Stab Magazine | Surfing's only billionaire gets the Stephen Colbert bump

EAST with Harry Bryant is here

467 Views

Surfing’s only billionaire gets the Stephen Colbert bump

Words by Morgan Williamson  Mr Colbert’s an American icon. The Colbert Report was the best late night television show to run, maybe ever.  The tasteful mix of conservative actions and liberal ideals in the midst of satire, relevance and humour has always been my favourite way to indulge in current affairs. Stephen started out as a correspondent on The Daily Show with John Stewart, then took the top late night hour spot on Comedy Central with his own daily news recap. Now he’s taken the place of David Letterman on The Late Show and if it’s not apparent, I fucking adore him. Last night GoPro CEO and surfing’s first billionaire came onto the show, him and Colbert had a little chat, did a patented fist bump and learnt the story of Nick Woodman’s rise to the triple comma club. It’s hard to hate on Nick Woodman, he seems like generally good guy. He’s a frother, a little bit nerdy and has business sense. Really it’s the perfect combination for success. If you can gain anything from this, let it be a bit of inspo. Failure’s inevitable and that inevitability breeds success. Complacency’s a soul siphoning succubus and being comfortable’s only relative. “When you’re looking for inspiration,” Nick says, “you follow your passion.” As far as surfing goes, man we are stream lining into the mainstream. Surfing’s becoming a go-to, should we thank/blame Mick or the shark? I have to assume the shrinking of the bikini bottom has something to do with it. This lifestyle we live and aspire to’s no longer behind the curtain of contempt and hasn’t been for quite sometime. Is more money going into surfing a good thing? That depends who you talk to. But GoPro was corn fed on stoke and that one little camera and camera mount that gives you the I’m going to snake this guy, feeling, has turned this Nick into a fucking billionaire. He bleeds green and that must be nice.

news // Mar 8, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Words by Morgan Williamson 

Mr Colbert’s an American icon. The Colbert Report was the best late night television show to run, maybe ever.  The tasteful mix of conservative actions and liberal ideals in the midst of satire, relevance and humour has always been my favourite way to indulge in current affairs. Stephen started out as a correspondent on The Daily Show with John Stewart, then took the top late night hour spot on Comedy Central with his own daily news recap. Now he’s taken the place of David Letterman on The Late Show and if it’s not apparent, I fucking adore him.

Last night GoPro CEO and surfing’s first billionaire came onto the show, him and Colbert had a little chat, did a patented fist bump and learnt the story of Nick Woodman’s rise to the triple comma club. It’s hard to hate on Nick Woodman, he seems like generally good guy. He’s a frother, a little bit nerdy and has business sense. Really it’s the perfect combination for success. If you can gain anything from this, let it be a bit of inspo. Failure’s inevitable and that inevitability breeds success. Complacency’s a soul siphoning succubus and being comfortable’s only relative. “When you’re looking for inspiration,” Nick says, “you follow your passion.”

As far as surfing goes, man we are stream lining into the mainstream. Surfing’s becoming a go-to, should we thank/blame Mick or the shark? I have to assume the shrinking of the bikini bottom has something to do with it. This lifestyle we live and aspire to’s no longer behind the curtain of contempt and hasn’t been for quite sometime. Is more money going into surfing a good thing? That depends who you talk to. But GoPro was corn fed on stoke and that one little camera and camera mount that gives you the I’m going to snake this guy, feeling, has turned this Nick into a fucking billionaire. He bleeds green and that must be nice.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Go To Lakey Peak For Two Weeks, Accidentally Leave With SEOTY Entry

Watch a dozen or so A+ airs in Makana Franzmann's 'Off Axis.'

Sep 5, 2026

How Zeke Lau Became Surfing’s Villain | StabMic Ep. 30

“Am I happy with the way things played out? Not really.”

Sep 5, 2026

How Will This Weekend’s Hurricane Marie Stack Up Against 2014’s?

We asked Surfline's senior forecaster to discern fact from lineup chatter.

Sep 4, 2026

And Our $12k Kandui Resort Giveaway Winner Is…

Hosing down wildfires in Big Sur.

Sep 3, 2026

Watch: Two Underdogs, One Very Expensive Bone

Dakoda and Dimitri’s thoughts on facing Parko and Noa for a $100K payday.

Sep 3, 2026

Cloudbreak Saves Goofs From Challenger Series Horrors

Cole Houshmand and Erin 'Don't-Call-It-A-Title-Run' Brooks win in Fiji.

Sep 3, 2026

Karma Just Sent Kauli Vaast A Lump Sum

Perfect 10s, ankle sprains, and a rising swell in Fiji

Sep 2, 2026

Watch: EAST Starring Harry Bryant, Episode Two

This is not a fin test.

Sep 1, 2026

Fiji Lately: World Champs Out, Bar Tabs Up, Swell Inbound

Eight heats in 96 hours; or the glorious doldrums of Tavarua laydays. 

Aug 31, 2026

Harry Bryant On EAST, Big-Wave Psychology & Fin-Gate | StabMic Ep. 29

"I went off my own judgement thinking that was a thruster, and I was proved…

Aug 30, 2026

Watch: Uncut Gems On Africa’s Forgotten Coast

Eli Beukes stars in 'Rough Diamonds' by Now Now Media.

Aug 29, 2026

Hossegor Beach Cocaine Episode 4: What Goes Up

“Sometimes I’d go and see how much was left and go, ‘Oh god, there’s still…

Aug 28, 2026

Was Surf Film Music Better Back Then?

How to score a film in the '90s versus now, with tour guide Taylor Steele.

Aug 28, 2026

LIVE NOW: FORMER’s ‘DEFECT’

After 20+ premieres, a handful of broken bodies and several years’ worth of A+ footage,…

Aug 27, 2026

Good Day To Be A Goof (Or A Griff)

Screwfoot dominance and lots of sutures.

Aug 27, 2026

Was That Surfing’s First Universal 10-Point Ride?

Erin Brooks hits the rev limiter on Day One.

Aug 26, 2026

At What Age Should We Stop Surfing Heavy Waves?

A Stab Interview with the Jaws kingpin who walked away: Shane Dorian.

Aug 25, 2026

2026 Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico, Episode 07

One right, one left, and an air decide our fourth finalist.

Aug 24, 2026
Advertisement