Kai Lenny: The World’s Most Versatile Surfer On Adventure, Risk, & Turning Fear Into Fuel

There are surfers and then there are watermen—masters of wave-riding and all water-related pursuits.

No one embodies this definition better than Kai Lenny—the greatest and most versatile waterman and wave rider the world has ever known.

A Maui-born and bred athlete of extraordinary skill, Kai is a virtuoso and innovator par excellence that landed his Red Bull sponsorship at just 13 years old. He continues to push the boundaries of possibility at the highest levels in not just surfing—performing maneuvers and aerials never believed possible with regularity—but also as a kiteboarder, foiler, outrigger canoer, and, yes, a big wave rider.

Kai doesn’t just ride the world’s most feared waves like other standouts in this curious subculture, he conquers them. Like a maestro of the ocean who channels nature’s ferocity into art, he carves down 80-foot plus cliffs of water with physics-defying maneuvers previously thought only possible on small waves with a flair, joy, and an intensity that can only be described as balletic.

It is not hyperbolic to say Kai is the best in the world for his accomplishments, technical and athletic innovations, and his relentless pursuit of progressing the sport of surfing beyond the envelope—all of which you can see for yourself in LIFE OF KAI from RedBull TV.

He’s the GOAT and he’s here today to let us in on his crazy world, the visualization and mindset tools he uses to hone his craft, and what the future holds both for himself and the sport of surfing.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. As always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

There’s a lot to be learned from Kai’s experience, his pursuit of mastery, and his approach to physical, mental, and emotional excellence.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

Peace + Plants,