EP 115 | How a 2X World Champ Escaped Addiction Tom Carroll | Pinch My Salt

Tom Carroll doesn’t just have 2 World Titles and 3 Pipe Masters — he’s got one of the most honest comeback stories in surfing. In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan sit down with the Aussie legend to talk about life after pro surfing, the pressure of being on top, and the dark chapter Tom has openly shared: drug addiction, recovery, and learning how to feel “love trying to get in” again. Tom breaks down how grief, trauma, and single-minded focus helped build a world champion… and how that same intensity can eventually turn on you.

We also get into Mark Occhilupo, Kelly Slater, the 80s/90s era, training, meditation, foiling, Pipeline, North Shore stories, and why staying inspired by the next generation keeps him ripping at 64.

If you love surf history, WSL legends, and real conversations about mental health, addiction, and redemption, this one hits deep (and still gets weird/funny, obviously).

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