The ‘Surf Gene’ Is The Only Thing These Twins Have In Common

Arch shares precisely 50% of his genetic code with Van. The other half is out for lunch. 

“Van and I are twins (I’m 6 minutes older) who grew up in Avalon on the Northern Beaches of Sydney,” Arch Whiteman told Stab. “We both work as lifeguards to fund our QS hopes and overseas travel dreams. I’m not studying (and have zero plans of doing that) but Van is studying pure mathematics and Actuary studies at Macquarie University in Sydney.” Ergo, brainy.

“He’s an introvert by nature and an absolute nugget. I’m an extrovert and the definition of lanky. Van hates hugs and I give them out like there’s no tomorrow. He’s natural, I’m goofy. We grew up the exact same way but are completely different in so many aspects hence the clip title – Same Same but Different.”

This clip was shot over four weeks in Krui in Sumatra. “It was an absolute rollercoaster of a trip. Highs included surfing a left slab with no one else out for hours and screaming our heads off in excitement as we went over the falls and made a couple. Van got the backhand barrel of his life, which is the clip ender. Lows include Van getting stitches in his head + elbows and contracting salmonella all within 24 hours. I got out after 6 weeks of Bali belly that ended up turning into a burst appendix requiring surgery in a small Sumatran hospital where no one spoke English (whilst Van surfed the swell of the trip – see the massive right barrel at 1:25). 

Love a punchy anecdote to go along with a clip. 

Get to know the Whitemans, they’re easy to tell apart.