Firewire Podcast - Chuy Reyna Shares His Thoughts on Growing Up with Kelly Slater, the Sci-Fi, and the Cymatic as a Quad

July 28, 2018

The Man in the (Demo) Van shares thoughts on growing up with Kelly Slater, surfing the Sci-Fi in Santa Cruz, and why the Cymatic feels best as a quad.

Listen to this brand new episode on iTunes or Firewire’s website.

The only thing better than seeing this is seeing pumping surf on the other side of it.

Meet the Man in the (Demo) Van

No one can remember whose idea it was but it was 2008 when someone inside Firewire floated the idea of a demo quiver on wheels.

Since then the Demo Van has become recognizable everywhere and Firewire demos happen at beaches from Southern France to Santa Cruz. On the West Coast of the U.S.A., these demos are run by Chuy Reyna.

He’s on this brand new episode of The Wire Podcast.

Chuy makes waves bleed before breakfast on Helium shapes.

Chuy rips. He coaches. He’s the only person we know who you can talk to about surfing technique and then actually walk away more talented.

In this episode, he talks about paddling improvements, what a bottom turn means for the rest of your wave, and why the SKX sizes up so well as a step-up in powerful surf.

Turns on Timbertek. At 51 years of age Chuy still out paddles groms and out-gouges air guys.

Chuy also shares much more about working with Mick Fanning, Dane Reynolds, Benji Weatherly and many other important names from surfing’s modern era during his previous career at Dragon Eyewear.

In fact, he grew up alongside Shane Dorian and Kelly Slater in Hawaii under the tutelage (bullying) of Clark Little so sharing lineups with friends who shred is nothing new to him.

Today Chuy even has a hand in refining surfboard shape and build technology alongside Kelly, Rob, Daniel Thomson and everyone else at Firewire, Slater Designs, and Tomo Surfboards.

Managing the demo program on the West Coast keeps Chuy surfing many breaks and golfing many courses, often with his friends Kelly Slater and golf club designer Paul Lego.

Aside from being ultra fun to hang with what makes Chuy so effective at improving surfing and on-wave fun for everyone is the space he occupies on the surf talent spectrum.

Chuy lives by the ABDs of surf – Always Be Demoing.

He hasn’t just ridden every surfboard shape and surfboard build technology in Firewire’s history, he also surfs at the most important level of talent when it comes to deciding what surfboards will land at surf shop racks and which ones won’t – he shreds hard enough to hang in the pack with professionals, but he’s not a freak, he’s normal. He bridges the gap between everyday surfers and sponsored surfers, and his opinions matter to everyday people.

That’s why he’s the Man in the (Demo) Van

Tune into this brand new episode of The Wire Podcast. Because if Eddie Vedder listens to Chuy, shouldn’t you?

Even lead singer of Pearl Jam Eddie Vedder listens when Chuy describes the difference between Rob Machado’s Moonbeam and Kelly Slater’s Omni.

You can listen to this episode here and stay up to date on Demo Days in Europe, Australia, and the U.S. by following Firewire on Instagram here.

Firewire Podcast – Chuy Reyna Shares His Thoughts on Growing Up with Kelly Slater, the Sci-Fi, and the Cymatic as a Quad

Meet the Man in the (Demo) Van

Sweetwater Marketplace

New WRV Longboards and Mid-lengths at Sweetwater

New Creatures of Leisure Proto 1.4 pads and Endorfins Restock

Jack Robinson’s Signature Model: Synergy

Sweetwater 4th of July Sale

WB Live Surf Marketplace

Sunrise T-Shirt

Barber Shop Foamie Trucker Hat

Local Forecast