2026 Rincon Classic Photographer:
Hayden GarfielD
I'm a photographer and filmmaker from Santa Barbara, California. I got into photography when I was 14, tagging along with my friends on little surf adventures. We'd take photos between surfs, just capturing whatever we thought was cool, and that kinda turned into this thing I’ve been hooked on ever since.
I started surfing when I was young but didn’t really love it until I was in 7th grade. We would skate to Sandspit after Santa Barbara Junior High School and surf till dark. There is something special about finally feeling that freedom of going surfing on your own and making memories with friends. Ever since I started doing mini adventures in and around town, I haven’t been able to stop. It’s just so fun, and we live in such an incredible place to do so.
I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing community we have in Santa Barbara. Each and every day I go surfing in town, I always try to meet someone new. Someone I know is local but I just haven’t had the chance to talk to them yet. Life’s short, say hi to a stranger. If you see me out in the water always happy to spark up a conversation.
Q & A with Santa Barbara Native
Hayden Garfield
What lead you to becoming a surf photographer and where has that journey taken you?
Doing mini adventures to surf as a kid in junior high school with friends and snapping photos of random moments really brought me a lot of joy. It was so fun coming home to images I could reflect on and save. Moments I felt were special to me. Ever since, I have continued to document in and around SB as well as worldwide. Having a camera in my hand has become my passport to travel around the world, to meet new people, and to adventure to new corners of the earth. It is truly a special thing to have friends around the globe and images to remember those moments by.
Tell the story behind the unique angle and line up image that is featured on the 2026 poster, website and T-shirt.
This photo to me just reflects home. It reflects my childhood of surfing Rincon and learning/navigating the lineup. It reminds me of all the familiar faces running up the beach with a smile on their face. When I see this photo, it brings back all the different memories I have of surfing out here. We are truly lucky to have this wave as our playground.
You spent a few years traveling and shooting the WSL world tour. Tell us about that journey and one experience that really stands out for you?
Yes, it has been fun. My first year traveling with the tour, I didn’t know many people. I was on assignment to get portraits of people and capture them surfing. They didn’t know me, so it was uncomfortable at first. One moment from my first trip was when Conner Coffin and his wife, Sierra, pretty much adopted me. I was 18, traveling alone and completely on my own. When they took me under their wing, that trip, I felt at home away from home. They introduced me to people and brought me to watch heats in the competitor’s zone. Doing my job started to feel easier as they slowly introduced me to people. So thanks to you, Conner and Sierra, I owe you a nice dinner!
Favorite moment at the Classic?
Hmmm, I’d say this year I had a heat with all my friends (Hamilton Jacobs, Curtis Jacobs, Jak Ziets, Tahven Modisette, Kai Zukor, Tyler Chiarappa). What a fun heat that was. I think we all just kept backpedaling each other, haha. It was a fun battle, and the waves were pumping for us.
Favorite subjects and waves to shoot?
I like shooting Rincon when it’s on, and my favorite subject would be someone flying down the line with good style.
What would you say have been your greatest achievements behind the lens?
My greatest achievement behind the lens would have to be all the wonderful friends I have made around the world. To me, community is everything, and the fact that holding a camera in my hand has brought me around the world numerous times feels like the biggest accomplishment I could ever ask for.
Most classic experience growing up surfing at Rincon?
Hamilton Jacobs, Curtis Jacobs, Tyler Chiarappa, and I all got a pretty epic party wave back in the day. 4 people on one wave in the cove. That was pretty fun. Or another time we did 3 of us on a kayak in the cove, it was pumping, and no one was out for some reason. We got so smoked on that thing and lost it to the call box haha. Classic groms being groms.
You have a very unique angles and lines you capture in your photography and seem to shoot a lot of surfers on alternative crafts yet also have shot WSL Championship events documenting the highest level of surfer on the planet. What aesthetics do you look for in surfers on any equipment?
STYLE. Always style.
Any journey's planned in the near future?
I have some traveling for sure. But my biggest journey is going to be making a film I am working on and telling the story of Santa Barbara. It is gonna be a fun project and movie premiere so keep your eyes out for it after this winter.
Any stories or other things you want to cover?
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with bone cancer. I am now cancer free! The Rincon Classic helped do a fundraiser for me, and I am betting many of you bought raffle tickets that year. So thank you for supporting me, and lets continue to give back to whoever is in need at the time.
Who have been your biggest influences?
In life my mom has been my biggest influence; she supported me and my camera venture since day one. When I told her I was gonna skip college to take on some work that was going to bring me around the globe, she didn’t bat an eye. She has always told me, “Go Big or Go Home”. In photography, Morgan Maassen has been one of my biggest inspirations, no doubt. Morgan really helped me grow my wings to navigate the photography and film world. Without his guidance, it would have been a lot trickier to get to where I am now. When I was in high school at the MAD academy, we were assigned to do a photography report on someone’s work we admired. I chose Morgan. I had never met him but knew of him through the SB community. One day, while working at Channel Islands Surf Shop, he walked in and I told him I was doing a report on him for school and asked if he would be open to an interview so I could bring that back to the class. He said yes and proceeded to give me the Rusty’s pizza phone number and chuckled, haha. He did give me his real number and ever since he has mentored me and our friendship continues to grow.
What is it about the Rincon Classic that brings you back each year?
Community. Every event is filled with fun. How could you not want to be back here each year? I remember as a kid i’d always have heats against Jabe and Dimitri and all the other rippers, I knew I was gonna get smoked in my heat, but honestly it’s just so fun to be out there with a few other people. Even if you lose your heat, you come in and watch everyone else. It’s a good time no matter what.
What boards are currently under your feet?
CI surfboards shaped by Mike Walters. He shapes the best boards.
How would you describe your relationship with Rincon?
That’s a tricky one haha. There are so many days when you are in rhythm and many days when you are out of rhythm. I started to notice days I would be out of rhythm and opt to shoot photos. So I’d say now my relationship with it is pretty darn good. I definitely pick my sessions to ensure I will have a good time. And when I have had enough, I go in and let everyone else battle it out. Sometimes just calling it after a good one is the best thing you could do…
It's pretty easy to get stuck in this region, what motivates you to travel and shoot new locations?
Seeing new places puts you in a position to appreciate this place even more. When I leave this place, I miss it. I show up at another incredible place, and it blows me away. Then, when I come home, I just get sent into awe again and again of how lucky we all are to live here.
Who have been your biggest inspirations and why?
All the elders inspire me daily. Things are changing, but I still try to be respectful in the lineup and give waves any chance I can. Some folks have been surfing here way before me, and it’s so inspirational to see them still here, surfing better than ever, and enjoying this great place we live in.
What would you tell the next generation of area youth that dream of following in your footsteps and becoming a surf photographer and/or videographer?
I’d say “Go Big or Go home”. If you want something in life you can accomplish it. You just need to be consistent and persistent. Have a smile, be respectful and you will go far. This applies to any young kid and any dream they might have. Don’t give up!
