Shayden Pacarro Missed His Dentist Appointment For This

Shayden Pacarro represents the working class of surfers. The Hawaiian native may only be 23 years old but is already a father and husband. During the summer, Shayden runs his own surf academy, one with soul. It’s not a “here’s a soft-top go be a nuisance” kind of lesson. Pacarro takes a more personal approach and spends the entire day with his students. He takes them around the island, checks multiple spots, and develops a personal connection with the learning surfers. 

Competitive surfing is a bumpy business. Landing a six-figure contract is near impossible, and last year showed us just how fragile those contracts truly are. For the 99% of surfers not stacking dough to the ceiling, a side hustle is necessary to stay afloat.

Despite the Vans Triple Crown going digital this year, I think we uncovered a benefit. Guys like Shayden Pacarro are considered underdogs because they don’t have hundreds of heat wins under their belt. Not every surfer can lounge around all day Pipe. Bills must get paid and the family needs to eat. Time is a luxury that can’t afford to be wasted.

Evidently, this guy is an absolute weapon on a surfboard, and a digital contest provides him a platform to prove it. See that late drop? Yeah, that’s not normal.

Click here to meet Shayden. A hard-working, outgoing, and qualified entrant for this year’s Van’s Triple Crown.