Anyone who has ever searched for recommendations on buying a surfskate or tutorials for mastering a tricky maneuver knows how easy it is to fall down the surfskate rabbit hole. The seemingly endless variety of systems, wheels, decks, bearings, nuts, bolts, and bushings — all of which drastically affect your ride — can be overwhelming. Additionally, after just a few months of riding, many are surprised to discover that achieving a maneuver on video that looks as good as it feels takes insight, patience, and practice. Surfskating, after all, is a highly technical sport.

For those seeking to expand their surfskate knowledge, we’ve compiled a list of the most influential surfskate content creators to follow on YouTube.

These girls and guys dedicate their time to sharing hard-earned insights with us through their video content. Without their contributions, the surfskate community wouldn’t be where it is today, and you would probably not be bringing as much style to the streets as you do.

Enjoy the videos — they’re packed with valuable insights!

Shane Lai — 38.1k Subscribers · 217 Videos · Joined 2015

Shane is based in Melbourne, Australia, and, like many others, he started his surfskate journey on YouTube during the pandemic. Since then, Shane has made incredible progress as a rider and has created over 200 video tutorials and product reviews, sharing his insights on various surfskate techniques, maneuvers, and how to set up your gear. I love his in-depth video on the infinity loop, especially during this season when indoor sessions and workout routines are often all we can do due to the rain.

Mark the Landlocked Surfer — 12k Subscribers · 186 Videos · Joined 2013

Mark is a real outdoor enthusiast who started surfing many years ago and is today truly “landlocked” in his hometown of Ottawa. For the past four years, he has focused on surfskating in his videos, making remarkable progress himself. His content is a mix of surfskate films, tutorials, and reviews. In his sliding tutorial, for example, he explains in just five minutes how to nail the perfect slide using the right body weight distribution – no matter what wheels you’re riding.

Surfskate Love — 36.2k Subscribers · 154 Videos · Joined 2021

Surfskate Love was founded by Steve Palmer in St. George, Utah, during the pandemic. Today, Steve's YouTube channel and website are the most comprehensive online resources for surfskating. Steve has put together hours of video footage. Whether you’re looking for help to improve your maneuvers, from pumping to bowl riding, or want to learn more about the mechanics of your gear and how to choose and customize your surfskate, Steve has the answers. An all-time favorite is his video on how to choose your first surfskate truck and board.

Jon Bishop — 17.9k Subscribers · 432 Videos · Joined 2006

Jon Bishop from the UK joined YouTube in 2006 – yes, that’s right – and started sharing his skateboarding journey around five years ago. In short, you can’t help but love Jon for his attitude toward skateboarding and life in general; the man knows how to inspire you with the skateboarding bug. Personally, I found his video on the Winkowski Dope Planet deck, where he pulls off a slide to fakie and fakie carve on the wall with the Carver C5 truck, absolutely amazing.

Girlswirl — 5.2k Subscribers · 510 Videos · Joined 2018

Girlswirl was founded around 2018 by a group of women in Venice, California, as a community-focused skateboarding collective with the mission of bringing more women into the world of skateboarding. Girlswirl produces super professional content, always with the goal of fostering confidence among skaters, regardless of their age, gender, or skill level. For example, their “Skate Diaries” and “Swirl School” series introduce surfskate basics to absolute beginners.

YeWLayton — 11.3 Subscribers · 124 Videos · Joined 2010

Layton posted his first surfskate videos of doing laybacks and snaps 14 years ago on YouTube — can you believe it? Since then, when he was merely a teenager, his performance and skill set have only improved. Today, Layton provides in-depth tutorials on some of the most technical and difficult surfskate maneuvers out there. His video on how to land an air with a surfskate was probably the first one I saw on this maneuver, and it remains highly relevant today. Check it out when you are ready to go pro!

Mako Surfskate — 6.69k Subscribers · 37 Videos · Joined 2021

Juan is a Colombian professional surfskate coach based in Australia and Bali. Through his free YouTube content, he provides valuable insights into common beginner mistakes and the fundamentals of surfskating, all aimed at enhancing your surf skills on land. One of my favorite videos features the five most common mistakes he observes among his students — it is spot-on and can help you improve in just days, rather than the year it might take you to figure it out by yourself.

WorkForAvocados — 5.86k Subscribers · 103 Videos · Joined 2012

Michael is a surfer based in St. Augustine, Florida, sharing all kinds of entertaining surf and surfskate-related content on YouTube. Since posting his first surfskate video around 11 years ago, Michael has maintained the same down-to-earth, lighthearted attitude, spreading the stoke and helping both beginners and pros improve their surfskate skills. I love his video on how to master a drop-in on a surfskate. Dropping in is such a crucial maneuver, unlocking many new possibilities once you’ve mastered it.