Alright, you caught us! This episode doesn’t abide by our traditional recipe. The crew are very much on the beaten track, gargantuan Californian landmarks are dotted along the way… but that doesn’t mean they aren’t Searching with a capital S. This is the full surf gamut, a multi-stop, strike mission, careening down Highway 1. A relatable, gritty road trip with bucket-list destinations, good grub, and an all-star cast that operate in an elevated state of perpetual wave-lust. The spirit of adventure, fun and mateship are at the fore. It’s a regular surf-eat-sleep junket that abounds in the kind of car park banter and feverish spot-checking delirium that only surfers blend up, and chug down. So buckle up. You’re riding shotgun with the sultans of slash, the titans of tearing, the kings of… well, you get it.
From youngest to oldest, enter San Clemente’s baby-faced ectomorph, the 2019 Pro Junior Champ, one Crosby Colapinto. Doe-eyed and humble on land, it’s evident Croz is soaking up every bit of his idols’ surfing savoir faire. But when the SC local buries a rail, or levitates from the lip, there’s no doubt he’s earned the right to be in such good company. The other Californian native on board is Conner Coffin. 2021 Rip Curl WSL Finalist, armed to the teeth with local knowledge and time-logged in the Pacific, he’s a smiling assassin with face-melting guitar chops and a sea-parting carve of biblical proportions. Last but not least, the thrice world champ and affable fixture on The Search, Michael Eugene Fanning.