Dane Talks
Wednesday 22 July, 2009 Dane Reynold's can do things on a surfboard that normal people can't even do on a Playstation surfing game. But for all his crazy water antics, he normally doesn't say much on dry land. Wavescape's Chris Mason caught up with him at the Billabong Pro and got him to spill a few beans about the way he surfs, the contest and his victorious heat against Jordy Smith.
Dane Reynolds is an unassuming fellow. He’s almost shy actually, and whenever I saw him in the lime-light at the Billabong Pro, he looked a little uncomfortable with all the attention.
It’s funny to meet someone like him, someone who’s a super-star in the world of surfing, and to find him to be humble and down to earth (even if he can do massive upside-down 360 airs). In fact, I would happily invite Dane to a Sunday braai, without having to worry that he’d spend the whole afternoon telling us how well he did on the tour. His girlfriend seemed cool too, and she could talk to my lady while the boys talked surfing. I got to chat to him this at this years Billabong Pro in J Bay, and after I recovered from the temporary dofness that comes from meeting someone cool and famous, things went pretty well.
Chris: It’s an interesting way you surf. I watched your heat and it’s a different approach, like that crazy reverse, what’s your vibe?
Dane: I just ah, I dunno, I didn’t really have much confidence in winning that heat so I just wanted to go out and have some fun. I dunno, those sort of turns I do, and when I mis-time them you sort of just go for a hail mary cause you mis-timed it instead of just doing something half-baked, you kinda just go for a big hail mary.
Chris: Cool. But then you pulled a wave out of the bag that was probably one of the best waves of the day, I mean, how did that feel?
Dane: Yeah it felt great. I mean it feels pretty great to get a wave like that any day and ah, to get it in a heat when you need a score feels pretty good.
Chris: Does it compare to getting the same stoke in a free-surfing session?
Dane: Yeah, pretty similar. There might be an extra little boost there, cause you feel like you over came…you know, I dunno, yeah, yeah it’s a little bit better I guess. Not much though, it’s pretty great either way.
Chris: Ja ja. And people were calling your heat verse Jordy pretty much the heat of the day. I mean, you guys are both kind of wunderkinds of the sport, what’s it like to beat him? Is there competition between you guys?
Dane: Yeah I get pretty nervous going against him every time cause he’s, you know, that good, and especially out at a spot like this he knows it a lot better than I do. In my opinion he’s probably one of the better surfers ever out here. You know, like I said, I didn’t have a whole lot of hope for winning the heat, but I just wanted to go out and have some fun, and win the heat, so I’m happy I got both (chuckles).
Chris: Cool and finally, are you after the world championship? Is that on the cards?
Dane: Nah (more chuckles) I’m already like, I’m so low, I’m just trying to make a couple heats.
Chris: Great, well thanks so much and have a good trip back.
Dane: Thank you, thank you very much.