EP 203: Dave Wassel - Life as a North Shore lifeguard, Holding his peers in the highest regard, What it means to be a “waterman,” His insane wave in Fiji 2012, Upbringing, Heroes, YETI, and his stoke for Fiji being back on tour

North Shore lifeguard and former big wave charger, Dave Wassel,
joins us on The Lineup podcast. He describes life as a lifeguard
and being part of the North Shore Lifeguard Association. He holds
his peers in high esteem, praising their dedication, commitment,
and selflessness to jump into action at one of the most treacherous
and deadliest waves in the world to save people’s lives. He and
Dave talk about the rigorous training one must endure to become a
lifeguard on the North Shore, and the vetting process, not only by
other lifeguards, but by the community itself. Dave Prodan recalls
meeting Dave Wassel for the first time and reminisces about
Wassel’s insane wave in the Code Green Swell of the Volcom Fiji Pro
of 2012. They reflect back on Wassel’s upbringing, how he got into
surfing, lifeguarding, and the heroes he looked up to along the
way. Wassel tells the story about how he initially got involved
with YETI, how he still has his first ever YETI cooler he’s ever
bought, taking pride in the lasting products and the lasting
relationships he’s developed from being involved with YETI over the
years. Prodan and Wassel look ahead to the Corona Fiji Pro
Presented By Bonsoy, breaking down the differences between the main
surf spots, Restaurants and Cloudbreak. Wassel shares his stoke for
the women’s progression and how excited he is watching the women on
tour push the limits of surfing. He rounds out the pod by giving
his best advice, answering listener questions, and the Lightning
Round. Be sure to follow Dave Wassel on Instagram. Catch the best
surfers in the world return to Corona Fiji Pro Presented By Bonsoy,
Aug 20 - 29. Watch the best moments from Lexus US Open of Surfing
Presented by Pacifico. Join the conversation by following The
Lineup podcast with Dave Prodan on Instagram and subscribing to our
YouTube channel. Get the latest WSL rankings, news, and event info.
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