Craig Anderson has by no means been one to hog the limelight. The Newcastle, Australia-based freesurfer’s output has at all times been a case of high quality over amount. His surf followers’ demand at all times outstripped his fashionable provide. But even by his requirements, he’s been quiet for the previous few years. Seems operating a enterprise, then COVID, adopted by eight months out of the water with a foot harm, has seen the 34-year-old fly even additional below the radar.

But issues are about change. Totally match and together with his model in a superb place, Ando is eager to hit the highway in 2023 and showcase why he stays one of the crucial fashionable surfers of his era. I caught up with him at his residence in Merewether to debate the place he’s been, and the place he’s headed. In his personal phrases, that is Craig on…

Making A Dwelling
“By means of COVID and the previous few years, my life has modified. Using for Quiksilver and touring the world I did pretty nonchalantly, and that completed. In the course of the pandemic, I couldn’t journey, and my girlfriend moved as much as Newcastle from Sydney and located work right here. We created a extra homely atmosphere the place browsing wasn’t my sole focus. My priorities modified and I additionally received married final 12 months.

I did journey to Europe early final 12 months however tore the ligaments in my foot in Eire and was sidelined for eight months. So I’m trying ahead to an enormous 12 months of chasing waves and I’ve the journey bug again. The intention isn’t just to journey for the sake of it, which I did beforehand as a result of there have been at all times alternatives, however to be extra selective. Now I’ve a spouse, a canine, and a vegetable patch, I’ve tasks at residence. The intention is to spend a strong month in the best vacation spot, after which come again to check-in and I’m excited to try this.

Operating a Enterprise
“I attempt to simply dip my toes in on the enjoyable stuff. At Former we now have a workforce that’s nice at their jobs. To start with, I wished to get caught in on the enterprise aspect and I really feel I’ve a relative deal with on that now.

Now I’ve a stage of involvement that isn’t too tense however lets me do the inventive aspect. My power and fervour is my browsing and documenting that, in order that’s the place I really feel I’m finest utilized.

This 12 months I’m excited to journey and put within the time. I’ve simply come again from Hawaii filming with Db and am now busy planning a 12 months’s price of missions.

Being a Boss
I’ve been working with the model now for six or seven years, and it’s had its highs and lows. There have been preliminary teething points, and we made all of the potential errors you can also make, however I really feel like we’re in a great spot. There are advertising and marketing budgets, and we’re paying workforce riders. I really feel we generally is a pressure to be reckoned with, and whereas it’s by no means been about that, to have the ability to pay a younger freesurfer a fantastic wage, the identical approach I used to be taken care of at Quiksilver, is very nice.

We’ve simply signed Shaun Manners, who I believe is without doubt one of the finest younger freesurfers on the earth, and we now have Kaito Ohashi from Japan, Jay Davies, and Ben Howard. I’m excited to get collectively and drink beers and make some particular surf clips with the workforce.

Browsing Path
I’ve pushed myself within the final 5 years in waves that, whereas not within the big-wave realm, had been nonetheless nicely out of my consolation zone. Numerous my browsing has been targeted on the New South Wales South Coast and West and South Oz. I used to be hanging with bodyboarders that chase these empty, furry, slabs that nobody could possibly be bothered coping with.

And I liked that scene and the camaraderie. The lineups had been empty and arranged when it’s strong and difficult. Nevertheless, I believe I have to surf longer and extra different waves. I really feel my browsing had moved into an area the place it was simply barrels and one massive transfer, or air, so I’m excited to chase some lengthy lefts in Chile and Africa and grasp in J-Bay or Namibia.

The Physique
I’ve been actually fortunate with accidents in my profession. I imply I used to be browsing shallow water in entrance of rocks, and I used to be making an attempt massive airs and but I wasn’t even acutely aware of my physique. I’m not reckless, I’m selective and I take my time to investigate issues on a deeper lineup stage, in order that I’m not throwing myself at all the things, however trying again I received away with so much.

That foot harm final 12 months gave me a brand new appreciation of my physique. I’ve hung out within the fitness center and my spouse is a yoga instructor in order that helps. I’m having fun with the place I’m headed. I imply I could possibly be so much higher, however somewhat bit of labor goes a great distance when you find yourself used to doing completely nothing other than browsing and consuming beers.



Dane Reynolds and I
Former has at all times been a inventive endeavor and we thought we may provide one thing that wasn’t directed by gross sales reps or advertising and marketing groups. Dane and I assumed we could possibly be ourselves and make the attire and movies that we wished. We’ve needed to conform to sure pointers on how a model works, be it seasonal drops or being on-calender to have a purposeful enterprise, however the perspective stays the identical. We at all times simply wished to make movies and grasp with surfers we like and respect and we appear to be getting nearer to that best now.

Dane and I’ve completely different tastes, and that primarily comes out each season when we now have to drag collectively a variety. We are inclined to conflict on the graphics, and that’s in all probability the trickiest a part of the enterprise, ’trigger we’re such graphic heads. Nevertheless, we at all times come collectively and put out a variety that we’re each happy with.

Look folks nonetheless love to observe Dane, and I really feel I’m at the least within the combine with my browsing. So I’m excited to do some journeys with him this 12 months, in addition to with the entire workforce, and work on some cool stuff. I’m in a superb place personally and with my browsing. Let’s see what we are able to deliver to the desk.

Learn extra about Craig, Dane Reynolds, and Former right here.