On this weeks episode we sit down with Hans Sylstra. We talk about his family coming to San Clemente in 1926, and how he was on the beach at T-Street when he was literally two days old. His dad gave him his first surfboard, a 6'6" Midget Smith single fin. He grew up playing soccer and baseball, but once he discovered surfing, it was all over. His mom's good friend married Al Merrick, and their families became super tight. That’s when Tom Curren entered the picture and a close friendship developed between Tom and Hans. In fact, it was Tom who first inspired Hans to pick up a guitar. And if you’ve ever seen Hans surf, Tom’s influence is clear. Hans is a smooth, stylish flow-master with a graceful, soulful approach to a wave. We talk about surf travels to Mexico, Hawaii, and Australia. He shares a great story about hitchhiking in Oz and none other than Cheyne Horan pulled over to give him a ride somewhere outside of Byron Bay. Shifting to music, Hans picked up a guitar and found one of his life’s great passions. He formed his first band, Seal Rock, with childhood best friends Matt Hamilton, Gavin Day, and Derek Harris. They played everything from beach parties to clubs, an incredible time in his life filled with surfing, playing music, and traveling with his bandmates to Puerto Escondido and beyond. His next music project was a duo with his wife, Janine, who sang and played drums while Hans played guitar and sang. Today, he’s still doing much the same, surfing and playing music. Living life. Loving life.
Check out the full episode on our Youtube channel
www.youtube.com/@twinpalmsentertainment949
