Nathan Florence, the middle of the three Florence brothers, was born in Hawaii in 1994. Like his older brother, three-time world champion John, and younger brother, Pipe charger and ace skateboarder Ivan, Nathan grew up in a beachfront house looking out to Pipeline, and made the seamless progression from building sandcastles on the beach to getting spit out of tubes in what was ostensibly his backyard.
Nathan competed in amateur events, but they were never his thing. He preferred big, heavy waves, and he got friendly with Mack truck-sized barrels. Technology conspired in Nathan's favor, specifically YouTube. He started vlogging and his clips connected.
Today, with more than half-a-million followers, Nathan's on what he's dubbed "the Slab Tour," where he searches the planet far and wide for mutant waves. Nathan's wife, Mahina, shoots many of the clips.
Nathan and Mahina live on the North Shore. Complimenting his heavy-water surfing is his role with Florence, the family brand, for which he and his brothers are hands-on in the R&D, test piloting, and overall vision.
In this episode of Soundings, Nathan talks with Jamie Brisick about mastering fear, growing up at Pipeline, his brothers, why competition was never a fit, training, close calls, how vlogging changed his life, foiling, and the Slab Tour.
Presented by Rainbow® Sandals.
Produced by Jonathan Shifflett.
Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin).
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