Question: Can you still really be considered “underground” when you’ve won a Guinness Book of World Records record for your efforts? Mmm, maybe if it’s “Smallest Watercolor Painting,” but if it was for “Largest Wave Ever Paddled Into Pe’ahi (Jaws)”…yeah, in the surf world, you’re gonna blast through Ground Zero. Big Island-born, North Shore of Oahu-raised Aaron Gold, actually won that record in 2016 for a 63-foot-tall Jaws drainer. Of course, for anyone in Hawaii, that might not be a surprise. Aaron’s been Mr. Turn & Burn for the last few decades. His underground status just might’ve been more apt to the rest of the world. Jamie’s newest guest on The Late Drop, Aaron fills us in on his origin story—all the way to technically drowning at big Cloudbreak a few seasons back.
0:00: Moving to Oahu from Big Island, Relationship with father, Getting into football, paddling canoe, team sports
13:17: Getting into big waves, Sandy Beach, Pinballs, First taste of Waimea Bay
20:30: About his rep/attitude for going on anything, Getting into the Eddie, Being a blue collar guy, Moving back to Big Island, then back to Oahu, Letting go the dream, Dealing with injuries,
34:21: Catching the biggest paddle-in wave at Jaws on “The Day,” The camaraderie of that day
51:23: Aaron’s near-death accident at Tavarua, Being prepared [to be humbled] in big waves
59:02: Aaron’s 5-to-Finish Questions
