Chip “Chipper Bro” Bell
Patagonia
Ventura, CA USA
"Zen and the life of Chipper Bro is a freestyle."
Career Roadmap
Chip “Chipper Bro”'s work combines: Action Sports, Environment & Nature, and Being Physically Active
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
If you want to turn your hobby into a business, whether it's frisbee, surfing, or something else, you need to work hard to be one of the best so that you can put yourself out there and secure sponsors. Finding people to sponsor you is a great way to start making money out of your passion.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I was born in Hollywood and raised in Santa Barbara, California.
2.
I spent a lot of my childhood surfing.
3.
I started playing Freestyle Frisbee with my friends and went to my first tournament in 1980—I set a goal to someday be on the finalist field.
4.
Whenever the surf was flat, I’d work on my Frisbee skills.
5.
In 1982 my Frisbee team and I were crowned world champions—afterward, we were able to secure sponsors and tour all over the world.
6.
After finishing a ten-year tour with the Pro Freestyle circuit, I began looking for a steady job with benefits because my wife and I were starting a family.
7.
Patagonia was hiring, so I applied and landed a job with the company as a cultural ambassador.
8.
In addition to working at the front desk for Patagonia, I also teach kids and adults how to surf through my business surfclass.com.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
You need to do something better with your life. Go to college. Get an education. Do something!
How I responded:
When I first told my family and friends that I play frisbee, they all told me I need to do something else with my life. But all I wanted to do was surf and play frisbee. I set goals and worked hard to develop my skills with my team. When I called home a couple years later to tell everyone that we were world champions, they were all so happy for me! Becoming champions was a huge turning point for us in terms—we got recognition, sponsors, and tours!