Chris Coté fell in love with skateboarding when he was 12. This was 1989, the golden age of skateboarding. He grew up going to Del Mar Skate Ranch, being around that energy and soaking in what was happening. His brother and stepdad got him into surfing, bodyboarding at first, then on a hand-me-down surfboard. “I got pretty good at surfing, did well in some pro events, started getting paid to surf, but I realized I was mid-level at best,” says Chris. So he started taking jobs in the industry and figured out that was where he wanted to be. Chris eventually landed the chance to help start TransWorld SURF in 1999. “That’s where I really found my place.”

In the early 2000s when the internet was pretty fresh, Chris started a web series called Coté’s Cube. “I would interview pros who would come to the TransWorld office and cover events with our crappy mic and camera. I just had a blast, not knowing that I was actually doing on-the-job training for my future career.” Chris would wedge himself into the contracts as “talent”. That’s how he got his first major gig announcing at The US Open Of Surfing. They’ve had him back every year since. 

Later he worked with FUEL TV, Red Bull, Vans, and the likes as one of the only play-by-play announcers who could handle surf, skate, and snow. “There is overlap,” he says, “and my background in journalism helps when it comes to doing research, use of language, painting pictures with words. I still consider myself a writer and a storyteller, hosting, announcing, and commentating are an extension of that.”

“I’ve always been open and accepting to change. I feel super fortunate to have grown up in a time of insanely rapid technological innovation. I did mourn the death of print magazines—even though I still run one—but I love Instagram and YouTube. I get my fix of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding on a daily basis. I feel like I’m on the pulse of what’s happening now and that keeps me relevant. Plus, I know how to talk to the core and the mainstream, so that makes me a valuable asset to any broadcast or social media outlet. 

Being a storyteller with the ability to talk to the core as well as the mainstream and bridge the gap between those two world’s is a skill I’m proud to have. I’m never boring on a broadcast, and I feel confident saying that no other action sports announcer can weave Steely Dan and Duran Duran lyrics into surf, skate, snow commentary as well as I do.” 

Chris is excited to keep doing Play-By-Play at selected WSL Champion Tour events this season. But in the meantime, he’s working with a few friends on a screenplay and hoping to get involved with some of the new skate and snow events popping up in 2025. “My 13 year old son is creeping up on me and starting to show signs that he’s getting better than I am at skateboarding. I’ve got to keep working and hopefully beat him in our weekly games of S.K.A.T.E. until he’s at least 15.”