Keep it Simpo: Q&A with Brett Simpson

The Former Pro Surfer And Team Usa Surfing Coach At The Tokyo 2020 Olympics

SHARES HIS PASSION FOR THE SPORT AND HIS HOMETOWN BY DANIELLE BAUTER

PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR WINNING back-to-back titles at the U.S. Open of Surfing in 2009 and 2010, Brett Simpson grew up in Surf City USA® and still makes his home here. The inaugural coach of the gold medal U.S. Olympic surf team is deeply involved with HB Boardriders Club, a community organization for positive movement.

What drew you to surfing, and how old were you when you started?

I actually grew up playing all “ball” sports, as my dad played professional football from 1974 to 82. Then when I was 11, my neighbor and I went to Seal Beach to try and surf…I was hooked! I fell in love with the difficulty of surfing and the challenging nature of it, begged my parents for a surfboard for Christmas in 1997, and the rest was history! I would try and surf before school and after as well. I was truly addicted, and once I started to figure it out more, I knew this is what I wanted to do and made a career of it.

What was it like growing up in Huntington Beach, making your way up the ranks and winning back-toback championships at the U.S. Open?

I can’t see myself anywhere else. The surf culture is ingrained in me, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. There are so many great surfers before me that I have looked up to in Huntington Beach, and the surf culture is just crazy to be a part of. Everyone would always show support and just hope the best for me on the tour.

My big wins in ‘09 and ‘10 were what really helped put me on the map, and to have those massive wins in my own backyard were pretty storybook endings. I didn’t really get to enjoy it during the moment, but now as I get to look back and relive those moments, I’m truly proud of all my accomplishments and couldn’t have done it without all my support crew and the city of HB!

Tell us about your transition to head coach of the U.S. Olympic surf team. What were some of your biggest challenges and rewards?

I honestly never really envisioned myself coaching, especially right after I was off the World [Surf League] tour. Time does some mysterious things and I felt I had a lot to give to the youth from my learning all these years. I earned the head coaching job of the USA junior surf team and we had a lot of success. We went on to win an [International

Surfing Association] World Junior gold medal right here in Huntington Beach in ‘21.

That led to some bigger and better opportunities, and I was blessed enough to get support from the Olympic athletes and earned the Olympic head coaching job for the 2020 games [moved to 2021] in Tokyo. It was definitely one of my highest accolades in my career. And then Carissa Moore went on to win the gold medal, which was icing on the cake. It was such an honor to represent the greatest nation and our amazing city of HB!

What are your favorite spots in HB and what do you love about the city?

We have lots of favorites in HB. I’m a big coffee and breakfast guy so Sugar Shack, which is owned by the Turner family (big surfers!), would be a top pick. Java Point at Huntington Surf & Sport, Northside Cafe off Bushard Street, Sur Coffee, plus our lunch/night spots are Riip Brew, Olive Pit, Ola Mexican Kitchen, solita, Stacked, A Slice of New York Pizza, plus others.

The Pier is my go-to surf spot, usually in the summer on the northside and in the winter on the southside. I’ll venture to the cliffs on some bigger swells, and same with the river jetties. I love the consistency of our waves year round. We get all angles of swells, which makes it pretty much rideable surf 365 days a year. That to me is very important and why I love living here. I know I can wake up daily and there will be something out there for me to ride!

Are you currently involved in any other projects?

I’m involved heavily in the HB Boardriders Club, which is an amazing surf program and organization for anyone living in HB that wants to be involved. It’s very family-oriented—we do monthly get-togethers, and we also compete against other cities up and down the coast as well as a big finals at Lower Trestles. It’s a great opportunity to connect with new people/surfers and also push yourself to be a better surfer through local events and competition.

I’m also the head sports marketing director at Hurley, which allows me to be very involved in the surf realm by working with our amazing roster of athletes and helping them chase their dreams!

THE FUTURE IS LOCAL

A two-time winner of the U.S. Open of Surfing, Simpson is an active member of the Huntington Beach community, including the HB Boardriders Club. You can follow his adventures on Instagram: @brettsimpson including the HB Boardriders Club. You can follow his adventures on Instagram: @ brettsimpson