# My Oldest Friend - Darin Craig | Tosh Show Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS3O_o1CFmQ Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/RS3O_o1CFmQ Generated: 2025-09-30T13:31:23.603+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The interview between Tosh and his oldest friend, surfboard shaper Darin Craig (DC), details their 38-year relationship rooted in surfing, DC's philosophy of discouraging new surfers, his career making approximately 4,000 surfboards by hand, and Tosh's presentation of several unwanted new logo designs and a self-balancing electric unicycle that resulted in injuries. **Key Points:** - Tosh attributes his aggressive behavior in the water and his foundational surfing knowledge to his friend, Darin Craig (DC), whom he has known since age 12, noting DC is now 63. - DC actively discourages people from surfing, teaching Tosh early on to never say the surf was good, stating, "The goal is to not get more people to surf." - Darin Craig has shaped around 4,000 surfboards start to finish, always doing every aspect by hand, with current custom boards costing $650, which costs him roughly $200-$250 in materials (blank, resin, fins). - Tosh recounts highly questionable childhood surf trips with DC to Costa Rica as a minor, including camping illegally near crocodiles and having his beef jerky stolen, which required his mother's later justification of trusting DC after he met with her and Tosh's father. - DC suffered a severe hand injury in 1991 during the Halloween swell from a suspected blacktip shark bite, causing severed tendons, but he controlled the bleeding using a rolled-up towel under his armpit and drove himself to the hospital. - Tosh gifted DC several potential new logos, which DC immediately rejected, preferring his original logo, and also gifted him a self-balancing electric unicycle (Onewheel) which resulted in both Tosh and his son getting concussed in their driveway. - Both hosts agree that professional surfing is obnoxious and that surfers, in general, are a "weird bizarre group of folks" that Tosh has always distanced himself from, despite his career being surf-geared. **Context:** This episode of the Tosh Show features an interview with Darin Craig (DC), a surfboard shaper from Titusville, Florida, and the host Tosh's oldest friend, having known each other for 38 years since Tosh was 12. The conversation centers on their shared history in surfing, DC's unique business philosophy focused solely on surfing rather than commerce, and anecdotal stories from their youth, including dangerous surf trips and DC's shark encounter. ## Detailed Analysis The interview established the deep, decades-long connection between Tosh and DC, emphasizing that DC shaped everything about Tosh's surfing demeanor. DC, who is 63, shared his anti-commercial approach to surfing, deliberately trying to deter people from the sport, even though his business relies on it. He estimates he has shaped about 4,000 boards entirely by hand, avoiding automated processes because he believes the lamination process is as crucial as the shape. DC detailed the cost breakdown of a $650 board, noting materials cost around $200-$250 before labor, and mentioned he avoids epoxy resin due to sensitization from past exposure. Tosh recounted several intense childhood memories, including a surf trip to Costa Rica as a minor where he feared for his life while camping illegally, and another incident where he split his head open surfing in Florida and was concussed after his sister refused to take him to the hospital. DC also described being bitten by a blacktip shark in 1991, managing the injury himself before reaching the hospital, which temporarily forced him to shape left-handed boards, much to the dismay of his clients. The latter part of the show involved Tosh presenting DC with several unappealing new logo concepts and a self-balancing Onewheel, which Tosh admitted caused him and his son to become concussed during their first ride. ### Guest Introduction and Relationship - Darin Craig (DC) is Tosh's oldest friend, knowing him for 38 years, with Tosh crediting DC for his surfing knowledge and aggressive nature in the water - DC never wants more people surfing, instructing Tosh to never say the surf was good. ### Surfboard Shaping Business - DC has made around 4,000 boards, doing every aspect by hand, even refusing electric sanders - A new board costs $650, with materials costing $200-$250; he prefers poly boards because they break, ensuring repeat business. ### Anecdotes of Youthful Surfing - Tosh described a dangerous, unsupervised surf trip to Costa Rica as a minor where he camped illegally, fearing crocodiles, and had to have his parents approve the trip after DC met with them, fearing potential molestation. ### The Shark Attack of '91 - DC was bitten on the hand by a blacktip shark during the 1991 Halloween swell while surfing alone; he caught the wave belly-to-beach, controlled the bleeding with a rolled-up towel under his armpit, and drove to the hospital. ### Gifts and Logo Redesign - Tosh presented DC with several new logo designs created by the show team, which DC immediately disliked, leading to the selection of John's symmetrical design - Tosh also gave DC a self-balancing Onewheel, immediately confessing he and his son were concussed riding it in his driveway. ### Views on Surfing Culture - Both agree that professional surfing is "obnoxious" and that surfers are a "weird bizarre group of folks" - They discussed the current trend where high-volume boards allow less skilled surfers to ride waves that were once only manageable on pro-level shortboards.