It’s sad to say, but the stereotype of surfers today is not exactly laid back. The sport is often dominated by voices that are interested in gatekeeping instead of promoting it. I reached out to Stephen Houser because he doesn’t give that vibe, an increasingly difficult mentality to keep today in a digital world of algorithms promoting argument for the sake of interaction. Make sure to check out his Youtube channel below and follow him on Instagram. Now to the interview:
I see you’re in NJ. Did you grow up there surfing?
I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. My family and I spent our summers living at our beach
house in NJ since my mom was a teacher and we all had summers off from school.
I grew up skateboarding in PA and NJ so the transition to surfing in the water wasn’t too bad. I
actually didn’t start surfing until I was 22 while on deployment with my unit in Morocco. After I
got home from deployment, I bought my first surfboard. I spent every weekend going to my
family’s shore house, commuting 100 miles there and back. This went on for several years. My
wife saw that I was becoming more and more unhappy when I wasn’t near the ocean. So we
decided to leave everything behind and sold our house in 2018 and moved from Pennsylvania to
New Jersey.
I’ve spent most of my life documenting everything from skating to jackass stunts as a kid. Once I
started to get good at surfing, and once I finished Grad School, I decided to start (another)
YouTube Channel. This wasn’t my first attempt at YouTube, it’s actually my third. I said to
myself, “I’ll go all in, but if I can’t make it in three years, I’m done”. After a year on YouTube I
reached most of my goals and had 5 sponsors. It’s pretty hard to believe everything I’ve done so
far in such a short time.
Do you have a favorite hurricane swell story you might share?
Anytime I’m chasing a swell with my best bud, John Anthony (aka Coach John), it’s usually
during the hurricane season. Last year we chased down some EPIC storms. Hurricane Henri in
August 2021 was a great one, and so was Hurricane Sam in September 2021. Massive waves
were hitting the shore, probably in the 10 foot range. We drive up and down the local Jersey
beach towns searching for the right spot that’s not too crowded. We start when the sun rises,
dawn patrol, and don’t stop until we can’t paddle anymore.
Coach John and I have also scored on some good winter swells as well. When we got the call
from Ben Gravy to compete in the 2021 El Slammo classic (held in January 2022), it was the
biggest blizzard that hit New Jersey since 1996. It dumped about two feet of snow on us and
temperatures were dropping well below zero. I’m surprised we survived surfing in those
conditions let alone the drive to even get there. NJ was in a State of Emergency that day but
when Ben gives you the green light, you have to go no matter what! For my efforts, I was
awarded the “Viking Gnarly Guy” award for driving 3 hours in those conditions to get there.
Also pretty much anytime there’s a swell, Coach John is on it. He’s practically a swell forecaster/
weatherman. It’s good to have someone like him in your squad. We’re always chasing the swells
together.
If you had to have one board only, what would it be and why?
That’s easy! BIG BLUE! The most famous board in New Jersey (heavy claim). It’s an 8’ Rock-It
Surf, Big Softy Longboard. It’s extremely versatile, and it can perform in anything Jersey sends.
I would know, I’ve taken it out in pretty much every condition.
It’s kind of funny when I’m in the lineup and random people are yelling BIG BLUE when I’m
racing down the line. Nothing gets me more stoked. And it’s also kind of surreal to be
recognized in public. The whole YouTube journey has been nuts.
Rock-It Surf has been such a big supporter of mine and I started to officially represent them in
November of 2022. I’m really STOKED to be working with such an awesome company. They’re
based out of Virginia Beach, so anytime I head south I stop by the warehouse. Nick Naylor is
one of the nicest dudes I’ve ever met. Super grateful for his support this year.
If you could surf with anyone dead or alive who would you choose? Why?
Probably sounds cliché, but I’d have to say my best buds. Anytime I’m in the water with my
friends or with my best mate, Coach John, we have a blast. Some of my favorite memories are
with him. Chasing waves, talking crap, and just feeling like a kid again.
It’s always fun to Surf with Ben Gravy too. We always have a great time together no matter the
conditions. Six foot glassy barrels or two foot garbage, Ben always brings the STOKE!
What are you working on… surfing or otherwise?
Besides being a Surf/Skate YouTuber, my daytime job is a Special Education, History Teacher.
It’s a crazy job, but it provides me the freedom (summers off!) that I need with my crazy
lifestyle. I’m also happily married for 10 years now with 2 children and 1 on the way (arriving
any day now). If I didn’t have the support of my wife, I would have quit a million times by now.
She’s my rock and number one fan.