Brendon Gibbens Ain’t No Chest-Beating, Cro-Magnon Pro

It could be said that professional surfing and education are diametrically opposed. 

The CT has 50-odd surfers, and as far as we know, not a single one of them has graduated from a four-year university. Most didn’t even complete high school in the traditional sense, but instead earned their diplomas via some external schooling program. 

Despite not having a tour to follow around the world, the same can be said for most “freesurfers”, who are too busy chasing swells to fulfill typical enrollment requirements. 

So, if a pro surfer wants to become studious and informed, they have to do it on their own accord. 

Most do not. That makes Brendon Gibbens an outlier.

Based on our latest encounter with Brenon Gibbens, it’s clear that the South African has spent much of covid (and perhaps his entire life) choosing the company of books, films, and other thought-provoking mediums over long nights on the piss. And we like that. 

We like that Brendon uses words like “insular”, spends his downtime playing tennis, and apologizes for burning groms. He’s no chest-beating, Cro-Magnon pro, which we most appreciate. There are enough of those in the world already. 

Enjoy the latest episode of First & Last with our friend Beeg, supported by Monster.