The LAGO Podcast

This week on The LAGO Podcast, we’re breaking down the Philippines Pro and giving our picks for who we think will take the win. We also bring in our very own LAGO Intern, Scrap (Harry O’Brien), to share some firsthand experience surfing Cloud 9.
On paper, Cloud 9 looks like the perfect wave, but having surfed it ourselves, we know there are some hidden challenges that make it a lot harder than it looks. We share a few stories from our QS campaigns out there and discuss why the wildcards could cause some serious havoc for the regular tour surfers.
We also give a mate a call to chat all things STAB HIGH before finishing up, as always, by answering your questions.

👇 Drop a comment below:
Who do you think will win the Philippines Pro?

DOES THE WSL HAVE A JUDGING ISSUE? | RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL RECAP 󰐨

Have the judges got it wrong, or are we surf fans just a little too passionate? 👀

This week on The LAGO Podcast, we kicked things off by diving into some of the WSL scores that had everyone talking. We unpack the controversial calls, debate whether there's a judging issue, and get into the rivalries between nations that make professional surfing so entertaining. Sometimes we might get a little too carried away… but that's half the fun, right?

Then we break down everything that went down at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal in Peniche - the standout performances, the big talking points, and everything else that caught our attention.

As always, we get brutally honest about what we got right, what we got wrong, and what we learned from the latest event.

And to finish, we dive into the LAGO Fantasy League to see who came out on top and who's got some serious work to do before the next event. 🏆

Drop your thoughts in the comments…do the WSL have a judging issue, or are we all just a bit biased?

A big shoutout Surnui - Made with wood sourced from responsibly managed forests, TENCEL™ Modal fibers are plant-based and known for being exceptionally lightweight and soft. Support local businesses. And your balls.
Get some here - https://surnui.com/

🎙 The LAGO Podcast — Honest Surf Talk.

00:00 Beagle TV Update — Blow Ups in Indo
09:00 Does the WSL Have a Judging Problem?
29:30 Breaking Down the Rip Curl Pro Portugal
35:00 Why Griffin Colapinto Dominates Portugal
40:00 Women’s Event Recap & Standout Performances
47:45 Fantasy Surfing — Who Won?
52:00 LAGO Fantasy League Winner & Prizes
59:00 Listener Questions

This week, we sat down with Oscar Berry to unpack the highs, lows and realities of surfing on the world tour. Oscar opens up about managing expectations, dealing with tough losses and navigating life on the road when things don’t always go your way.
We get into how he stays positive when everything feels stacked against him, the mental challenges that come with competing at the highest level, and the lessons he’s taken away from his first year on tour.
To wrap things up, Oscar shares what he’s learned, what he’d do differently, and what it’s going to take to earn his way back onto tour next year.
It was truly special to sit down and chat with such a humble and honest bloke. We hope you enjoy this yarn as much as we did!

Who’s Winning in Portugal? | Peniche Preview
We’re breaking down everything that went down at the recent Challenger Series event in Ericeira, Portugal.  
A few underground lads rose to the top, but once again, the CT surfers showed why they’re on tour, causing absolute havoc for the new recruits coming through.
We chat about who’s already punched their ticket to the 2027 CT, who’s looking good to make the jump, and who might be starting to sweat as the qualifying race heats up.
From there, we turn our attention to the upcoming Rip Curl MEO Pro in Peniche. We dive into the forecast, make our predictions and put our reputations on the line with who we think is going to get the job done.
We compare fantasy teams, debate who’s beating who, and finish things off by answering your listener questions.
As always, thanks heaps for tuning in and supporting what we’re building with LAGO. We appreciate every listen, comment, share and bit of support from the LAGO community. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

Is the Surf Industry Actually Dying?
In this episode, we sit down with industry experts Sam Griffiths and Lincoln Eather to take a deep dive into what’s really happening behind the scenes of the surf industry.
From the current state of legacy brands, the impact of private equity and licensing, and whether brands like Quiksilver, Billabong and Rip Curl are still relevant, to the changing relationship between surfers, brands and consumers.
We get into the stuff that usually stays behind closed doors.
We talk about what it actually means to be a “Core Surfer”, whether social media has helped or hurt surfing, the rise of surf influencers, the importance of product vs marketing, the return
of Y2K and heritage collections, and why Rip Curl’s Archive Collection has been such a success.
We also unpack how ABG and Boardriders operate, why Brazil is such a difficult market for surf brands, where the money has gone for professional surfers, and whether the industry needs to grow at all.
This is a rare and honest look at where surfing and the surf industry sits right now and what’s working, what’s changing, and where it could go next.
As always - Thank you for tuning in! Drop a comment below about your thoughts on the industry?