Out now is a surf-inspired children’s book co-authored by Hunter Jones and Jon Pickle, called Chasing Dreams. The book is geared for those kids who still haven’t found ‘their thing’ and is based on their experiences growing up as surfers in the South Bay.
Hunter, who went viral recently for his attempt to shoot the pier during the historic south swell at Malibu (see below), has built a free-surfing career that, in all honesty, could be a book in itself.
We caught up with Jon and Hunter to learn more about their backgrounds and what led to Chasing Dreams.
Hunter’s Story
“I grew up in the South Bay (Westchester) right outside LA. From a young age, I was always drawn to the water. I rode my first wave at 10 years old and still vividly remember that feeling. I’ve been chasing it ever since. Looking back, it’s funny how that one wave completely changed the direction of my life.
I was far from the typical “sponsored kid.” My parents didn’t push me to compete, I just surfed with my friends because we loved it. We took turns filming each other & I’d reach out to anyone who might publish our clips or sponsor me. I did whatever job I could to stay close to surfing, eventually getting my foot in the door with a few companies while lifeguarding in my teens.
My path to making a living in surf was unconventional. I skipped the four-year university route, got my associate’s degree through community college, and took an internship with the WSL, which turned into a full-time role as a social media coordinator.
I was traveling the world, running global campaigns, and getting close to the best surfers on the planet. It was an incredible education. WSL gave me the tools to understand marketing, edit fast, and build stories around athletes at the highest level. I put my surfing dreams on hold for that opportunity. At 23, I had a moment: “I’m spending all this time building other people’s dreams, why not my own?” I left the WSL, and it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made.
Hunter Jones
I built my free-surfing career from scratch through content creation, brand partnerships, and filmmaking. There was no roadmap for me. I followed my gut, stayed true, and kept showing up. You have to believe in yourself before anyone else will. I share my story in hopes it reminds someone to keep chasing what they love.”
How Chasing Dreams Came Together
Hunter Jones / Jon Pickle
Jon Pickle’s story shares the same starting point. The two grew up together in the South Bay. Pickle was one of the rippers at El Porto Hunter looked up to as a kid. He went on to become an award-winning movie trailer editor and a father, and during the pandemic, after eight months without work, he found himself looking for surf-themed children’s books for his three-year-old son Wolfe. There weren’t many. The idea for Chasing Dreams started there.
Hunter Jones / Jon Pickle
The book is semi-autobiographical, rooted in Hunter’s own journey. The two designed the artwork in-house, self-published, and partnered with the Surfrider Foundation — a portion of every sale goes directly toward protecting oceans and coastlines.
“The ocean inspired every page of this book,” Hunter says. “It felt right to give something back to protect it.”
“Surfing gave me a framework for life,” he adds. “I want kids to find that feeling — whether it’s surfing or something else entirely. I just want them to keep chasing what they love.”
Hunter Jones / Jon Pickle
Chasing Dreams is out now. You can grab a copy at chasingdreamsbook.org.
Related: Surfer Tries to Shoot Malibu Pier During ‘Swell of the Decade’ (Video)