We don’t often delve too deeply into surf industry goings on but if you are interested in a career, remember the heady days when Europe had a vibrant Autumn ASP tour and some of surfings greatest ever icons you may love this podcast.
If you grew up watching surf, snow or skate in the 90s or attending any of the myriad of competitions he was commentator at you will know Dave Mailmans voice. Pretty much known as ‘the voice of extreme’ Dave has been at the heart of surf “industry since he moved to France from Cal and never left.
For over 20 years, he was the voice behind the biggest surfing and snowboarding events across the world and has commented hundreds of heats on the beach or on webcasts. He went on to be Marketing Director Quiksilver Europe, President Association of Surfing Professionals Europe, he is a Journalist, Speaker, Voice Over Artist and a consultant. Basically everyone in the Action Sports industry knows Dave Mailman.
Few actually know Dave’s story in detail. It’s the story of a young Californian with a passion for skateboarding and surfing, who took French lessons in high school. He then went to spend a summer on the Basque coast…but basically never left. It was the heyday of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding and Dave was lucky enough to witness the founding moments of this movement.
Having mastered the languages of both Tom Curren and Serge Vitelli, he penned articles in the snowboard magazine OnBoard. After a quick passage with Arnette, Dave arrived at Quiksilver to take over as Head of Marketing for Europe.
In this Euro Sima Interview Dave tells us about this blossoming time when ideas (shoots, trips, events) overruled budgets, his four years as President of the ASP Europe, his work on the Freeride World Tour, the Verbier Extreme and even various editorial projects he’s worked on since then (including podcasts!).
A fascinating new episode on the history of our Action Sports industry.
