The Mad Hueys are real, genuine, and unapologetically themselves. There’s no bullsh*t, no smoke and mirrors — what you see is what you get — and it’s evident from top to bottom.
Dean and Shaun Harrington, aka the Hazza Twins, have built The Mad Hueys brand from the ground up. Setbacks, obstacles, wrong decisions, and sometimes laughable mistakes have all led to the creation of a brand synonymous with the brothers’ genuine values and beliefs — things that the boys have never let get out of sight.
“From a young age, everyone’s told to conform. And don’t get us wrong, rules matter, but not at the cost of happiness and actually enjoying your life. We’ve always believed health and happiness come first. Everything else is secondary.”
The Mad Hueys are an ensemble of death-defying and thrill-seeking individuals who are known to feed off each other’s energy, pushing the limits of everything they do. Whether it’s surfing monstrous waves or catching prize-worthy fish in remote locations, the brand has always supported authenticity.
“We don’t let much get in the way of having a good time, but we also don’t cross lines for the sake of it. We push boundaries, but we do it in our own way — open to interpretation, and never pretending to be something we’re not.
“People resonate with that because everyone has that little Mad Hueys voice inside them screaming to get out. We just gave it a name and a place to belong.”
The brand delves deeper than just good times and epic adventures. The Mad Hueys are genuinely invested in helping out their fellow frothers. Huey or not, they’ve always been committed to sharing the love wherever possible.
“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Legacy, raising money for diggers and their families. We recently launched our One Team range, donating a percentage of profits to a local Indigenous corporation. We work closely with community groups.
“At the end of the day, it’s about bringing like-minded people together, having fun, looking after each other, and not taking life too seriously.”
From the outside, it’s hard not to be envious of the Hueys’ lifestyle — the countless adventures to remote waves, incredible fishing spots, and all of those picturesque sunset beer-in-hand moments — but none of the brand’s success has come easy.
“We’ve worked bloody hard. We’ve juggled real jobs while building the brand in our spare time. Only recently have we been able to draw enough of a wage to focus on The Mad Hueys full-time and have a decent work-life balance.
“We live very normal lives. We have modest suburban houses and mortgages like most Australians. Sure, we’ve been lucky to travel and see some amazing places through friendships we’ve built across all walks of life, but we still sleep in the boat on the side of the road and get absolutely smoked by midges on fishing trips.
“It’s not all fun and games. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemy.”
Dean and Shaun lost their father a few years ago, a heartfelt and devastating loss that made the boys think a little differently about what ‘the good life’ really meant.
“It taught us how important time with family is, because you genuinely never know what’s around the corner.
“The core of the brand hasn’t changed, we’re still making the most of every day by surfing, fishing, hanging with mates, and having a beer and a laugh, but now there’s a bit more to it.
“The good life now includes balance — being healthy, being present, and being there for the people who matter most.”
As the brand continues to grow, the boys have accepted the fact that you never stop learning, mistakes are inevitable, and sometimes saying ‘no’ is a positive thing.
“School wasn’t really our thing, and we dropped out young. So everything we know, we’ve learnt. And we’re still learning every day. We make mistakes. Plenty of them. But we focus on the speed of correction.
“Never in our wildest dreams did we think the brand would become what it is today. We still have moments where we look at each other and go, ‘How did this happen?’ We just wish our dad could’ve seen what we’ve built.
“We’re lucky to have an incredible team around us who keep us in check, help us think long-term, and keep the ship on course. And sometimes keeping a lid on exciting ideas means learning to say no… like maybe around day ten of a bender… without worrying about upsetting people.”
The Mad Hueys are planning bigger and better things for the near future, which includes connecting on a deeper level with their audience, supporting the future of surfing, and expanding the brand’s reach outside of Australia and New Zealand.
“We’re passionate about telling more of our story. There’s so much more to it, and we reckon people will froth hearing it.
“Our team is doing amazing things on the global stage. Oscar Berry has qualified for the 2026 WSL Championship Tour, and Max McGuigan, Chase Hardaker, and Jimmi Hill are absolutely charging and don’t get enough credit for what they put their bodies through.
“Ry Hazell is throwing down mind-blowing whips and just took third place at King of the Whip in South Africa, and he’s only just turned 18. So, we feel like the timing’s right for a global push.
“We’re also stoked to welcome Hawaiian big wave charger, Eli Olson, to our ever-growing international team.”
And after all the amazing surf trips the crew has been on, it only felt right to ask them where they would take The Mad Huey team for an all-time session.
“There are so many to choose from, but honestly, probably home.
“Snapper Rocks or Kirra when it’s pumping. They’re so crowded these days — it’d be pretty special to just have one proper firing day with only the Hueys crew out there.”
