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More Peer Poll Interviews
Exclusive website extras
Well, by now most of you will have seen Issue 64 of ThreeSixty. The 2005 Peer Poll was compiled from a survey of all the bodyboarders at this year's British National Championships and the results are the truest reflection of who is ripping at home and around the world.
The pro's had plenty to say about their placings, read on for some of their opinions that we didn't have room to run in the mag.
Also, check out the results of the best international drop-knee rider, the top five under 18 British riders and the top UK women. |
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1. Ryan Hardy
What's the most groundbreaking thing to happen in bodyboarding this year? Stewart towing in at Chopes on the massive day in September; it had to happen someday and who better than the king himself?
Who's going to win the tour this year? The tour is in controversy at the moment over whether there will be a final event or not. I think the current leader, Uri Valadao, has world title potential and definitely has that competitive Brazilian animal instinct which could win him the world title. So yeah, probably him, but I know the Aussies won't go down without a fight!
Who has freesurfed the best that you've seen this year? Probably a tie between Dave Winchester, Ben Player and Mitch Rawlins…all three have been on fire whenever I've surfed with them or seen footage of them blasting.
Now that you've tied the knot are you still the fiendishly dedicated rider of yesteryear? I'd like to think so, but I don't think I could ever reach the level of dedication I had when I was younger, that may have even been unhealthy! Before I turned 21 all I did and aspired to do was bodyboard, it's all I thought about all day, every day – something which I definitely don't regret 'cause it's got me where I am today! Nowadays, I still get the same stoke out of bodyboarding but I also enjoy other facets of life like being with my wife, my family, partying with friends and even simple things like working around my house! So yeah, I still hold the same affection for bodyboarding but it doesn't consume 100% of my time like it did when I was younger.
How has the biggest commitment of them all affected your future aspirations, if at all? I presume you're talking about marriage? Well, it definitely creates perspective when thinking of my future. Being with my wife and having kids down the track is the biggest thing in my mind, but then I like to live life for the moment. Just thinking of the year ahead is enough because life can turn upside down in an instant; you can't plan too far ahead or you're likely to get disappointed. For the moment I aspire to push myself in bodyboarding and enjoy life with my wife, family and friends. The rest can wait until later.
Ask any prone-crazy groms who they think is the most complete performer and the figurehead of modern prone shredding and your name comes up more often than not, though the world title still eludes you. Does this torment you or are you satisfied with freesurfing supremacy? It doesn't torment me so much. My biggest aspiration in bodyboarding has always been to put 100% into it, trying to attain the highest level of performance and always striving to push myself to the absolute limit. As long as I know I have done that then I am personally satisfied and whatever comes of that is a bonus. I am extremely competitive, but mostly within myself – I am more concerned with judging my own performance than the judgement of others. The biggest stoke and greatest satisfaction for me comes from riding the best wave or riding to the best of my ability in freesurf or competition. So I guess the ultimate for me would be to ride to the best of my ability and win the world title while doing so. But if that doesn't happen, as long as I've given 100%, I'll always be content.
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2. Jeff Hubbard
Best session this year: One of my favourites was with Lester and Hardy on Maui, just us and super fun waves, nothing scary. Also in Tahiti I surfed with Eddie and Jarrett Lau and it was sick, I caught a few eight to ten foot sets at Teahupoo and was stoked, it was a sick rush.
Who has freesurfed the best that you've seen this year? I don't surf with that many riders but I think that my brother's DK was the best freesurfing for sure.
Due to your No Friends DVD's and so on, you get a large amount of your sessions filmed, so we get to see your biggest boosts and crazy moves, but are there any massive airs or new moves that you've busted and they weren't scored on camera? Actually I only get videoed like 15% of the time I surf, so there are way more sick airs and stuff that no one sees. I had a rewind in the Canaries that no-one got but it felt super sick. Also some sick inverts and reverses from Backdoor that no one was around for, early and late season. Those felt pretty high and tight.
The 720 and the Rewind are two mad air moves that you've invented, what's in store for this winter in Hawaii? Good question. I will have to wait and see. Been doing a lot of comps so I haven't been super experimental. I tried a few heel clickers, the motorbike trick, those were fun.
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3. Ben Player
Who's going to win the tour this year in your opinion? Damian King. He is so, so motivated and confident that he will come out on top.
Who has free surfed the best that you've seen this year? Ryan Hardy. I was watching him in Mexico a lot and every wave he gets he does something crazy.. If you want to bodyboard more do yourself a favour and go and watch him free surf, he will give you all the inspiration you need.
You were one of the most prominent figures spearheading the revolution of bodyboarding from the late 90's; you influenced the Mitch's and Jono's of today and continue to compete with the latest crop of talent at the highest level. To what or who do you owe your success? I guess I owe myself, I love bodyboarding so much and it continues to keep me stoked. You get one thing wired and then you look on from there and see a million other things you could get wired. It is like this never ending barrel of apples that keeps you on your toes. I think that is where I am different, I always look on and never get too proud of what I have done.
I know there's strong competition between yourself and Toby, but how beneficial has it been to have someone like your brother with you on trips, on the tour etc, for advice and motivation? Toby and myself aren't competitive any more. We see each other for what we are now we are older. I know his talents and respect them and he knows mine…besides, we don't live together any more which makes it easier. I think in our earlier years it definitely helped having a sounding board for bodyboarding and that is what we would have given each other more than anything.
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4. Damian King
Who's going to win the tour this year? ME! Nah, could be anyone.
Who has freesurfed the best that you've seen this year? I haven't really freesurfed with a lot of different people this year, I surf at home with my friends a lot.
You've enjoyed great success over the past couple of years, claiming two consecutive world championships, the story of which is told through your movie The Joker; plus the sponsorship deals, travelling and the incredible media profile that you have: you're bodyboarding's version of Golden Balls! So what's next…has Johnny Howard had his time? Yeah, I think so, get rid of him! Just kidding. I've been focusing a lot of my time lately on behind the scenes stuff; working on the world tour structure, regional tours, things like that. Not necessarily high profile stuff, but important issues that need to be dealt with. I'm glad to do it, I have a pretty good plan and all the world representatives are coming around. When it goes ahead bodyboarding will have a good future for all levels of participants.
You've developed a competition formula of tight moves in every section of the wave with good style, you're arguably the best all rounder of all time, your freesurfing footage continues to inspire a generation, why no peer poll win so far? F--k, I dunno. To tell you the truth it is kind of annoying. Like in Oz I just got sixth. Admittedly I don't shoot as many photos as I probably should and I stick to myself a lot. I probably surf more that anyone but just don't shoot my sections. I know the other guys, and a lot of the time they rarely go for a surf when it's not in front of the camera, hence they get a shitload of good footage and that influences people. I don't mind though, they can have their polls.
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5. Mitch Rawlins
Who's going to win the tour this year in your opinion? Not sure.
Who has free surfed the best that you've seen this year? Lester.
After winning your fist peer poll last year did you feel an increased pressure to perform in the last 12 months? If there was pressure was it good or bad for your surfing? If anything, it has helped my surfing and that result will continue to push me for the next ten years.
You're one of a number of top bodyboarders who now owns their own jet ski, have you taken the tow out thing as far it's going to go do you think? Or what's next? All I think about is towing into big waves so we'll see what happens.
It's been said by some members of the bodyboarding media that with the look of yellow and blue churchills, a yellow board and the attention to cross legged spins you're a part of a generation of Hardy clones. What do you say to that? F--k that, I do what I want and it's Mike Stewart who I have admired most, for his grace and commitment in the water.
What are your plans for the coming winter and 2006? Stay dedicated.
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Top 5 British Under 18s
With a number of the established juniors hitting the ripe old age of 19 this year and moving up into the Open division, there's a new bumper crop of under 18’s scrapping away to make their presence known on the Brit scene. Here come the new crew! |
1. Eddie Read
Age: 17
Local Break: Porthtowan/Portreath
For a long time Eddie has been lurking in the shadow of close bodyboarding pals Cheech Fleck and Alex and Jonny Winkworth, but after a summer in Indo (including some epic sessions at sizeable G-Land), Eddie has come of age. He’d have been the new British Junior Champion if it wasn’t for an accidental interference in the dying seconds of the final. |
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2. Oli Agliano
Age: 17
Local Break: Fistral
Oli’s hard to miss with his striking pink board and trademark mullet haircut. He’s a character in and out of the water with a funky dress sense and a quick wit, and his riding speaks for itself. During the recent autumn swells he’s been a standout, with a backflip that he busted during one of the heavy shorebreak sessions being the talk of local bodyboarding community. |
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3. Alex Winkworth
Age: 17
Local Break: Porthtowan
Of the junior crew, Alex is by far the best all-rounder. He’s got a strong arsenal of prone manoeuvres and a DK style that is equally comfortable on forehand or backhand. His contest record speaks for itself, with many wins in the Open and Pro-Am divisions. He’s been a little quiet over the last six months or so, but definitely has the skills to beat any Brit on his day. |
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4. Kris Inch
Age: 18 (just turned!)
Local break: Crooklets, Bude
‘Inchy’ hails from the Bude area and together with Tom Biddlecombe, George Franklin and Taz Sheppard is part of a small but tight bodyboarding crew. This is what he had to say when he heard that he placed fourth:
"I'm so stoked to get a position in this poll, it was totally unexpected. I'm just trying to surf as much as I can and push myself as hard as I can, but most of all i just want to have fun. Bodyboarding is my life." He’s another of the new crew who has found a spiritual home in the emerald green caverns of Indo, and after a trip there this year he can’t wait to get back. |
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Jack Stance - Matt Lackey
What do you think about winning the DK Peer Poll? I'm so amped to win, especially because it was voted for by all the top guys in England. I'm stoked that they are amped on the way I ride.
What have you been up to over the last year? I've been travelling pretty much non-stop. I've always wanted to go away from home and just cruise, so that's what I've done this year. I've spent a lot of time in Mexico, that's my heaven on earth, I love it. Also a lot of time in Brazil, but that's not really for the waves! I'm in Brazil right now, and I think I just had one of the craziest nights of my life…
Who do you rank as your top five DK riders in the world and why?
1. Roach, because he's changed the way people look at bodyboarding.
2. Aka Lyman, natural talent.
3. Raffi Myer, so much style.
4. Dave Hubbard, the little freak, you never know what he's going to do next.
5. Mason Rose handles some huge moves.
Plus I have to say I was impressed with Danny Wall's DK when I saw him in Mexico, he's a cool guy and charges on the knee.
What is the most groundbreaking thing to happen in bodyboarding this year? I heard Whitey and those guys shot photos of tow-outs with a helicopter! I think that's pretty crazy.
What is the best DK move you've pulled or seen this year? I just did a DK trip with Mason Rose, Dave Hubbard, Brandon Foster and Luke Hall in Mexico and there was a lot of good shit going down…to much to pick one out; everyone was going crazy, it was good.
Is is true that you're addicted to MySpace? It's crazy, too many chicks on this thing…but to tell you the truth, every one that I've met in person was a f--king fat heaper! They just get the full angle photos to make themselves look hot! My strike rate is pretty shocking because I've been away so much, but that's all about to change. I've got a few hookups here in Brazil. |
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Ladies Number One
The closely contested ladies UK number one spot has gone to Welsh shredder Gemma Harris.
ThreeSixty caught up with Gemma after she’d just returned from the European Championships in Portugal, where she’d placed seventh.
“Amazing, I’m so stoked with that, big up the Welsh!” she chuckled. She plans to head to Australia for the winter and score some decent waves on the Gold Coast. “Can I thank my sponsors, Aaron Chang, Reef, Manta, Snugg and Balin” she blurted out. Er, you just have. |
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