Ask Scotty Stopnik what he does for a living and you might not get a clear answer. Not that he’s trying to be aloof or give you the run around; it’s just that there isn’t really a definitive answer to it. While “surf brands” have been the main source of income for much of his life, and he does indeed run stickers on his boards, Scotty hardly relates to being a pro surfer. Sure he surfs, very well, but he also builds custom motorcycles, he runs a company called the Cycle Zombies with his brother and cousin, he hunts swap meets for anything he can turn around and sell, he draws, paints, skates, acts, does stunt work–he hustles. “I surf and goof around and build motorcycles and ride them,” says Scotty while checking the waves in his hometown of Huntington Beach. “What you want to do for work is something you love to do, and I’ve done it for 15 years”

It sounds glamorous, but it’s not always easy. Scotty recently parted ways with long time sponsor Hurley, meaning even more so now that the other facets of life will become more mainstream. But the whole point isn’t where the checks are coming from, it’s on a living a lifestyle that hinges on creativity, on self expression, on family and inspiration from the people you surround yourself with. “There are a lot of creative juices that go through our family. It’s a weird thing to be inspired to do something, being around like minded and different minded people makes you want to go full throttle even more.” For Scotty the most important thing is raising his growing family in an environment that places importance on hard work and being passionate about what you do, even if that’s skating in the front yard or ripping around on dirt bikes. “I just want to pass something I love to do on to them, and seeing them do it is one of the coolest things ever really. My kids are learning to read music, and it’s opening up a whole new chapter. I feel younger than I was 5 years ago, having that whole creative vibe and being around my family is really inspiring to keep doing cool stuff and fun stuff together.”