Surf Splendor - Surf Podcast Network
A network of podcasts for dedicated surfers, anchored by host David Lee Scales, covering news, culture, history, and industry figures.
This is a multi-show podcast network, not a single program. The flagship "Surf Splendor" show features long-form interviews with surfing's most influential figures. "The Grit!" is a weekly, irreverent news and culture commentary show co-hosted with BeachGrit's Chas Smith. "Spit!" is a similar conversational format with The Boardroom Show's Scott Bass, often focusing on surf history, equipment, and big wave surfing.
“Unlike single-format shows, Surf Splendor operates as a full network with a near-daily publishing cadence. It offers distinct flavors of surf talk, from the cynical and gossipy "Grit!" to historical deep-dives on "Spit!" and career-spanning interviews on the main "Surf Splendor" show.”
Who hosts this show
Surf Splendor is a podcast network founded by David Lee Scales in 2013 to provide long-form, in-depth audio content for the surf community. Scales, who has a background in surf video production and writing for publications like Surfer Magazine, hosts and produces the network's various shows. The network includes the flagship "Surf Splendor" interview show, the weekly news/commentary show "The Grit!" with journalist Chas Smith, and the history and gear-focused "Spit!" with event organizer Scott Bass.
Credentials & credits
- Founder of Surf Splendor Podcast Network
- Former video producer for Quiksilver
- Former writer for Surfer Magazine and Surfing Magazine
- Studied psychology at Cal State Long Beach
Other ventures
- The Grit! (co-hosted podcast)
- Spit! (co-hosted podcast)
- The Boardroom Podcast (producer)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02SPIT! BIG WAVE EPISODE: Feuds, Romance, Survival, and Underground Chargers!Jun 25, 2026 · 1h 11m
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08The Grit! Joel Tudor Stuns Purists, Chas Fumbles Near Megan Fox, and Dabs Are Dead!Jun 13, 2026 · 1h 09m
Notable episodes
- 01The Grit! #378: Louis Vuitton Steals Surf
A representative example of "The Grit!" format, where hosts David Lee Scales and Chas Smith discuss surf culture's intersection with high fashion and the perceived death of a singular surf identity.
- 02SPIT! #463: BIG WAVE EPISODE
Showcases the "Spit!" format with co-host Scott Bass, featuring a deep dive into the history and drama of big wave surfing, centered on the biography of Mark Foo.
- 03Surf Splendor #596: Jeff Johnson Part Two
An example of the network's flagship long-form interview show, featuring an in-depth conversation with Patagonia's first staff photographer about his career and life in surfing.
What you'll be asked on this show
The provided evidence is from the co-hosted commentary shows ("The Grit!" and "Spit!"), which are not interview-based. In these formats, David Lee Scales and his co-host (Chas Smith or Scott Bass) engage in a conversational analysis of recent surf news, cultural events, and personal anecdotes. The flagship "Surf Splendor" program is a dedicated interview show, but its specific style is not detailed in the supplied evidence.
The network features multiple formats. The commentary shows ("The Grit!", "Spit!") are co-hosted conversations where David Lee Scales acts as a knowledgeable anchor, guiding his more opinionated co-hosts through news and gossip. The main "Surf Splendor" show is a more traditional one-on-one long-form interview, while other shows in the network explore specific niches like surf history.
Signature segments
- · The Grit! (Weekly news show with Chas Smith)
- · Spit! (News and history show with Scott Bass)
- · Barrel or Nah?! (Segment on The Grit!)
- · Surfer X (Quiz segment on Spit!)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests on the flagship "Surf Splendor" interview show are influential figures like shapers (Dan Mann), pro surfers, and photographer/filmmakers (Jeff Johnson). The commentary shows do not have guests; instead, they rely on the dynamic between Scales and his recurring co-hosts, who are notable industry figures themselves.
- Jeff Johnsonon Surf Splendor 596
- Dan Mannon Surf Splendor 597 & 598
- Troy Eckerton Surf Splendor 599
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The shows feature host-read advertisements for surf-endemic brands, including wetsuit companies (Colby+), specialty retailers (Real Water Sports), and industry trade shows (The Boardroom Show), indicating a core, enthusiast listener base.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is the format of Surf Splendor?
- It's a network of several podcasts. The main shows are "Surf Splendor" (long-form interviews), "The Grit!" (weekly news/commentary with Chas Smith), and "Spit!" (news/history with Scott Bass).
- Who is the main host?
- David Lee Scales is the founder and primary host across the Surf Splendor network.
- Who are the regular co-hosts?
- Chas Smith, co-founder of BeachGrit, joins for "The Grit!". Scott Bass, founder of The Boardroom Show, joins for "Spit!".
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, the network publishes new episodes from its various shows almost daily.
- Where can I listen to the podcasts?
- The episodes are available on the Surf Splendor website, YouTube, and major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts.
- How can I pitch a guest?
- The official website lists a contact email, [email — gated], for feedback and show ideas.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Surf Splendor Homepagesurfsplendorpodcast.com
- [02]Surf Splendor - YouTubeyoutube.com
- [03]David Lee Scales | The Inertiatheinertia.com
- [04]Chas Smith's Profile | Beach Grit Journalist - Muck Rackmuckrack.com
- [05]Scott Bass: The Boardroom - Liquid Saltliquidsaltmag.com
- [06]059: DAVID LEE SCALES - Surf Splendor Podcast Founder/Hostthesurfingpodcast.com
- [07]Dazzling Blue #82: Surf Splendor with David Lee Scales - Birdwell Beach Britchesbirdwell.com
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