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Chas Smith

@trashprose

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American surfer Chas Smith catches a ride from some Yemen Rebels (2002) 🇾🇪

In 2002, a small group of American surfers including Chas Smith traveled to Yemen in search of largely uncharted waves along its mainland coast.

Far from typical surf by trips, they faced isolation, security risks, and constant uncertainty, relying heavily on local connections to navigate unfamiliar territory.

Their daring journey remains a legendary, surreal fusion of ocean exploration and intense journalism territory.

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The Boardroom with Mr Pipeline

The Gift by Marc Andreini

Local shaper Roy Sanchez

Getting my book signed by Chas Smith

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Charlie don’t surf, but Jesse Hines does. @surfinspoon defying the odds and standing in Yemeni barrels at Sococtra Island, 2006, a defining trip during my tenure at Surfing Magazine. I was @eslate ‘s Brown Water Navy - if there was a strong chance of getting skunked but the adventure was prime, send DJ. With some leads from @trashprose , a lot of prayers, and a borrowed satellite phone, we accomplished a miracle.

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Happy to report it’s a real love affair between Chas and his new Panza Pintail! Cheers you two 🥂💕 #sommaspecialdesigns #ssdpanzapin

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I’ll just keep my unsolicited advice to myself from now on…

#seavants #surfing #surfculture #surflife #surfmeme

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In 2002, surf journalist Chas Smith and a small group of friends embarked on a remarkable expedition to Yemen, traveling only months after the September 11 attacks. Their goal was to explore the remote Shabwah coastline in search of untouched waves, venturing into a region known for both its breathtaking landscapes and ongoing instability.

Protected by armed escorts as they crossed the rugged terrain in local trucks, the team discovered a series of flawless, unridden point breaks hidden along the coast. Blending adventure, exploration, and frontline reporting, the journey has since become one of surfing’s most extraordinary and unlikely expeditions.

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Socotra Island, Yemen, 2006

Odds are if you’ve heard about Yemen lately, it’s in a negative context. In 2006, after strategizing with @trashprose , I took Jesse Hines ( @surfinspoon ), Cheyne Cottrell ( @cheynec ), and Kyle Garson (@ikgnwannabefree ) on the adventure of a lifetime to the island of Socotra, off of the Horn of Africa. It literally felt like we stepped back in time into the pages of the Bible. Did we find waves? Yes. Did we surf this slab? No. Sadly it just wasn’t consistent enough to merit a paddle out and this frame makes it appear better than it was. The joy of lie-nups 😜

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Shop fest till 5pm Today

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World Cup private party, New York 🇺🇸 @americanvintage_officiel

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📘 From my shelf: The Surfer’s Journal 35.2 @surfersjournal

📖 Feature: And Laird Hamilton Stands Out by @trashprose
📸 Portraits: @tracemarshall_
⏱️ Reading time: 3–4 min

I mean, everyone knows who @lairdhamilton is.

We know what he accomplished for surfing, the innovations he brought to the sport, and the almost mythical, Hercules-like figure he has become.

I’ve spent countless hours watching clips, interviews, and documentaries about him. And I think I speak for many surfers when I say that most of us wish we could be a little more like Laird.

The reality, of course, is different.

Our everyday lives rarely allow us to dedicate ourselves to anything with that level of commitment. And even if they did, who knows whether we could ever reach the same level of greatness—or, more importantly, sustain the discipline required to get there.

There is only one Michael Jordan.

And there is only one Laird Hamilton.

🌊

What I appreciated most about this article wasn’t learning who Laird is.

It was reading Chas Smith’s account of spending time with him.

His writing is funny, sharp, and incredibly honest. More than describing Laird, he perfectly captures the feeling of being confronted with the standards that Laird and @gabbyreece have set for themselves.

As I was reading, I could easily see myself in Chas.

Wanting to finish every workout, every breath-hold exercise, every challenge—if only to prove that I could do it too.

Truth be told, I probably would have passed out halfway through.

📚

By the end of the story, what stayed with me wasn’t Laird himself.

It was Chas.

The way he describes the experience of spending time with someone whose commitment to life seems almost impossible to replicate.

His writing captures that strange feeling of admiration and humility that comes from realizing just how high someone can set the bar.

At several points, I found myself thinking exactly what Chas was thinking.

Wanting to prove I could keep up.

Knowing I probably couldn’t.

And somehow enjoying the lesson anyway.

This is why I collect.

#surfbookcollector #thesurfersjournal #lairdhamilton #surfculture #waterman

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Thank you @david_lee_scales and @trashprose for all the support and kind words as always! 🙏 The Grit! Podcast is a fine source for current surf (and non-surf) happenings and musings. I truly appreciate the weekly entertainment (or twice a week via Patreon).

Unfortunately for Chas, our coffee doesn’t supply any of your body’s required daily vitamins or minerals, and won’t save your life if you’re neglecting it. But it will make you happy and wake you up. Perhaps providing one last smile with a satisfactory “ahhhhhh” before death. ☕️

And it’s true. We do have great clothing along with our amazing freshly roasted, impeccably sourced coffee. I do a poor job at reminding people of that, because I have way more fun making the silly videos than trying to advertise the clothing and coffee. So please do yourself (and me) a favor and go to Seavants.com and give the fine products a gander.

#surfing #coffee #surfpodcast #surfcoffee

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