“Pies Are Pretty Much Sushi”

Wade Goodall was painting a secret mystery object for Vans when we called. He later suggested he may have been painting himself nude in a pair of shoes. We ended that topic there, but just know Vans’ next footwear campaign might be bolder than you expected. 

Wade was a standout on Stab Highway presented by Monster Energy. In the words of Shaun ‘Bad’ Manners, “Wade-o really carried our team through the surf challenges.” It should come as no surprise really. Wade’s surfing is incredible and as relevant now as ever. 

Since his breakthrough performance in Billabong’s 2006 movie ‘Passion Pop’, alongside the likes of Andy Irons, Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, and Jordy Smith, Wade’s innovative aerial skills and powerful rail game has reliably arrested the attention of a global surf audience with his freesurf edits. 

In 2020, ‘Pentacoastal’ was voted Stab’s ‘Edit Of The Year’ as judged by the 50 most influential voices in surfing. However, Wade’s accolades have not inflated his ego. He is friendly, humble, and softly-spoken, a product of his blue-collar upbringing on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland where he began carving out a career path as a talented grom with a strong work ethic and a good head on his shoulders. 

Here, Wade discusses the ups and downs of Stab Highway, the ‘Metallica burger’, the Goodall floater-to-oop, and the biggest grub from Team Jaleesa. 

Stab: Hey Wade. Let’s talk Stab Highway. If you had to swap a team member out who would it be and who for?

Wade Goodall: I wouldn’t do it. I’d leave. I couldn’t. I’m loyal to my team. Don’t have anything against the other surfers. I just love my team. I got lucky.

You were the first pick from a lineup of 12 of Australia’s best surfers. How chuffed were you out of 10?

I think it was just an older guy from the Sunny Coast respect thing really. I was surprised. Real high-schoolish. I just hung out in my hoodie. It was really uncomfortable. Very feary. 10.

Who was the biggest grub?

Probably Chun or Noa. Noa for sure actually. Once he gets started he doesn’t stop and he turns into a full grub. Fuck he’s funny. Noa’s pretty powerful once he gets revved up. 

Yeah, I guess Chun didn’t really have to change his clothes for the first 5 days.

Yeah, he was automatic-grub. But he was looking pretty good though. When he went out to the pub he wore a jacket and was telling people he’d just gotten back from Berlin. He had this turbo turtleneck situation going on and he pulled it off honestly. He was so grubby under that thing. Itchy and physically in all sorts just cos’ of that stinkin wettie. 

Was it smelly? Unpleasant to be around?

Nah, not really aye. 

That’s good. Maybe we’ll have to start making amphibious wetsuits you don’t need to take off.

Yeah… I don’t know about that. Only in grom sizes. 

Your air to floater was one of the 10 performance-based challenges which only one other surfer managed to complete. I think that gives you some prestige. Prestige worldwide, if you will. Are you quietly stoked no one could do the Wade Goodall floater to oop? Bar Reef Heazlewood?

It’s very doable. I just claimed doing it cos’ the challenge had my name on it. Time, wedge, speed. That’s all you need. It’s just a weird obscure body movement.

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How many pies have you eaten since Stab Highway? Have you developed a phobia since having to eat them exclusively?

Maybe 10. I really like pies. I put pies in the same bucket as sushi. Pies are pretty much sushi because there are so many types of sushi and you don’t get sick of sushi. 

Yeah, I get that. Sorta. 

I did crumble. I was corrupted. I was so hungover and the heartburn radiating from my system was outrageous. I was handling it fine until then, pushing through, but that day… I felt like a microwave. I saw this one Japanese place and I just wanted a miso soup and a hug so bad. Something nourishing. I crumbled. Nothing against pies. It was just my health. Also, I didn’t give a fuck at that point. I just needed nutrients and a warm hug. 

Your KFC/zinger collab was an incredible carb-heavy innovation on two Australian staple cuisines. How likely are you to recommend it to a friend or family member?

Highly. A few people have hit me up about it. My biggest tip is to get extra mayo because it’s really dry otherwise. It tastes really good and fits really well.

Mmm, I was thinking that. It’s almost like they were made to be together.

It’s actually a thing. It’s Sunshine Coast folklore tradition. Simon the Pieman sells them. They’re called ‘Metallica burgers’. Full-blown thing. Anyone who grew up on the Sunny Coast will know about it. It’s incredible. I couldn’t tell you if it’s a shop or a stall. See, every time you’re hitting Simon the Pieman you’re pretty cooked. It’s all a blur. 

Damn, I thought you were going to trademark that puppy.

Nah, nah. Something that good has to have happened before. You just know it. The Sunny Coast is usually a few years behind on most things. But on some things, strange things, they’re years ahead. 

Fuck, I’ll have to hit that up next time I’m up there.

Oh, I don’t think it’s there anymore. Business wasn’t exactly booming. 

Tell me about a moment on the trip where you felt proud. 

I was proud the whole time because no one gave up or got negative. There were moments, and everyone was super open about it, when they felt really bad and needed some alone time. Everyone had their day. So I’m proud of the friendship and that we all got each other through it. It was a bit of a mental battle for 10 days. It was piss easy driving around being naughty. Wasn’t hard or anything, but it can be draining. Really feary, so I’m proud no one had a mental breakdown and kept trying.

That’s nice. Pentacostal won ‘Edit Of The Year‘ in 2020. Given you’ve already won EOTY, will you be entering another one again?

Nah.

Why’s that?

I’m already rich (laughs). Nah to be honest, I haven’t really been filming very much. There hasn’t been a project on the go. Pentacoastal was really big but it’s also a massive undertaking and the opportunity hasn’t really presented itself. Maybe next year. We’ve also been in lockdown. So I reckon most of the good edits will come from the States and Hawaii and stuff.

Are you salty that now that there’s a Bitcoin up for grabs? 

Nah. It was just a nice accolade to get that recognition. The fact that people don’t hate it is enough, so to get an award was extra special. It does mean a lot. I was super proud for Vans and everyone that helped out. I’m glad Stab’s keeping a platform for the best surf edits going, even though I didn’t get a Bitcoin.

Thanks so much Wade. Best of luck with painting your mystery object, I can’t wait to try the Metallica burger. 

No worries. Just get a time machine and a fishbowl.