158 - Gerry Lopez

The Progression Project

Surf legend Gerry Lopez joins the Progression Project to talk foiling, flow, and the lifelong joy of being a beginner again. We dive into Gerry’s evolution from pioneering Pipeline to SUP, snowboarding, and now full-on foiler—unpacking how gear design serves intention, why smaller boards and foil drive setups changed his approach, and how the best surfing is a meditative state he still taps every session. He shares candid stories with Stacy Peralta, lessons from shaping, what today’s crowded Pipe looks like through his eyes, and the stoke of passing wave-riding on to his son, shaper Alex Lopez. It’s a masterclass in style, humility, and discipline—proof that chasing harmony with moving energy never gets old.