Interview: Tanner Gudauskas
Tanner Gudauskas has no issue with boredom. At 36, he’s already led a story-filled and successful professional surf career. He’s qualified for the World Tour, been a mainstay for decades, appeared in countless surf movies, ads, mag articles, subject of interviews and profiles and is recognizable in any beach parking lot across the globe. And his deep dive into surf culture is just getting started.
I’ve personally swigged rum in the back of a pickup truck on the North Shore under a full moon with Tanner, both of us living out the Hawaiin dreams we’d both read about so much as kids — he shows a deep gratitude for the surreal nature of the whole thing. Never jaded. Never too big for any little moment.
It was always that appreciation for the core, the underground, the history and the stories that I loved about Tanner. He’s kept that spirit alive all throughout his career and life. He contributes heavily to educating and offering creative spins on our lifestyle. His enthusiasm for surfing and it’s rich history is pretty unprecedented.
His recent “Finders Keepers” video series on YouTube produced with filmmaker Alex Kilauano is one of the Internet’s more interesting corner pocket finds. If you haven’t watched it, please check those out here.
Recently a new dad, we caught up with Tanner following his debut in the commentary booth for the Natural Selection Surf event — another thing he seems born to do, offering the right mixture of enthusiasm, technical appreciation and a vocabulary built for describing high-end surfing. That and he has a genuine passion for what is taking place in the water. Tanner thrived in the new role.
Let’s take it from the top with the youngest Gudauasks brother and get a glimpse into his creative universe and hear about what might be next.—Travis Ferré
Photography by Shelby Harvey Gudauskas
Inherent Bummer: Where did you come from?
Came from San Clemente, California. Pretty rad looking back, growing up there at that time. I remember all the heroes coming through town and surfing Lowers. Really cool being a kid and being exposed to all that surfing.
What’s your origin story?
Origin is funny. I guess if we are talking how did I start into surfing as a pathway? Surfing has always been in my life. Parents both surfed and we always spent time at the beach, did surf trips and camp trips to surf. Real fun but never really was groomed to become a surfer. Coming out of high school, Pat, Dane and I travelled the entire Europe leg on the QS and actually strung some results together but I think we viewed it almost like a summer project or something. I remember just how fun those old ‘QS trips were. So many incredible characters at those events. It was a completely different scene than doing it my last years. It was a party. But on my second full year doing the events I laced together a win in South Africa, a good result at home and a result at Sunset and qualified. That’s the moment I’d say I started as a pro. I signed with Vans head-to-toe right after that and was traveling full-time doing the tour (s) and everything that Vans threw my way. Down Days, video stuff, Get ‘n’ Classic era with Vans. It ruled. Kinda feels like yesterday to be honest.
“When I’m surfing I’m definitely excited about rail surfing — been surfing without a pad more and more often, doing less airs, watching more Tom Curren and Occy — you know the deal.”
How would you define your approach to surfing now compared to when you were competing more?
Honestly I have so much gratitude to still be surfing and being involved when I am. I think when I was climbing up the ranks I was hungry and wanted to earn my spot wherever I was at. Now I don’t have much to prove to others, but have found a deeper more steady drive to stay healthy and try and keep surfing heavy waves to challenge myself personally. I find that waves, boards, or situations that are challenging to me are more fun.
What’s unique about where you sit in the surf landscape at this moment?
Well, I guess I see myself as a connector to both eras in some ways. I grew up and came into surfing through a very radical time and had to earn it a certain way. No selfies, no self promotion, more humility and hard work because the older guys would absolutely put you in line and they always ate first.
And now I’m just outside an entire new generation and mindset of how to be a pro surfer. I’m excited for the new avenues and ways people are excelling in surfing. New channels, and independent ways to operate and sustain a career. It’s been fun I guess to learn from both ways but feel like I sit right in between most of the time.
“I grew up and came into surfing through a very radical time and had to earn it a certain way. No selfies, no self promotion, more humility and hard work because the older guys would absolutely put you in line and they always ate first.”
Photo: Vladimir Medvinsky
How would you describe your career?
I feel like I have been able to be a part of a lot of the different niches or areas within surfing. WQS, WCT, air shows, video and movie trips, some big wave sessions, arctic travel and tropical travel whatever. I kinda just kept saying yes to the opportunities that would pop up. It exposed me to a lot of surfers and their mindsets on what surfing means to them and how they lived their lives. So now I look back and can tell that it affected my life in a super positive way. So maybe Jack of a lot of trades, master of none might work for the description of my career [laughs].
What do you hope you brought to surf culture and what do you hope to bring next?
Shoot, I was never hoping to have brought much personally. I was always trying to learn. There is honestly so much that you can get from surfing. Meeting people from all over the world, the cultures, the experience and waves. Even the contest stuff, it was a discipline and taught me a lot about work ethic and commitment.
I think the reason surfing is what it is, is because as a surfer you have respect for the community and try to stick together and support each other no matter how different you feel. Surfing is just so small in the grand scheme of things. So if I look back and hope someone remembers something, it would be that you can be in surfing for a long time, and make your efforts around giving from yourself instead of taking from others. More asking questions than giving opinions. I think because I’ve sort of had to share most everything in my life with my brothers, it came more natural in some areas. Like we grew up in the same room all the way through high school, same car, schedule, phone etc. so I never have had a feeling of trying to keep something for just myself. It just had to be shared. Surfing is a personal experience when you ride a wave but a shared one when talking about it or traveling for it. So knowing that rising tides float all boats higher is a good place to operate from.
Tell us about the community you surround yourself with?
About 8 years ago [my wife] Shelby and I moved to Oceanside. It’s been the greatest thing for both of us. It’s really rad, and I’m not sure if that’s just us getting lucky and meeting the right people, but it’s refreshing to start from zero in some ways. Not being a local can be an advantage, makes you more open to meeting new people and new conversations. I hang a lot with Alex Kilauano, who is living here too. He is a major source of creative inspiration. It’s incredible how diverse his creativity is. Photos, videos, art. Very cool to see him continue to push each medium as well. I always love sharing what we’ve been watching, filming and creating. I also still get together with Patrick a ton because he is living close as well. Keeps the pencils sharp. But my day to day rotates with who I’ll be hanging with, and I really like it that way.
Who is doing something you admire or psyches you up?
I really admire what the next generation is doing within surf. In California alone there is a ton of fresh energy. Toasted, Chapter 11, Steko, Silent Rock, Noah Collins, Spun Spirit, Beach Head stuff like that. There are lots of fresh ideas and projects budding up and that stuff psyches me up.
Tell us about doing commentary for Natural Selection Surf. Is there a future in the booth?
That was really awesome, I enjoyed it so much. I had done a couple of webcasts back with Vans and their contests but nothing front to back. I absolutely love thoughtfully talking about surfing, and admire the guys and girls competing so it’s an easy one to enjoy doing.
I was definitely nervous before Natural Selection because I haven’t been in the limelight for a while and wasn’t sure how it would be received so I focused on giving my best effort to do the opportunity justice. Was surreal having Travis Rice text me the day before to pump me up. I’ve always been a fan of how he operates and definitely believe the selection series has merit to become a massive thing within surfing. If the chance to get in booth comes again I’ll definitely give it a look. It didn’t really feel like work and it’s fun to try and back up how incredible the surfing is from a viewpoint of having been in situations like those myself.
“Was surreal having Travis Rice text me the day before to pump me up.”
Lisa Andersen, Tanner and Barton Lynch on the host set for Natural Selection Surf.
What do you listen to in your car if you have to run an errand that takes 45 minutes?
I’ll float in and out of podcasts and music, it really depends on mood. I would say now with having our baby girl, when I’m in the car it’s now the time when I’m making most my calls [laughs]. Not much solo time anymore so if I want to have a longer chat with someone I’ll probably save it for the car ride.
Who has your favorite style?
Brian Keaulana. To me he is the ultimate inspiration. Humble. Gnarly. Community caregiver. Nice person. WATERMAN. So thats what good style looks like to me.
It’s an average Tuesday, couple waves around, what’s your day look like beginning to end?
Well we are in the newborn stage so it’s waking up, breakfast for the fam and get our dog Charlie in the yard and stoked. Then I’ll definitely sneak down and surf locally. The harbor or the pier, or if I have more time I’ll go Seaside or further south. Right now everything is a hustle with tracking opportunities so it could be computer work, graphics, photos, or maybe some art and drawing. I am working on a couple projects this year, one with Raen and one with Channel Islands so that keeps me focused and excited to keep chipping away at them. I have also been piecing together a podcast for the Finders Keepers videos I have been doing. Its not finished yet but hopefully soon.
