02 octobre, 2026

Surf Advice from Gary McNeill and Adam Tory

Last month's podcast conversations explored two sides of progression: the time you put in, and the equipment under your feet. Adam Tory of Hurricane Surf Company, a Nova Scotia-based coach and Team Canada longboarder, argued that crappy waves make good surfers. He also shared why river and lake surfers are quietly beating ocean surfers in contests, and how the Basis Paddle Trainer kept him conditioned through an injury ahead of a big competition season. We also spoke to Gary McNeill, a longtime shaper for Dave Rastovich. He took us inside the design of his high-performance twin fins, including the taurus channel that gives them hold without sacrificing speed, and the durable and eco-conscious flax construction he's spent over a decade refining. Here's a quick recap of our podcasts this month:

Check out the podcast video below along with some of our favorite tips from our guest.

“They're not that much harder to make, the thing holding them back is designed obsolescence. These big companies want a board to go really good for 12 months, fall apart, and then you got to fork out a thousand dollars to get another one.”

“That's the one thing about my boards, you don't nurse them, especially for twins, which is really nice. You just drive them. And that's what that channel does.”

- Gary McNeill

“That to me is a lake surfer. They can find a wave even in the most crossed up, multiple swells, onshore bump. They're really good at reading the water.”

“One of the things that I see a lot of experienced surfers falling into the trap of is that they shouldn't go and surf because the waves are bad. And I'm trying to tell people like, no, we should get a session in because, hey, you're actually going to surprise yourself. You're going to get some exercise. Your paddling's going to improve.”

- Adam Tory

Enter the Basis Paddle Trainer.

I've gone months without surfing and rolled up to pumping swell and surfed 3 hr sessions, multiple times a day, day after day after day, by using the Basis Paddle Trainer.

Train anytime, anywhere, so you can catch more waves and have more fun.

Unlike elastic resistance bands, swimming in the pool, or funky gym workouts these things actually work.

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