What Does It Cost To Be A Pro Surfer?
From $30k to $600k, apparently.
Twenty-five grand for a destroyed jet ski. A thousand dollars for one video clip. Four full-time employees. Flights around the world. Coaches, trainers, surfboards…
They say you have to spend money to make money. As it turns out, many pro surfers have to spend money just to break even — or not.
While How Surfers Get Paid has explored the inventive ways that surfers hustle for a paycheck, let’s delve into the other side of the coin: what surfers have to spend to keep their dream jobs alive.
Warning: the numbers may surprise you.
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Apr 3, 2026
