Tosh Show: "My Oldest Friend – Darin Craig"

Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Daniel Tosh
Guest: Darin "DC" Craig

Episode Overview

In this nostalgia-laden and candid episode of Tosh Show, Daniel Tosh welcomes his oldest friend, surfboard shaper Darin "DC" Craig from Titusville, Florida. The conversation is a mix of hilarious reminiscence, surf culture deep-dives, heartfelt gratitude, and Tosh’s signature irreverence. Together, they reflect on their Florida youth, the surf scene, the intricacies of shaping boards, getting bitten by sharks, and the joys (and neuroses) of being lifelong friends. The show weaves in classic Tosh snark, honest storytelling, and a window into the unique relationship between two people shaped—literally and figuratively—by the surf.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Surfing Origins & Early Friendship

• [12:30] Daniel introduces Darin, joking:
  "There's no one that's ever been in this chair that's known me longer. Now, there's been people that have known me better. My wife, for instance. She knows me better now."
• Darin’s childhood: Born in Killeen, Texas, moved to Florida, dad was in the Army.
• Surfing bug:
  "I was probably, like 5 years old. I remember going to the beach for the first time with a Styrofoam Walgreens board... hours and hours and only getting to my feet one time, like after 40 attempts." – Darin [13:37]

2. Surf Culture Lessons

• Mean in the water:
  Tosh credits his localism and guarded surf etiquette to Darin's influence.
  "Everything that I know about surfing probably stems from this man here. The way I act, the way I'm mean in the water. It's because of this man right here." – Daniel [13:58]
• On not advertising good surf:
  "You don't say it was good. The goal is to not get more people to surf. His entire business is surfing, yet he never wants anyone to surf." – Daniel [13:58]
  "You don't tell anybody..." – Darin [14:31]

3. The Craft of Shaping Surfboards

• Start in shaping:
  High school vocational project led to shaping boards; original "DC" logo drawn by a friend.
• Volume of boards:
  "No, I quit counting after a while, but probably, like, you know, 4,000 somewhere around in there." – Darin [16:08]
• Doing it all by hand:
  Old-school craftsmanship, shapes and glasses each board; refused electric sanders.
• Modern vs. old school methods:
  Discussion of 3D printing, "magic shapes," and the irreplaceable value of hand finishing.
  "They’re not better, but if you get a magic shape, you can recreate it completely." – Daniel [19:05]
  "So far we've never been able to really nail that down... you still gotta hand finish them." – Darin [19:23]

4. Surfboard Economics

• Board pricing:
  Kids used to pay ~$250, now boards go for about $650; costs $200–$250 to make.
  "You've always been priced wrong." – Daniel [17:39]
  "I agree." – Darin [17:42]
• Materials breakdown:
  Board blanks, resin, glass, fin boxes all getting pricier.
  "The blank is going to be about 100 bucks. It used to be 40..." – Darin [18:07]
• Labor of love:
  Sustained by passion, not profit; always prioritized surfing over the business side.

5. Surf Science & Longevity

• Board materials:
  Poly (polyester) vs. epoxy, pros and cons. Tosh prefers epoxy’s durability; Darin prefers poly’s ease.
  "You make this guy a board and it last him for eight years and he never comes back to get another one." – Darin [20:35]
• Health risks: Darin’s exposure to epoxy led to sensitization (skin reactions, swelling).
• Famous hands:
  "Everything is by hand. Let me feel your fingers... it's incredible the amount of work you've done with your hands." – Daniel [21:55]

6. Shaper-Surfer Relationship

• Daniel’s custom boards:
  "It’s over 50 [boards made by Darin for Daniel], it’s under 100." – Daniel [23:01]
  Tosh has overpaid over the years; discounts as a kid came full circle.
• Board losses:
  Tosh recalls losing boards to wildfires; most missed is an unridden big-wave "gun" crafted by Darin [24:14].

7. Surf Community Dynamics

• On carrying on the tradition:
  Discuss the rituals of older surfers taking "groms" (kids) to the water.
  "Is it normal for surfers to groom groms?" – Daniel [25:58]
  "Yeah, I think it is in Titusville because we don't have access to the beach..." – Darin
• Generational influence: Cautionary tales about mentorship and "hanging out with 15-year-olds" in surf culture [27:37].

8. Travel, Parenting, and Old Surf Tales

• First surf trip abroad:
  Daniel’s first out-of-country surf trip was with Darin, as a minor, to Costa Rica.
  Tosh calls his mom Margot live to question:
  "Why did you let Darren take me out of the country when I was a minor...?" – Daniel [30:00]
  "I guess I trusted him that you were going to surf..." – Margot
• Costa Rica adventure:
  Flying in the "smoking section," lost beef jerky, sleeping in tents, and avoiding crocs and machetes [32:11–34:39].
  Memorable travel companion: "That guy wore fishnet panties to bed. I remember that too." [32:20]

9. The Dangers of Surfing

• Shark Attack Story:
  Darin recounts being bitten:
  "I would say it was a black tip... 1991, the Halloween swell..." – Darin [36:13]
  "It grabbed my hand. I didn't really know what it was, but you feel the pressure...my wrist was just hanging like this." [36:51–37:16]
• Board shaping with an injured hand:
  "Everybody in the world that was in the queue for new boards was like, fuck, we're gonna get these wacky shaped left-handed boards..." – Daniel [38:54]

10. Surf Accidents, Community Characters, and Outgrowing the Scene

• Surf injuries and local lore:
  Head wounds, makeshift first aid, and colorful surf community characters like "Rat Dog" [41:20].
• Rat Dog update:
  "He lives in Eleuthera, Bahamas...he’s not dead...just addicted to energy drinks now." – Darin [42:05]
• Views on the modern surf scene:
  Both mock contemporary pro surfing ("obnoxious," "can’t watch it").
  Nostalgia for when all riders were forced to conform, yet celebrate diversity in shapes today [43:11–44:06].
• Surfing in LA:
  Tosh achieved living near surf legends, but always felt alien to hardcore surf culture:
  "I've always distanced myself from the surfers..." – Daniel [35:55]

11. Iconic Tosh Gifts & Logo Roast

• Tosh gives Darin gifts: birthday hats, surfboard logo mock-ups, custom concrete surf racks, and a OneWheel (with a harrowing story of Tosh falling off and concussing himself and his son) [47:17–54:52].
• Logo roast:
  Multiple failed logo redesigns, but settles on a fan favorite.
  "This looks too much like the DC Shoe logo to me...That is ugly. That is. You should be fucking beat up." – Daniel [50:06–50:17]

12. Florida Roots & Identity

• On being a Florida Man:
  "Would you consider yourself Florida man?" – Daniel [55:12]
  "I guess, probably sometimes. I'm sure." – Darin
• Staying open-minded in MAGA country:
  "How did you stay so open minded in a...town of nothing but ultra MAGA monsters?" – Daniel [55:29]
  Credits his mother’s laid-back, non-oppressive parenting.
• Ordering surfboards today: No website, only "in the know" customers get boards [56:08].
• Darin’s gratitude: Still makes boards, surfs daily, humility on not keeping up with the business side.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On surf secrecy:
  "You don't say it was good. The goal is to not get more people to surf." — Daniel [13:58]
• On being shaped by DC:
  "Everything that I know about surfing probably stems from this man here." — Daniel [13:58]
• On surfing costs:
  "You've always been priced wrong. I'll get into that later." — Daniel [17:39] "It's cheaper to build your own board." — Darin [16:59]
• On teaching local kids:
  "Could you tell that none of these kids were gonna be professional surfers?" — Daniel [27:14] "I mean, I can spot if they're gonna be good or not. For sure. Definitely." — Darin [27:19]
• On Daniel’s many DC boards:
  "It’s over 50, it’s under 100." — Daniel [23:00]
• Shark bite aftermath:
  "I looked at my hand. I could see the gaps in the back of my hand like blood and on the bottom here. And I Just grabbed my wrist and still the wave is there. So I still frogged in and poked and caught the wave." — Darin [36:52] "You didn't stand up? Oh, you pussy." — Daniel [37:15]
• Costa Rica oddities:
  "That guy wore fishnet panties to bed. I remember that too." — Daniel [32:20]
• On distancing from core surf culture:
  "I've always distanced myself from the surfers. Yes, they're just a weird, bizarre group of folks." — Daniel [35:55]
• On pro surfing today:
  "Pro surfing is obnoxious...I can't watch it." — Darin [43:16]
• On small town politics:
  "How did you stay so open minded in a...town of nothing but ultra MAGA monsters?" — Daniel [55:29] "Your mom... That’s right. That is probably...My parents weren’t that oppressively kind of thing..." — Darin [55:42–55:59]
• Board order process:
  "How can people actually order a DC Surfboard? Is there a way? Not really. You have to know you. You have to find you." — [56:08–56:13]

Highlighted Timestamps

• [13:37] — Darin describes catching his first wave and the appeal of surfing
• [16:08] — Estimate of 4,000 surfboards shaped over career
• [20:35] — Board materials debate: Poly vs. epoxy, the impact on business
• [27:37] — Tosh jokes about the odd mix of ages among surfers and the weirdness of 12-year-olds hanging out with 63-year-olds
• [30:00–31:24] — Tosh calls his mom to ask why she let him go to Costa Rica as a minor
• [36:10–37:52] — Darin recounts surviving a shark bite during the "Halloween Swell"
• [43:16–44:06] — Tosh and Darin express distaste for modern pro surfing; discuss freedom in board design
• [47:17–54:52] — Gift segment: Daniel gives Darin hats, new logos, surf racks, and a OneWheel, with lots of banter and roasts
• [55:29] — Conversation about keeping open-mindedness in conservative/maga country Florida

Tone and Style

The episode champions Daniel Tosh’s trademark sarcasm, boundary-pushing humor, and self-deprecation. DC’s laconic, grounded style complements Daniel’s manic wit. Their banter brims with inside jokes, gentle ribbing, and a mutual fondness forged in the Florida surf scene. The show is peppered with candid admissions, gags about surf localism, and classic Tosh rants (from YouTube TV’s time bar flaw to Florida’s small town politics).

For New Listeners

If you haven’t heard this episode, expect:

• A deep dive into the real culture of East Coast surfing in the 80s and 90s
• Honest, often hilarious confessions about growing up, mentorship, and what happens when your childhood friend shapes your life and your boards
• The emotional and physical costs of handcrafting surfboards for a lifetime
• The eccentric cast of characters from Central Florida’s surf scene
• Classic Tosh: Roasting logos, reflecting on coming up short as a pro surfer, and still living on Florida boards in Malibu

Final Thoughts

Daniel Tosh credits much of his identity—on and off the surfboard—to Darin. Their rapport embodies mentorship, friendship, and a love for the tradition and weirdness of surf culture. Whether you’re in it for the laughs, the surf history, or the priceless stories of misadventure, this episode delivers.

For more episodes of Tosh Show or to follow Daniel Tosh’s and Darin Craig’s exploits, check your podcast app and keep your surfboards waxed—just don’t ask how the waves are.