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

Watch: Episode 1 of the Surf100 Challenger Series presented by Pacifico

408 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

Godzilla El Niño… Fact Or Fear-Mongering?

Is it really going to be the end of the world?

Jun 12, 2026

Watch: Ritualistic Tendencies, A Heavyweight Film Of The Year Contender

The eyewear cult releases their first team feature film.

Jun 11, 2026

A One-Legged Italo Is Still Better Than Most Of The CT

Ramzi and Crosby fall to the Wounded Wario and Finals Day is decided.

Jun 11, 2026

Want To Win One Of Ethan Ewing’s Stab In The Dark Boards?

We’re giving away all 12 boards to our Stab Premium members.

Jun 10, 2026

Watch Rán: A Scandinavian Surfing Saga

"I've made a lot of short films. This is the only one I'd call perfect."…

Jun 9, 2026

“Gabe Morvil Is The Best Surfer No One’s Heard Of” — Dane Reynolds

Former drops DEFECTIVE UNITS // VOL #3, starring Timo Simmers and a Wilmington sparky.

Jun 9, 2026

Op-Ed: I’ve Surfed 27 Wavepools Around The World — These Ones Are Worth The Money

An unbiased, unaffiliated reporter shares his findings.

Jun 8, 2026

Punta Roca Calls The Forecast’s Bluff

Simmers sizzles, Riss Moore launches heat-saving air rev in the dying seconds.

Jun 8, 2026

Ethan Ewing & Dane Reynolds Discuss The Best Surfboard On The Planet | StabMic Ep. 17

“I’d still rather watch Occy or Bobby surf J-Bay than some of the tour surfers.”

Jun 7, 2026

Board Dramas And Upsets Abound As Griffin & Filipe Lose Early

Meanwhile Gabby, Yago, and a hobbling Italo forge on.

Jun 6, 2026

Drug Tests, Dust Ups, And Steph & Ethan Fall Early At Punta Roca

Day one, from the rocks.

Jun 6, 2026

Recent Call List: Shaper 22, Shaper 02. Choose One.

A messy little confession about shaper honesty, backroom deals, and the six-month window Hayden Cox…

Jun 5, 2026

2026 Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico, Episode 01

Challenge 1: Our eight surfers play capture the flag at Blacks Beach.

Jun 4, 2026

“This Feels Like Something Worth Happening In Surfing”

RAGE and Former clasp hands.

Jun 4, 2026

Shane Stedman: Father, Shaper, Ugg Boot Impresario Kicks Out At 85

In memory of one of the great Australian chancers.

Jun 3, 2026

Jordy’s Out, Swell Is In, And Punta Roca Sets The Stove To Boil

A 2026 Surf City El Salvador Pro preview.

Jun 3, 2026

And The Winner Of Stab In The Dark With Ethan Ewing Is…

The man you least expected. 

Jun 1, 2026

Who Makes The Best Boardshorts In The World?

We've got the data.

Jun 1, 2026
Advertisement