Turning the tide — How Andrew Stark transformed a crushing wave into the ride of his life

Curveball

With his wetsuit zippers blown open, his flotation vest filling fast with water, and his diaphragm heaving, Andrew Stark thought his time was up. But a monster wave on one of Hawaii’s most feared breaks was no match for Stark, a leader who thrives when faced with a threatening swell.

Whether it’s mounting world-renowned events at Bell’s Beach or Sunset, or convincing the world that surfing is professional sport, Stark rides every wave all the way to the shore.

A tragic family event when Stark was young forged a connection with the ocean that carries him through every tough challenge: “Surfing saved me. I could have gone in any direction, but all I wanted to do was go to the beach.”

So with the pandemic threatening the future of all pro surfing events, he’s more determined than ever to harness that passion into a successful recovery.

And he tells you more about that in a bonus episode, available in your podcast feed now.

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Curveball is the show where leaders are honest about their darkest moments. We take you inside a company at a pivotal moment, and share tips on how to thrive in challenging times.

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