Surf Forecasters Bio

Charlie Fox

Charlie is currently Active Duty with Naval Special Warfare as Oceanography Officer. Prior to mobilization, he was Director of Forecasting at Surfline.com.
Charlie's broadcast meteorology experience spans nearly two decades for major market television, radio, and print, as well as private maritime interests. Clients include: Fox, ABC, CBS, Orange County News Channel, and the Orange County Register. He was announcer at the Op Pro Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach from 1989-1993. Charlie trains organizations in practical oceanography such as the USCG, US NAVY Special Warfare, California Boating Safety Officers, and many county and state Lifeguard agencies. He also taught High School Geosciences, served in the USCG, and was an interpretive sea kayak guide along Kauais Na Pali coast for several years. He's degreed in Operational Meteorology, and holds an M.S. in Geosciences. Charlie is a professional member of the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union. When not at the office or at sea, Charlie co-manages a circus of three children with wife Wendy.

Mark Sponsler

Mark is a self-taught surf meteorologist and a big wave surfer. When he was young and living in South Florida he personally experienced the destructive forces of hurricanes, with the eye passing directly overhead in two instances. This direct contact with one of natures most powerful weather systems set the stage for a lifelong quest to gain a greater understanding of the environment and it's impact on people. He later moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida, home of some of the world's best surfers, where he became deeply involved in surfing and surf forecasting, fueled by the high energy surf culture there. By 1985 he began creating rudimentary surf forecasts for a small group of avid local surfers. The quest to ride larger waves drove trips to Hawaii, and by 1995, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, ultimately to ride Mavericks. With him he brought his forecasting knowledge which lead to the eventual creation of Stormsurf.com. It was here that he started developing the highly evolved state-of-the-art surf forecasts he is known for, including projecting when significant class swells would arrive within one hour and to within 6 inches of height. Stormsurf.com is the official surf forecast source for the Mavericks Surf Contest and has contributed to a myriad of television, film, magazine and bound publications.
Photo Credits: Headshot- www.isiphotos.com; Surf photo - © 2002 Doug Acton

John Andres

John is a graduate of Florida State University, class of ’98, where he received his BS in Meteorology. Since graduation John has worked for various private companies where he focused on marine forecasting. His work mainly consisted of ship routing and tropical forecasting. John has been surfing for most of his life so he really understands weather from a surfer’s point of view as well. He currently resides in La Jolla, CA. John’s years of experience in surfing and meteorology make him a great addition to the WaveWatch Team.

Adam Wright

Adam has been a professional surf forecaster since 1999. Prior to taking a position at Wavewatch.com Adam headed up Surfline.com's Forecast team as Forecast Manager. He was specializing in mostly Pacific Ocean forecasts (Hawaii, Pacific NW, California, Mexico, Central America, and South America.) Adam has been an official forecaster for the Billabong XXL, Vans Triple Crown, Billabong Pro at Jeffreys Bay, Boost Mobile Pro at Trestles, and the Billabong Pipeline Masters along with many others. Adam has a degree in Geography with an emphasis in Oceanography from Humboldt State University, where besides going to school he spent plenty of time dodging great-whites and scoring cold, meaty surf. Currently he resides in Huntington Beach, with his wife Karyn, son Jack, and can be found surfing the Santa Ana River Mouth in-between the sewage induced closures.