Iconoclasts - Season2 - Eddie Vedder + Laird Hamilton

Eddie Vedder

Rocker

Eddie Vedder has been the lead vocalist for acclaimed rock band Pearl Jam since 1991, writing many of the band's songs and also playing guitar, ukulele and harmonica. With 60 million records sold and currently in the midst of a sold-out world tour in support of their critically-acclaimed new album, Pearl Jam is one of the most influential bands of its generation, celebrated around the world for their electrifying live shows, nine studio albums and dozens of other releases. Vedder also composed the Soundtrack for Sean Penn's film INTO THE WILD. In addition to music, Vedder is a vocal advocate for a number of social, environmental and humanitarian causes and is an avid surfer. He lives in Seattle with longtime girlfriend Jill McCormick and their 2-year-old daughter Olivia.

Laird Hamilton

Surfer

Laird Hamilton is known as the guiding genius of crossover board sports and a visionary pioneer of extreme water sports. From surf competitions to air boarding, stunt work to board design, Hamilton is a creative force to be reckoned with, both in and out of liquid. Immersed in water from day one—literally—as mom JoAnn gave birth to him in a reduced gravitational setting called a "babysphere" at UC Medical Center in San Francisco, Hamilton grew up on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. By age three, he was navigating waves on the front half of a surfboard and spending most of his time at the beach. JoAnn, an avid surfer herself, met and went on to marry surfing legend Bill Hamilton, who adopted young Laird and taught him the illusive art of taming big waves. Growing up in a surfer's paradise with a dad who knew every trick in the book, Hamilton had mastered the sport as a teen. His size —six-foot-three—made him seem indestructible, while his blond good looks made him a visual magnet. He ended up leaving high school to pursue a promising modeling career, appearing in Italian Men's Vogue along with many other high profile magazines. At twenty-two, Hamilton had opted out of the competitive surf circuit, instead trying his hand at other extreme sports such as speed-sailing. He entered a competition in Port Saint-Louis, France and defeated the heavily favored French champion, breaking the European speed record of 36 knots in the process. In the early 90's, determined to devise an alternate plan for his surfing expertise, Hamilton made a name for himself with stunning displays of bravado, and some would argue, insanity. Ripping conventional surfing wisdom to shreds, Hamilton and his counterparts electrified crowds by taming massive waves and performing stunts with sailboards that would launch the surfers more than 30-feet into the air. Then, Hamilton started experimenting with his now infamous tow-in technique, using Wave Runners to tow surfers into waves cresting at heights of more than 70-feet. Soon, he was fielding offers from sponsors such as Oxbow, a French beachwear manufacturer, affording him the chance to travel the world on photo shoots. As his public profile grew, so did his passion for more extreme challenges. Windsurfing, snowboarding, rock climbing, waterskiing and kite-surfing were added to his repertoire of mastered sports. The media continued to play into his good looks and daredevil personality, giving Hamilton prime real estate in magazines ranging from National Geographic to Rolling Stone and everything in between. Film work quickly followed and Hamilton took on roles in a range of releases including RIDING GIANTS, STEP INTO LIQUID and as a stunt double and stunt coordinator in the James Bond feature, DIE ANOTHER DAY. In addition, he has been a featured host on many TV programs such as Fox's "Planet Extreme Championships" and "The Extremists". Today, BamMan Films, Hamilton's production company, is a leading provider of performers and strategies for filmmakers shooting in the surf. His just released film, ALL ABOARD THE CRAZY TRAIN, looks at the state of big wave surfing today, while his other films like LAIRD, STRAPPED: THE EVOLUTION OF TOW-IN SURFING and THE RIDE/THE DAY demonstrate why Hamilton is considered one of the most respected board riders of our generation.

Photos from this episode:

Image from the Eddie Vedder + Laird Hamilton episode of Iconoclasts Season 2

Image from the Eddie Vedder + Laird Hamilton episode of Iconoclasts Season 2

Image from the Eddie Vedder + Laird Hamilton episode of Iconoclasts Season 2

Image from the Eddie Vedder + Laird Hamilton episode of Iconoclasts Season 2