Ben Gravy and Jamie O’Brien are the godfathers of the surf vlog. Ironically, as talented as both men are, a major factor in their equal success is that neither really focuses on showing themselves off on picturesque waves. Instead, they’ve endeared themselves to the masses by willingly putting themselves in less-than-desirable surf — from heavy shorebreak closeouts to minuscule novelty waves — and having endless fun charging it all.
Putting them together in one lineup is always intriguing.
“If you guys are wondering why we surf these closeouts,” Jamie O’Brien says after a Ke’iki session with Gravy, “…just kinda good for the soul, good for the lungs. Put you right back into reality and, you know, respect Mother Nature.”
And their fun isn’t dependent on getting the wave of the day.
“Literally did not make one drop,” J.O.B. adds. Gravy didn’t make any waves either throughout the same session.
And how do they follow up getting tossed around in the Ke’iki wash machine? They head a little ways up the beach with a fresh selection of soft tops, not to surf actual Pipe, but to see if they can piggyback some backwash straight into its impact zone.
Perfect waves are great and all, but here are two people who can make anything (and everything) look fun.
