WSJ #049 Mike Siordia

The Wave Sliders journal

ENTRY # 049

Written By: Mike Siordia

Intro By: Jack Ventura

INTRO:

Over the last few years, I’ve really admired Mike — his surfing, his raw old-school style, and the thoughtfulness that shows up in everything he does.

There seems to be genuine kindness to Mike, and an honest stoke for surfing, and the well-being of the people who take part in this surf/skate lifestyle.

So, I was excited when Mike agreed to participate in our little series!

Thanks, Mike and enjoy the read FARO fam.

-Jack

Who are you?

Share a few sentences explaining who you see yourself as these days...

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I’m a creative driven by doing whatever it takes to move forward— a surfer, designer, and brand builder with a deep passion for using surfing as a vehicle for mental health and sobriety. Having come from a past I’m not proud of, I’m committed to constant growth, rebuilding my life while helping others find their way through the chaos and beauty of this wild ride.

What was your first job?

First jobs reveal a lot about who we were.

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Shop Rat et Surf Shop in Hermosa Beach! ET is known for changing the entire surf shop game and all the best surfer skater snowboarders from the area would work there. I would sweep up and plunge the toilet just to be around all those guys, haha. I guess they just started paying me one day.

What have you learned through surfing that translates to everyday life?

What you have learned from surfing and how those lessons help you through daily livin'...

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In my world, surfing and life run in parallel. It’s never about the sections that close out in front of you— it’s about how you choose to navigate them.

You don’t let them take you down; you adapt, whether that means hitting them, floating over them, or airing above it all.

It’s about turning what could be a bad situation into something that feels like fine art.

What is something you'd like to accomplish in the next 10 years?

Share a goal for the next decade, and how surfing might have influenced these aspirations.

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I’m currently building a couple of brands from the ground up without relying on social media or traditional marketing. At the core of it all it's a vision I’ve had for years— to create a community rooted in music, art, surfing, and genuine human connection, built around the things I truly love.

The People, Places and Phrases That Drive Brayden

Someone in the surf community you are stoked on:

I don’t really hang out with surfers, but my friend Jeff Carl Butler has been a real inspiration to me.

He’s an amazing artist and poet, but more than anything, he approaches life in his own abstract way. I think that’s rare these days, and it’s something I really appreciate.

A quote you like?

"Making chicken salad out of chicken shit"
-Wayne Miyata