George Downing

Skip Frye

Today on The Still Point Tapes we are with Skip Frye, one of surfing’s most quietly influential figures. Known not just for his graceful, flowing style in the water, Skip is also a master surfboard shaper whose designs have guided generations of surfers. He has always approached surfing with humility, almost as a meditation, connecting rider, board, and wave in a single rhythm. In this conversation, Skip reflects on the deeper side of surfing: the energy of the ocean, music, salsa, and how a lifetime spent gliding across waves can shape the way one moves through life.

Jeff Divine

In this episode of The Still Point Tapes: Echoes from the Lineup, we spend time with Jeff Divine, one of surfing’s most respected documentarians, not just with a camera, but with a quiet attention to the spirit of the ocean and those who ride it. Though known for his iconic photography, Jeff speaks here less as a photographer and more as a listener, to energy, to waves, to the deep rhythm of surf culture. He reflects on growing up near the California coast, and the way certain moments seem to arrive with meaning built into them. He also shares memories of his grandmother, a wise and perceptive woman whose way of being shaped his understanding of flow, intuition, and respect for nature. Her presence lingers throughout the conversation, like a compass quietly pointing toward a deeper kind of knowledge. This is a reflective, gently powerful episode about tuning in to the ocean, to each other, and to something larger than ourselves. The film “The Still Point” is available on The Surfers Network.

Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz

Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz was many things: a doctor, a philosopher, a nomad, and above all, a surfer who believed in the healing power of the ocean and the simplicity of a life lived close to nature. Long before “wellness” became a buzzword, Doc was preaching the gospel of health, family, and wave-riding from the seat of a camper van. He raised nine children on the road, taught countless people how to surf, and challenged mainstream values with an almost radical purity. In this conversation, recorded nearly twenty years ago, Doc reflects on the ocean as a source of spirit and balance. He speaks about education and instinct. It’s raw, it’s wise, and unmistakably Doc, uncompromising and full of life.

Jock Sutherland

Jock Sutherland, The Mystic Surfer Jock Sutherland isn’t just a name in surfing history; he’s a spirit, a symbol of the moment when surfing began to evolve into something deeper, more intuitive, and more expressive. Emerging in the late 1960s as a counterpoint to the competitive drive of his peers, Jock brought something different to the lineup: a touch of mysticism, an almost shamanic connection to the wave. Known for his flowing style, innovative tube riding, and philosophical take on life, Jock stood out as a surfer who wasn’t just chasing waves; he was listening to them. In this rare and intimate interview, recorded nearly 20 years ago for The Still Point, Jock reflects on the ocean as a living force, the evolution of surfing, and the inner life of a surfer. What does it mean to belong to the sea? And how do we carry that experience into the rest of our lives?

George Downing

In this episode, we sit down with legendary waterman George Downing, surfer, innovator, cultural guardian, and one of the most influential figures in the history of Hawaiian surf. From pioneering big wave riding at Makaha and Waimea, to shaping boards and minds over generations, George’s life was deeply intertwined with the ocean. Recorded nearly 20 years ago, this conversation is more than a historical document; it’s a voice from the soul of surfing itself. George speaks of respect: for the sea, for Hawaiian traditions, and for the unspoken wisdom that guides those who listen. I just want to say that if it were not for Steve Pezman, we would never have spoken to George, and without Steve's support, this project would never have been what it is. Here is George Downing, in his own words.