Craig Anderson: Surfing’s Lone Wolf
Portraits by Derek Henderson and Domenic Mosqueira
You might typically associate frontside airs and being part owner of a beer company with being a professional surfer these days—but you wouldn’t call Craig Anderson typical.
Even without seeing him surf or knowing how he unceremoniously ditched the big corporate stickers a few years back, sitting down with Craig, it’s obvious this guy is separate from the pack. The title of his 2019 film, The Quieter You Are The More You Can Hear, makes a lot of sense, as someone who doesn’t give too much away, preferring to let his surfing and successes do the talking.
His brand, FORMER—launched with Dane Reynolds, Austyn Gillette and the late Dylan Rieder—has gained traction while epitomising what, hopefully, the future of the surf industry looks like: a bunch of mates coming together to create something cool. Being held down in his hometown of Newcastle for a couple of months probably isn’t something Craig is used to, so while the world is still a bit weird, we checked in on him to make sure he was still doing cool shit and being the good guy everyone says he is.
lright, so we’ve been in lockdown for a couple of months. Anything new to report?
It’s been nice to spend time at home, actually. My partner moved to Newcastle from Sydney. We got engaged. Got a dog.
Congrats! What kind of dog?
A kelpie cross cattle dog.
The best kind. What’s his name?
Bella. When I was back in South Africa, we had a big property with lots of dogs and cats and lived right across the road from the beach with no worries in the world, so it kind of felt a bit cruel getting a dog in Merewether and having a small backyard. Never thought I’d be much of a dog person but once you get one, they’re the best. Even this morning, she knew I was going away and was moping about.
So cute. We don’t deserve dogs. Speaking of South Africa and surfing, when did that all start?
I started surfing when I was 11 or 12, growing up around the beach. We lived near Jeffreys Bay, so a bit of a spot.
Who inspired you to go surf, was it someone around you, magazines or stuff you saw online?
I sound old, but the internet wasn’t really a thing. I mean, we had it, but it isn’t what it is like now, so not that. Just being near Jeffreys Bay, I would see a couple guys that looked good on boards plus the contest would come every year, so dad and I would go down.
How old were you when you first surfed Jeffreys?
Probably 12, but not the top of the point. You had to be a pretty accomplished surfer to surf Supers. Kind of like Hawaii, where you work your way up. It’s a hard rock off.
So as a goofy, was it an intimidating wave?
I grew up surfing down the point where it was easier to paddle out. But I still did surf Supers a couple of times.
And then when did you move to Australia?
I came out when I was 16. I was riding for Quiksilver before I got here, and then told them I was coming here, but I think they just forgot to let the Australian crew know.
So, you got here with stickers on your board and they were like ‘who the fuck are you?’
Yeah, pretty much, and then just got new boards and didn’t have any stickers, but then got back on when I started doing competitions.
Why Newcastle, did you know someone here?
My dad’s sister was in Maitland, so we stayed there for a bit. Dad picked us up from the airport in a Toyota Camry with just a few bags, a surfboard bag, and that was it. I think the plan was to migrate up to the Gold Coast, obviously because surfing is so big up there, but I’m glad we didn’t end up there. Got as far as Newcastle. I didn’t know a single person coming here. It was a bit intimidating… not that everyone wasn’t friendly, but just having to start again. I remember not being able to understand people, just with their Aussie accents.
So, when you came here had you already made up your mind that surfing was a career option?
Not at all, no. I was just going to school, going to a few comps. Only when I was around 18 and started getting paid from Quiksilver did I see a glimmer of hope in it.
And that payment was based on comp results?
Yeah, I did alright at some but was just very inconsistent and that’s why I threw the towel in. I couldn’t really be a circus freak. Surfing and drinking beers are way more fun.
So, you were drifting away from that competition life. Did you know about freesurfing? Was there a moment where you thought this was something you could actually do?
I actually remember the instant. I was out at South Stradbroke with a couple of the Quiksilver dudes and stuck a frontside air that I was really hyped on. Kai [Neville] was filming and all the Modern Collective team were there. They must’ve been filming for the Australian part. I’d never been on a trip with them yet, but then I got a call up because Dion [Agius] broke his ankle. I was still trying to chip away at contests, as I was going to Reunion to film. I was supposed to go to South Africa for a big QS but then just called my dad and said I was gonna hang here and keep filming, and that was kind of it. I kept hanging out with Dion and Kai, getting photos run in Tracks and ASL covers, met Taylor Steele and just sort of ran with them. Kai was a big influence.
What did your Dad say?
He was pretty baffled. For him, I guess he could only really see a future for surfing in the competition lane. [He was] always supportive of whatever I was doing, but pretty confused by my decision to pursue freesurfing. Then I started getting good contracts and he still couldn’t really believe it.
You’re definitely someone that has influenced surfing for the up and coming— what do you think of the kids surfing these days?
Yeah, shit, I should probably pay more attention but I don’t. We had a catch up with the FORMER team trying to get a kid onboard, and Dane said all the American kids are, like, young jock athletes, so he wanted to get someone on from out here but I just don’t even know.
I feel like Australia is like that too: either on the straight and narrow to the WSL, or just going on trips, drinking beers, but still doing it at that level, like yourself.
Yeah. Instagram doesn’t help that either. I mean, when I was 16, I would’ve hated to have Instagram, being a little comp dog.
Yeah, and the pressure to always be putting stuff out there and performing because everyone can see it?
Yeah, I do that pretty badly. Very poorly actually, even for my own brand.
How is FORMER going?
It’s starting to take a bit of shape. We have a couple guys now that know what they’re doing. It’s hard being in Australia with the disconnect from Austyn and Dane; it’s just not the same having a conversation over email or text as it is in person, but [we’re] getting there. Before, we were just throwing shit at the wall and hoping for the best. First couple of years we were just working on surf films. I mean, I feel like that’s the only part that I’m good at, the surfing and working on content, not so much the business side. In the beginning, I had the intention to learn all this stuff about business but sort of dipped a toe into it and was like, ‘that’s not for me, I’m good.’ Austyn and Dane are the backbone of the brand. Dane did it out of the back of his garage for a while, but now we got a warehouse set up in California, plus guys that help out here and in Japan and Europe. I’m horrible at business, actually; horrible at writing back to emails. But it’s fun. I’ve heard people say don’t get into business with your friends but it’s working really well for us.
What else? We’ve been stuck inside for so long I don’t know what else to talk about.
Yeah, I haven’t been doing anything. It’s hard to even think of stuff. I haven’t done an interview in so long.
Most rogue boat trip?
Yeah, there’s definitely been a couple of those. We did one a couple years ago with all my favourite guys I’d want to do a boat trip with. It’s pretty hard to organise getting everyone on at the same time because obviously just life, but I remember it was Taj, Creed, Ozzy, Dane, Dion, and there’s definitely someone else I’m forgetting… Noa. There were such good waves, but every single person got sick. I think TB was the first to go down and he was out for three days, and then the best day of waves at Macaronis, Dane was the only one that could surf. Everyone else was just vomiting off the side of the boat, completely floored. It sucked to get on a boat trip with all your favourite surfers and not even be able to surf. Boat trips just turn into a blur usually, and they’re getting pretty busy these days. I would prefer to go onto big swells where there are less takers.
And you’re always surfing the smallest boards in the biggest swell, is that your thing now?
Yeah (laughs). I feel like I’ve just been changing. That’s the coolest thing about surfing: you’re forever learning. I mean, I do ride bigger boards, but the Hypto Kryptos are the go-to usually. They have a tonne of volume, they just look really short and fucking tiny, but I think the volume spreads out. I guess it’s just what you get used to. You can forever be experimenting. Hayden Cox was one of the earliest relationships I had with a sponsor here in Australia. I think I got under his boards after only being here six or so months. At that stage, I didn’t really understand too much about surfboards, still kinda don’t, I just know when a board works.
What’s your ideal surf?
I mean, my favourite waves are always just fun, rippable waves, but lately—definitely—I’ve been into chasing waves of more consequence because there are fewer people around. I’d way prefer to surf a 2-3ft wedgie than a 10ft slab, but I just get fed up with the crowds. It’s always just the biggest ego and the most aggressive person who gets the waves rather than just waiting their turn. D-Bah, for example, such a high-performance wave for ramps and as much as I’d love to film a part up there, I would just never do that. So unorganised. The bigger waves just seem to be full of much friendlier people that don’t mind you being around.
Where have you been surfing in lockdown?
Mainly Merewether, just along that stretch. There’s still a lot of rough older guys, but being a rough hand point break, it’s a little bit more organised compared to the beachies where someone’s just popping up on your side out of nowhere. I’m always one just to sit there and wait for a wave though.
So surfing, FORMER, what else… Oh yeah, beer? How’s Steel City going?
(Laughs) Yeah, couple of loose cannons involved in that. I didn’t really want to start another company and be another surfer doing beer, but it just worked out that it was all my friends and a couple of fun guys to get on the piss with. We have two beers now, a lager and then we launched a pale ale in April. I’m stoked on how it tastes. I mean, if Hoyo has made the switch from VB and loves it, then it must be alright. Plus, it’s nice to have cases of beer on tap all the time. Be cool to see it evolve. I feel like everyone in Newcastle will want to get behind it, because everyone in Newcastle is so patriotic and loves Newcastle.
That’s very true of Newcastle actually, quite a proud town.
Yeah, like the Knights football team are fucking hopeless and have been forever, but everyone, including me, is just a die-hard fan. And I didn’t even grow up watching football. But yeah, love Newcastle, there’s no traffic. As soon as you have to start paying to park to go to the beach, that’s when I’ll move outta there. Definitely home now, just don’t like surfing here.
Where do you like surfing?
I love spending time down the South Coast where there’s a lot more interesting waves and people I enjoy surfing with. I still love getting on an aeroplane though. I got to do South Aus and West Aus before lockdown which was lucky.
Is that when you start hanging out with the boogers and hitting slabs?
Yeah (laughs). They’re just fun people to be around. Never driven by money. You go on a trip and everyone is in a swag. Drinking till you can’t see and waking up the next morning and doing it all again. That’s what it should be like.
Any trips planned, now that we can cruise around a bit more?
Not really. I mean, it would be nice but I don’t really want to get my hopes up. It would be cool to go to Indonesia and surf some different waves. Even just down south with some longer breaks. Got a part coming out in a couple weeks’ time that’s all Australia based. Try mix it up after that. But don’t even know how international travel is going to work, not really keen on quarantine for a week or two. I’d rather just wait.
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