Joe Santini

Joe Santini writes with the same energy he brings to the surf—bold, unafraid to flail, and full of heart. His debut memoir, Inside the Riptide, will be published in May 2027 by DK and Penguin Random House. Originally from landlocked Colorado, Joe moved to Sri Lanka at twenty-two and is still sandy from its endless shores. A lifelong journaler, Joe transforms his experiences as a traveler, surfer, and gay man into stories for readers willing to dig deep and go further. Now 31, he is the founder of Gay Surf Week and travels full-time as a retreat host for digital nomads.

Joe is currently a mentee in The Book Project, a competitive two-year program at Denver’s Lighthouse Writers Workshop. A 2024 Art House San Clemente resident, he has also published a collection of poetry. During undergrad, he wrote travel guides encouraging classmates to study abroad and later built a career helping nonprofits expand their impact to millions across the U.S. When he’s not writing or traveling, you can find Joe reviewing milkshakes or blasting Fergie’s “London Bridge” like it never left the charts.