A Marble in the Jar — The Enduring Legacy of Greg Browning

“Before Greg and I went on tour, I was reading a book,” World Tour surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb said to me. “The premise was simple: every time you do something cool, whether it’s making your bed or cooking breakfast, each one of those things represents a marble. You put a marble in the jar every time you have a small win in your day. The small wins need to be acknowledged so we know that we are winning in life. When I told Greg that, he said, ‘That is the coolest thing I’ve ever heard, let’s roll with it.’ For the rest of those two and a half years that we traveled on tour, that was his question to me. ‘Any marbles? Any marbles?'”

Greg Michael Browning’s life was marked by an overwhelming selflessness — and significant achievements.

He was selected to the NSSA National Team in 1989, won the Open Men’s Southwest Champion title in 1991, and joined Taylor Steele’s Momentum Generation starting with Focus in 1994. Through the 1990s, Greg contributed to Spyder Surfboards global expansion, co-founded 17 Clothing, started coaching, and earned covers of Surfing (1995) and Surfer (1997) Magazines. From 2002 to 2010, he created the hugely popular “Drive Thru” surf travel series. In 2010, he coached Carissa Moore to a Rookie of the Year award. From 2010 to 2020, Greg worked for Body Glove, making award winning movies, managing their surf team, and training athletes, including Jamie O’Brien. From 2020 to 2023, Greg coached Tatiana Weston-Webb to a #2 WSL ranking.

In August 2023, Greg was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a disease that weakens muscles over time. In April 2024, he was inducted into the Hermosa Beach Surfer Walk of Fame. During the last year of his life, Greg completed his final film, A Marble in the Jar.

Greg passed on April 11, 2025.

Known as ‘Geebs’ to many and ‘Greggers’ to me, Greg’s impact extended far beyond his accolades.

As neighbors in Hermosa in the 1980s, my brothers Chris, Dino, and I became lifelong friends with Greg and Jeff, his older brother. They tried our “unusual” Mediterranean food and we absorbed their love of the beach. Our daily routine became a five-block walk to Hermosa pier, where we picked up friends Gannon, Keith, and Derek on the way to surf. On weekends, our parents drove us along the coast to different surf spots. We spent countless hours surfing, skateboarding, playing baseball, and skipping school.

All our childhood friends know of Greg’s ‘Marble in the Jar’ philosophy, and his mom, Dinah said it can be traced to the beginning of his life: “He was always just a sweet, sweet boy. He was very kind and very loving.” And, Greg’s admiration for his older brother Jeff was the early driving force in his life. 

“He wanted to be like Jeff so much that he did everything Jeff did,” she continued. “He was like, ‘well, if Jeff can do it, I guess I can do it.’ And he did. That was just the way he was.” 

Determination and composure would become hallmarks of Greg’s life.

Before long, he wasn’t just keeping up with Jeff, he was surpassing him. Jeff explains, “We were skating our neighbor’s ramp a lot back then and I was showing off a frontside air, which took me a month to learn. Greg asked me how to do it, then dropped in and pulled one on his first try. He then dropped back in and landed a backside air on his first attempt. That’s when I said to myself, ‘my brother is the fucking man.’”

Growing up in Hermosa, it was inevitable that Greg would be drawn to the ocean. However, Greg had a paralyzing fear: “He was boogie boarding and learning the ocean, but he was extremely scared of big waves. And we all tried to push him,” says Jeff. 

“I told him, ‘Listen, if you want to be a surfer, you’re gonna have to do this. You’re gonna have to commit to this thing because it’s a lifestyle.’ He finally responded, ‘Okay, okay.’ He’d pretty much do anything that I challenged him to, so he ended up going on big waves after that.” 

In the mid-1980s, Greg gained momentum when local standout Matt Walls invited him to join the   more experienced crew at 16th Street. This led to Greg working with local filmmaker Howard Eddy on editing homemade surf movies. South Bay standouts Ronne Jones, Reese Patterson and others became mentors and traveled with Greg to support his talent. That initial fear of bigger waves transformed into a relentless pursuit of progressive surfing, and soon, our local surf contests were too easy for Greg.

In 1988, Mike Balzer photographed Greg pulling into a typical South Bay close-out for Surfing Magazine, marking the first of many published photos. In 1989, Greg excelled on the NSSA National Team and, in 1991, became the Open Mens Southwest Champion. This success led to meeting the Malloys, Rob Machado, and Taylor Steele. 

Around this time, Greg helped Taylor choose music for the surf film Momentum (1992). According to Taylor, “Greg enthusiastically promoted” using Pennywise’s songs. Because Taylor agreed, Jim Lindberg, the lead singer of Pennywise says, “It’s my opinion that we owe our entire career to Greg.”

Greg appeared in one wave in Steele’s Momentum 2 (1993), followed by a feature in Focus (1994). This solidified Greg’s place in the surfing world, leading to his appearance in multiple films of the Momentum Generation alongside legends Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, Taylor Knox, Ross Williams, Pat O’Connell, Kalani Robb, Rob Machado, and Benji Weatherley. During the filming of Focus, Taylor had to fly home, so Greg filmed parts of the France footage featuring Slater, Dorian, and Ross.

“When I first met him, he was a pre-pro surfer, just excited to be there sort of thing,” Steele remembers. “He introduced me to Pennywise and he was just pumped to be in the room. I was in that same mindset, so we related on that level.”

Alongside the stars, Greg’s surfing in those early films showcased his style, progression, and willingness to charge. Yet, even as he gained recognition, his inherent humility remained. “For all that he did,” Taylor noted, “there was never a moment where he was getting high on his horse. He had a genuine happy-to-be-there attitude.”

In the early 1990s, Greg moved in with Spyder shaper and founder Dennis Jarvis and played a key role in transforming Spyder into a global brand by attracting a plethora of pro surfers. At that time, Greg also began competing on the ASP World Tour… but quickly began feeling that relationships were more important than contests.

“When he surfed on the ASP Tour, Quiksilver signed him to a good deal,” his brother Jeff shared. “So Kelly called him up, and I think, had just won his first title. Kelly says, ‘Hey, Greg, congratulations for making the Quik team.’ And Greg’s like, ‘Yeah, cool, thanks,’ and hangs up the phone. I could tell something was wrong, so I asked, ‘What’s the matter?’ And, Greg said, ‘Oh, that was Kelly.’ I asked, “Rad. He just called you?’ His expression didn’t change. Greg responded, ‘Yeah, except I didn’t tell him that I’m starting a clothing brand.’ 

In 1994, Taylor Steele, Jason Weatherly, and Sean Mundy started a new apparel company, 17 Clothing, and brought Greg in as a co-founder. Greg left Quiksilver, putting it all on the line to start something new. To support the brand, Greg moved to San Diego in 1995 and lived in the company warehouse. “That took a lot of courage,” said Jeff. “But it shows you where his values were. He wanted to follow his own path and be with his friends.” 

In 1995, we saw the genesis of Greg coaching other surfers. 

Benji Weatherley recalls, “I had times when I didn’t think I should be sponsored. I’d be frustrated and upset, come in from the water punching my board. He would just say a few words with his little Greg smirk. It was perfect. Then he’d say, ‘get back out there.’ He made me feel important.” 

Alex Gray remembers his 9th birthday not just as a celebration, but as the day Greg entered his life and became a lifelong mentor: “The first stickers my brother and I put on our surfboards were from his brand 17. Our egos skyrocketed because we were just learning how to surf. But Greg’s like, put these on your board. And we felt like we were sponsored now. We weren’t sponsored. We just had the nicest dude in the world giving us stuff that duped us into believing we were freaking rad kids.” Alex continued, ”Greg didn’t just show up for my birthday. He showed up for anything and everything.”

In 1995, Greg earned his first cover of Surfing Magazine. In 1997, guest editors Tom and Joe Curren chose Greg for the cover of Surfer Magazine.

Alex describes the cover shot: “His style, it is so insane. One of my favorite things I saw when a magazine came out, they called it the Greg Browning turn and they did a whole interview and article about how Greg created his own turn. And it’s really the turn that had him on the cover because he had his own style.”

Around the same time as these mentorships, 17 Clothing began to flourish, but had to cease operations in 1997 due to a naming rights issue with 17 Magazine.

The birth of Greg’s sons, Drew in 1999 and Parker in 2001, marked a significant change in Greg’s life. He returned to the South Bay and focused on editing, filmmaking, and mentoring Body Glove’s athletes. Greg prioritized friendships, leading him to shift towards filming and other aspects of the surf industry. “I didn’t like the feeling of competing against my friends. I liked having fun with them instead.” Greg told me at the time.

With Taylor’s partnership and guidance, Greg eventually embarked on a filmmaking journey that would leave a mark on the surf world. The most notable was his “Drive-Thru” series. It was a raw, hilarious, and authentic look into the lives of professional surfers on extended road trips to world-class surf destinations. The series resonated deeply with audiences. It wasn’t just about the surfing; it was about the camaraderie, the adventure, and the personalities of the surfers, all captured through Greg’s unique lens.

Greg directed, filmed, and starred in the first “Drive Thru” in California. Its popularity led to ten movies between 2002 and 2009, filmed in locations like the Caribbean, South Africa, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South America, and Europe.

Kelly Slater reflected on Greg during that time: “We’ve all got friends who are ‘the nicest guy ever’ but Greg was that guy. Working with him, he was never there to make things happen but he just captured the moment. I think the Drive Thru movies speak to that. Everyone could feel natural around Greg and trust that he would make whatever you’re doing into something fun and entertaining without having to make anything up.”

Donavon Frankenreiter, a friend, musician, and a central figure in many of the “Drive-Thru” adventures, offers a unique perspective on Greg’s filmmaking style and his leadership. What stood out most to Donavon was Greg’s unwavering focus on the well-being of his crew. 

“I spent 10 years working with him, and I have never seen anybody do the things that he did. He always made sure that everybody around him was either comfortable or getting what they needed. He would always put everyone before himself.”  Donavon continued, “His work ethic was fucking beyond belief. It was incredible to be around and it was infectious. We always knew that we could go and surf and do our best and he’d handle it.” 

Through the series, Greg showcased the human side of the surfers, fostering a deep connection with fans.

“He changed a lot of people’s lives. He made us better, and he made my career better. He did so many things for all of us,” says Donavon.

Benji elaborated: ”Towards the end of my career, it was all Greg Browning. He kept me in relevancy for a decade longer than I should have been. People always still bring it up. When me and Donovan hang out, all they do is talk about the Drive-Thrus. It was such an incredible honor.” 

Greg’s ability to capture the precious moments of life through camaraderie became a distinction of his filmmaking, establishing his place as a visionary.

Alex explained how unique this was: “Greg is separated because of selflessness and kindness. And being a male professional athlete, that’s just not usually a synonymous description. And the stories that everyone tells about him are real. And most of the stories have never been seen, told or heard.”

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After spending years as a pro and then shaping narratives behind the lens, Greg found an outlet in coaching. And, when Red Bull wanted to follow Carissa Moore during her debut on tour, they hired Greg.

In 2010, he mentored Carissa, who finished 3rd in the world and won Rookie of the Year. Carissa deeply cherished her time with Greg. 

“For me,” Carissa shared, “It was who he was as a person that stood out the most. He had a way to make people feel seen when he was with them. He was always so generous and so present when you were with him. And he had this incredible ability to listen and then give words of wisdom and say exactly what you needed to hear in that moment.” 

Even when Greg wasn’t Carissa’s coach, they maintained their connection. “The morning after I won the Pipe Pro (a decade later), we went to breakfast, just him and I, and we had a pancake breakfast. We went to talk about life and everything. It was just so simple and easy and effortless. I just loved being with him, like he was like another dad.”

From 2011 to 2020, the Meistrell family brought Greg back to Body Glove in a more established role to manage the surf team, market the brand, and create award-winning content  — films such as Drop Zone and Live From The Moon, which won Transworld Surf’s Imaginarium Contest twice.

In 2013, Greg’s mentor, Body Glove co-founder Bob Meistrell, passed away at dawn at the start of a popular paddle board race. Greg woke his 12-year-old son, Parker, and asked if he’d come with him to pilot a boat. “He had tears in his eyes and we drove in silence, both of which were rare,” Parker said. They swam out to the Body Glove boat, then piloted the dinghy back to Redondo Harbor, a lengthy trip. Only later did Parker learn why. “He didn’t stop to grieve because he wanted family and friends to be able to first. He just did what needed to be done, without being asked. That moment showed me who my dad was.”

In 2015, Greg met Carrie Nitkin-Browning. Two days after their first date, Greg texted her, “It was great to meet you in person, pretty girl.” 

“Greg told me that his mother lived with him and he liked Star Wars,” laughs Carrie. “He had Star Wars shoes on so I was warned. But, a few dates later when I showed up to his house, there was a huge life-size stormtrooper staring down at me. I thought to myself, ‘I’m supposed to sleep here?’ Carrie quickly found out that Greg’s love of Star Wars and Disney was contagious, and it helped Carrie’s young boys, Aiden and Austin, bond with Greg as well.

“I remember one time we planned this trip to Hawaii, but he was already there for work,” continues Carrie. “He flew back to California so he could escort me there. Who does that?” 

Personally and professionally, Greg was thriving. He helped Body Glove sign elite athletes like Tatiana Weston-Webb, and when she asked him to be her coach, he jumped in with the same heart he gave everything else. They toured together from 2020 to 2023, achieving a career-best ranking of #2 in the world.

Tatiana spoke powerfully about Greg’s impact on her. 

“He always went the extra mile to make sure everyone besides himself was comfortable,” says Tati. “He always did the extra thing that made everyone feel better. He was so selfless and he always had the right thing to say. And he was such a team player. He just never accepted when someone was feeling down or unhappy,” continues Tati. 

“Life on tour was really solitary until I brought Greg on. At every opportunity, he would tell me to hang out with other people on tour. He would always say that the things you remember from the tour are not your results — it’s going to be your relationships. We would go do stuff with other surfers and we would end up smiling and laughing and having a good time – every single time. He was an amazing reminder that we’re all like-minded people and we all have a lot of things in common.”

In early 2023, Greg was surfing with Parker, his youngest son, when he realized something was wrong: “I paddled into a set and tried to stand up and had no strength in my left arm to get up and ended up dropping in on my stomach and taking the lip to the head,” he told me. 

A few months later, Greg was diagnosed with ALS, a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually causing muscles to weaken and stop working. His type of ALS progressed quickly.

Carrie recalled the initial moments after diagnosis, “Greg knew what was coming and just said ‘we’re not going to be sad.’” 

His medical team asked him to fill out a bucket list, but he had already fulfilled his dreams. 

“His purpose became helping others find theirs,” Carrie said. 

He embraced life with even more intention and with what mattered most: watching people he loved have fun. Greg’s remaining time was filled with weekly breakfasts, trips, and memorable moments. He biked through Yosemite, hiked Yellowstone, rode mules in the Grand Canyon, surfed wave pools, went cave tubing in Belize, and enjoyed the attractions at Disneyland.

”His focus was still on bringing joy to his friends,” Donavon said. “In the last parts of his life, Greg planned get-togethers and trips for his friends. He was the most fucking selfless guy all the way through to the very end, ” Donavon continued. “Fucking guy decided to take us all to Slater’s wave pool and he couldn’t even surf. He wanted to sit around and watch his friends have fun. That’s what Greg was. That’s what he did. And it was just fucking crazy. It was just insane what he did for all of us. It was way beyond a friendship. It was just insane.”

What Greg gave to others now lives on through his profound legacy.

“The relationship I had with him, and I think he had with many people, he was always so generous and so present,” says Carissa. “And he had this incredible ability to listen. I always really appreciated his unwavering sense of optimism, no matter the circumstance.”

“Greg brought the best out of you,” says Benji. “I was half the man without him. He encouraged me. He believed in me. And I think that’s why he was such a good coach, especially for Carissa and Tatiana. He made us all so much better.

“Greg’s best trait is that he made the world better,” Benji continued. “Even through the shitty times where we’d be in airports for three days straight, he would always be the guy that kept everything together. That’s him. In chaos. He would be calm in chaos.”

Kelly reflects, “The end of Greg’s life was evidence of the type of person he was. He took the whole thing as some grand lesson and purpose and accepted his fate, didn’t feel sorry for himself, and nearly apologized for not being there longer for others. It was a real lesson in humility and appreciating life for the rest of us.”

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Donavon echoed this.

“I could see him just telling everybody, ‘May the force be with you.’ He was such a fucking Star Wars fan. And that’s another thing that he would do. He would always make sure, even if he had the powers, he would want to make sure you had the powers.” 

Alex Gray offers some similar thoughts.  “I am so blessed because I was Greg’s Padawan,” he smiles. “And I know there are others out there that feel the same way. Greg showed up. And I can’t think of a more important aspect to being a role model. It’s crazy because you get a world class talent who somehow was not attached to an ego, nor the platform and status. We’re all trying to be Greg Browning, that’s the easiest way for me to describe it. You just saw a huge smile and positivity.”

“I hope to be as graceful in my exit from this planet as Greg has been,” Kelly said, “And leave as positive a message as he has. We’ve been fortunate to have him around us for all these decades.” 

Greg’s son Parker saw his dad’s selflessness daily: “Whether it was giving his board away on a surf trip, bringing a friend’s kid to work on set because they had an interest in cinematography, or picking up a local grom to take them surfing. These were regular occurrences. I say regular, but I mean every single day.” Parker explained, “He didn’t need a reason to help. That’s special because it’s almost impossible to find the energy to be that selfless.”

There is a group text thread that includes all the iconic surfers of the Momentum Generation.

“We have a saying on our group thread. ‘Strive for Greg-ness,” says Taylor Steele. “Which is striving to be the best version of yourself and appreciate every day.”

Just as Greg encouraged Tatiana to acknowledge those daily marbles, let us all take a moment to recognize the good in our lives and to spread that positivity outwards. 

May we all strive to live as fully and as purposefully as Greg. 

“Any marbles today?”