Ari Gibson

* Season 2
* Season 1

**Ari Gibson** is one of the main characters in the Netflix series *Surviving Summer*. He is the son of Abbie and Thommo Gibson. He is Honey Gibson's older brother. He is portrayed by Kai Lewins.

## Background

### Personality

He is completely obsessed with surfing, but a serious injury a year ago has shaken his confidence and put a dent in his dream to make the State team. His life is about to be changed again when rebellious Summer walks in.

## Biography

### Early Life

A year before the events of Season 1, one day Ari and Marlon walked up Stairway. Then Marlon dared that both him and Ari jump off Stairway on the count of three. Then Ari jumps off of Stairway while Marlon stayed back. Ari injures himself when he jumps off. Marlon blames himself for Ari's accident and told Bodhi Mercer and Poppy Tetanui that Ari didn’t want any visitors in the hospital because he was afraid that they would blame him for the accident. Ari missed Poppy Tetanui's mother Laynah Tetanui's funeral due to being in the hospital. Ari was in rehab for a year after the accident before he started surfing again.

## Relationships

### Marlon Sousa

In Season 1, before the accident, Ari and Marlon were good friends. After the accident, Ari and Marlon rarely talked to each other. This is mostly because Ari had told Marlon that he liked Bodhi, and while Ari was in the hospital, Marlon and Bodhi started dating. Marlon also began trying to sabotosh Ari while they were Surfing. Ari was also hurt that him and the others didn't come visit him while he was recovering. In the episode "Shame", Poppy tells Ari that Marlon told them that Ari didn't want to see anyone. This was a lie that Marlon told them because Marlon feared that people would blame him if they saw Ari. Marlon apologizes later in season 1, and they become friends again. In season 2, they didn't interact much because Marlon dating Poppy and wasn't part of the surfing team.

See Also: Ari and Marlon

### Poppy Tetanui

It was discovered during a game of "**SHAME**" that Poppy has a crush on Ari. When she helps with his surfing technique they kiss. At the surfing competition they agree to be friends.

See Also: Ari and Poppy

### Bodhi Mercer

In Season 1 Ari has an unrequited crush on Bodhi that she does not reciprocate. When Poppy is worried about Ari's feelings for her she reassures her nothing will happen between them and said "**Ew**" in regards to Ari's feelings, which he ended up overhearing their conversation.

See Also: Ari and Bodhi

### Summer Torres

Ari and Summer are childhood friends. In S1 Ari and Summer have a close friendship. She is the only one who knows about his anxiety and panic attacks. They form a close bond, and eventually grow to have romantic feelings for one another. They kiss in the middle of a heated conversation. Then they share a goodbye kiss when Summer leaves to go back to New York.

In S2 Summer arrives back to town to surprise the group, and join the surf competition to try to become apart of the state team. Unbeknownst to Summer, Ari has a girlfriend Wren Radic. Summer still has feelings for Ari, and its clear deep down Ari did as well. After spending S2 in a toxic/emotionally abusive relationship with Wren he realizes that he is truly in love with Summer. They kiss in Summer's tent during a trip training for a surf competition. Summer tells Ari she can't do this while he is with Wren and tells him to break it off with her before they can be together. At the end of S2 Ari finally breaks up with Wren and S2 ends with Ari and Summer kissing at the competition after party. The two become a couple. Later on when they get back to Shorehaven, Ari gives Summer a hug from behind before Summer goes out for a morning surf, and says he will join her in a bit after cleaning up the house.

See Also: Ari and Summer

### Wren Radic

In S2 Ari is in a relationship with another surfer named Wren Radic who recently moved to town. Their relationship quickly becomes toxic, with Wren being verbally and emotionally abusive to Ari. Aris anxiety gets worse because of this, and he realizes he still has feelings for Summer. The two break up at the end of S2 when all the secrets about Wren and her sister, their surf coach come to the surface.

See Also: Ari and Wren

## Trivia

In season 1, Ari was the only blonde on the surfing team.

Ari was the first character seen in the series.