401 Kyle Thiermann - Pro Surfer, Bow Hunter, Film Maker, Activist, Podcaster

Kyle Thiermann, born 1990, is known as “The Renaissance Surfer.” As a conduit between athletes and intellectuals he surfs professionally for Patagonia, works as a documentary correspondent, hosts a weekly podcast and is a freelance writer.

In 2018 Thiermann co-created The Motherfucker Awards, a comedy awards show that aims to create corporate accountability through comedy. At a sold-out gala in LA, famous comedians represented the corporations that did the most to fuck Mother Earth and gave acceptance speeches on their behalf.

From ages 18-25 Thiermann created and hosted the YouTube series Surfing For Change. While traveling to the best waves around the world, he created gonzo-style mini-documentaries about current environmental issues happening in the regions. From 25-27 he worked as a correspondent for Discovery Digital Networks covering issues ranging from a little-known indigenous conflict in Chile, to the impact wild pigs have on coral reefs in Hawaii.

His first YouTube video in the Surfing For Change series detailed how money kept in multinational banks can be used to finance destructive projects all over the world. This video inspired people to move large amounts of money out of centralized banks and into local banks and credit unions, and reached people throughout North America, South America, Africa, and much of Europe.

Thiermann has covered controversial stories all over the world. These stories have included the Indonesian trash epidemic, GMO protests in Hawaii, working conditions in Sri Lanka, nuclear power in South Africa, and the adverse effects of surf tourism in Nicaragua.

Thiermann speaks at universities throughout the country and in 2011 gave a TEDx Talk in his wetsuit. His surfing and filmmaking successes have earned him the Brower Youth Award, American Clean Skies Award, Blue Vision Youth Award, and Surfrider’s Pro Surfer Environmental Achievement Award.

Thiermann is a columnist for Adventure Sports Network, Inertia, and Santa Cruz Waves. He graduated from Gaia University with a Bachelors of Science in Green Business with a focus in Media.

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