Surf Stories

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Derek Hoffmann @derekhoffmann808 fell in love with the ocean and still photography at his home break, Sandy Beach, before moving to the North Shore and picking up a movie camera. His in-water 16mm work on the 1989 theatrical release Rolling Thunder set the course for a life behind the lens.  He went on to travel the world filming Rip Curl's legendary Search program alongside director Sonny Miller, contributing to iconic films like Searching for Tom Curren. Today, Derek is the founder of naluTV and Nalu Film Foundation, and has made it his mission to preserve and digitize surf cinema's most treasured archives — ensuring the history of the sport is never lost to time.

Cameron Kirkconnell @camkirkconnell sheds skin to scales when the moon is full or as soon as his toe touches saltwater.  He holds his breath for three-times longer than a normal joe, and finds the biggest, and of course, tastiest of fish.  He began his career as a merchant marine, achieving the rank of Unlimited Tonnage Captain, and with six month breaks between ships, he surfed, dove, studied, and fine-tuned his skills into the ultimate guide service for high-end spearfishing charters.  Keeping dry now means equipping multi-million dollar yachts with special tools, helipads, runabouts... Finding buyers and sellers all over the globe.  Based out of south Florida, Cameron still gets in the water plenty while raising little water people.  Enjoy these stories from the deep with John Brooks and Kevin Miller.

Pat O'Connell didn't touch saltwater until he was twelve and somehow became one of surfing's most beloved figures. A natural competitor, he represented the U.S. at the 1990 World Amateur Championships before landing a starring role in Bruce Brown's Endless Summer II — a film that introduced surfing's joy to a whole new generation. He went on to compete on the ASP World Tour for over a decade, peaking at 11th in the world, before transitioning into the surf industry with Hurley, the WSL, and Florence Marine X.  John Brooks and Kevin Miller lock Pat in the hot seat for some quality stories.  Enjoy.

Born and raised in Punta Hermosa, Peru, José Plaza grew up steeped in surf culture — his father Miguel was a pioneer wave rider in Peru and Hawaii during the 1960s, befriending legends like Eddie Aikau and Greg Noll.  That legacy pushed José into the water early and eventually behind the camera. After a chance encounter with filmmaker Wes Brown deep in the Peruvian jungle, José transitioned into filmmaking, starting with surf films featuring top Peruvian athletes.  Today, he documents the raw beauty of Peruvian surfing, blending insider knowledge with a filmmaker's eye.  And he share some incredible stories with Kevin Miller and John Brooks.  Enjoy.

Miguel Tudela is one of Peru’s top professional surfers, known for his powerful style and consistency on the world stage. A standout in international competitions, he represented Peru in Olympic surfing, showcasing the country’s deep surf heritage. Raised on Lima’s coastline, Tudela has built a career marked by discipline, resilience, and pride in his roots. He continues to inspire the next generation while competing globally and elevating Peru’s presence in the sport. Enjoy this chat with John Brooks and Kevin Miller.
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