties now, so it's almost like harder. Like, cause usually when the waves are big, there's a little bit of a, like a current and now I'm noticing like when I'm paddling out, I'm like getting next to the other jetty way sooner than like when it wasn't there,

[01:16:23] Tyler: making you go a little faster.

[01:16:24] Quest: Yeah, I would say like the waves have definitely got a little more punchy since they definitely yeah It used to be way more like chill and now it did I love it though. You know, I'm not mad at it I can't complain. Yeah, no, definitely not.

[01:16:38] Tyler: I I feel like You know, the way the breaks are, you know, it makes you a better surfer, though, cause then when you do go to these reefs and more, you know, or even just going to California and surfing a wave there is like so much easier.

[01:16:54] Yeah.

[01:16:55] Quest: It's so much easier. It really is, and I noticed something, um, I was with [01:17:00]Cassia, um, in New York, and she said something, she's like, I feel like the water out here, you don't float as much. And I'm like, but it's probably true because we got all these rivers and connections of all these things. And I'm like, I don't know.

[01:17:13] I think we float, you know what it is, our waves don't have the same power. No, but she's talking about just sitting on your board, like in Cali, like the, I don't know what the salt level. The salinity level. Yeah, exactly. And she said that. It

[01:17:25] Tyler: does always taste a little bit saltier in the Pacific Ocean, doesn't it?

[01:17:28] That's what I'm saying. And

[01:17:29] Quest: ever since she said that, I was like, huh, that's interesting. I wonder, I

[01:17:32] Tyler: wonder. Oh, we're going to have to call, like, Dr. Scott Jenkins of Surf Rider to ask. Comment the answer if you know

[01:17:39] Quest: the reason why. There's one guy

[01:17:41] Tyler: being like, oh, I

[01:17:41] Quest: gotcha. What are your plans for stop playing with them now, moving forward?

[01:17:46] Um, stop playing with um, so yeah, okay, so Paul and I like Obviously we want to go on surf trips together every time and do this and obviously life has its toll Paul's got you [01:18:00] know Like a booming ding repair spot in Rockaway If you need ding repair hit up Paul Godet

[01:18:06] Tyler: and follow him on Instagram because it's it's just pure surf ASMR It's amazing.

[01:18:11] Quest: And yeah, like Paul and I are definitely planning on to go on future trips as always But, um, we've learned that Stop Playing With Em is both of us, so it's like, we don't necessarily have to be together every time to shoot the video, like, If I go on a trip, I'm gonna shoot content for me and Stop Playing With Em.

[01:18:27] If he goes on a trip, or he's doing Dinger Pier, he's gonna do content for Stop Playing With Em, and it's kind of like, um, like at first it almost felt like, oh, you can't see one without the other, but right now it's almost like, Life is hitting, he's got a girl, I got a girl, and we're just getting older, and all that really matters is like, we're still coming together for the events, we're still dropping content, and we almost forget how much of an impact it has until we like, go traveling, and we see people in Cali, and they're like, Stop playing with her, bro, I love your shit!

[01:18:57] Dude, that's sick. And me and Paul and I being like, what? [01:19:00] Like, people really be watching our shit? Like, and um, yeah, and then we had that Discovery Channel, um, we still have the Discovery Channel deal. And we're able to shoot content for them, and Yeah, no, Stop Playing With Em is here to stay for sure. I think it's just something that's always going to be around and it's going to be an outlet for us to show our content out and show people that you can live the life of being a traveling surfer.

[01:19:24] Like, you know, like even on my page sometimes I'll go down into how I budget for my trips and where to go and Yeah, I really just want people to know, like, the way I did my first trip, I saved 25 bucks a day for like a year, and then I was able to go on like a five month trip in Panama. Just cuz every day instead of go, go, instead of getting lunch, or instead of getting this, I'll just budget myself and put this to the side.

[01:19:51] And something as simple as that, when people see that, they're like, oh, okay, I'm gonna start putting the 25 a day today. And then in a year and a half, you can go on [01:20:00] a three, four month surf trip if you do it right. And I think that's what Stop Playing On Them is for. It's um, yeah, it was really at first just like a brotherhood thing and then it became bigger than us.

[01:20:11] And we realize it's bigger than us and that's why we're, even we're so busy with our own lives and doing whatever we're doing, we still come back to it and start to make content for it because it's, it's enjoyable to know there's a community.

[01:20:25] Tyler: Um, Quest, here is the part where you get to, to shamefully promote everything of yours going on here.

[01:20:32] So, so let our listeners know where they can find all the information for the kickback. Um, and then where they can find you, where they can find Stop Playing With Them. And yeah, just, just totally turn to the camera and whore yourself out. Okay.

[01:20:48] Quest: We're the singles. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So. My, my Instagram, I said it earlier, is questmarley, all one word, last name like Bob Marley.

[01:20:57] Then, um, the Stop Playing With [01:21:00] Em account is stop underscore playing with em, and you'll be able to see the event there in the flyer. Even if you don't get a surf lesson, still come through and show out because maybe somebody might cancel and you can fill in for them. And it's not just, uh, It's a beach day, it's an after party, cheaper beers from Fat Tire, it's gonna be great.

[01:21:21] So, yeah, that's another thing, and then, um Yeah, that's about it, you know.

[01:21:26] Tyler: Alright, well, listeners, um, go check it out. Go check out Quest, and we, uh, Instagram, and I'll be posting it on ours, and we'll be promoting it. Um, it's gonna be awesome, June 22nd. Uh, be there 9am,

[01:21:41] Quest: roughly? No, no, no, be there 12.

[01:21:43] Tyler: 12pm? Okay, okay.

[01:21:44] If you want to help

[01:21:45] Quest: set up, come at 9 for sure. Alright, alright. We'll take

[01:21:47] Tyler: it. And, and, uh, yeah, absolutely. And, um Yeah, and uh, dude, I'm so stoked that you came on. I really appreciate it. For sure. Like, I've like, you know, when we did the, you know, the Wii Surf [01:22:00] episode, I was like, sitting there like, Oh, I want to jump into this conversation, but I can't.

[01:22:05] I gotta let Nigel and Kwame do it, you know? So I didn't want to like, I didn't want to step on their toes, so I was super stoked that I could get you on. I'm,

[01:22:13] Quest: I'm down, and I'm excited for future ones too, because like, Hopefully by that time I'll have the villas ready, I'll be able to promote that. Shout out to Finister for always, um, helping me out.

[01:22:23] Shout out to Fat Tire, um, Faze Surf, The Surf Lot, um, Psychedeli. You know, shout, shout out everyone. Give out a shout. Shout out to everyone. Just, you know, for

[01:22:33] Tyler: helping me out, you know, I really appreciate it. And, uh, listeners, don't forget to follow Swell Season as well on, uh, shout out Swell season. Oh, there we go.

[01:22:42] You know, shout out Swell Season on Instagram at Swell season Surfer Radio. And uh, gotta give a quick shout out to Joe, our awesome engineer here at the Rockefeller Center Newsstand Studio. Here in the heart of Manhattan and, uh, yeah, and, uh, listeners, [01:23:00] hopefully we see you there on June 22nd for the Juneteenth Kickback.

[01:23:04] Yes. And, um, we'll see you all down the line soon. Okay, thank you guys.

[01:23:09] Quest: Pew!