Ed)
You have been around in the NZ bodyboard scene for a while now, how much
has it changed since the early days?
Gav) I started competing
in about 92-93, back then Adrian Bray had won the last 4 National titles
and was totally dominating every contest, he is still one of the best bodyboarders
I've ever seen. Not many people even know who he is now but he still surfs
out at Piha a bit. There were 22 people in one Division at the Nationals
in Gisborne in 93, that was my first big contest. Surfing NZ was running
the Nationals then, being surfers bodyboarding always took a back seat
to the stand up divisions, which is understandable because they were all
surfers running our events. But we went out in about 1ft high tide Wainui
shoredump I lost I my first heat. In the Semi's the guys were standing
in waist deep water jumping onto 6 inch ripples.
That was my first impression
of a National event, since then Bodyboarding has come a long way in terms
of us running our own events at better venues for bodyboarding. This year
there were 83 competitors in 5 divisions as well as Television coverage
for the 1999 Manta NZ Champs.
Next year is looking even
bigger and better with our first National Circuit kicking off with Nationals
run over 7 days at Mahia where there will be good waves.
Ed)
A couple of years back you were tour guide to Eppo and Nelz Velocido etc
when they came to NZ, what was that like?
Gav) That trip was quite
cool, there was Jay Reale, Vicki Gleeson, Jacob Reeve and Nelz Velocido
in one Camper van and Eppo, Pete Gleeson, Chris Stroh and me in the other.
I had met a few pros at contests and things in the past but having them
come here to come and surf our waves with me was a pretty cool experience.
The waves were pretty bad for the time they were here which was a real
disappointment. Just like any crew of bodyboarders they just wanted to
have a good time and get some good waves.
Gav in a heavy slab
Ed)
Have you entered any comps overseas? If yes, how did you go?
Gav) I guess like any good
and bad. The big difference with overseas contests is that you have to
have a good heat every time, because everyone in your heat can beat you
pretty easily. The Best I did was a 3rd in Mexico which I was pretty stoked
with because there were a few pretty hot bodyboarders there
from all over the world.
But I also came 33 in the I.S.A. World surfing Games at Huntngton Beach,
California in 1996. Greg Roebuck was there and came 29th, but we were both
a bit disappointed, especially Greg who came 8th the time before in Brazil
before the contest went professional. But it was just a great experience
competing against some of the best bodyboarders
in the world. It was a real
eye opener seeing that there are a lot of
places that have really
talented bodyboarders but you never hear of them because there are no magazines
or video of them in our part of the world.
Guys from places like all
Chile, Tahiti and Puerto Rico surfed as well as the Australians, Brazilians
and South Africans.
Ed)
What are your views on the current bodyboarding scene in NZ? Do you feel
any improvements should be made?
There is progress every
year it is just a matter of bodyboarders being prepared to commit their
time and energy to contributing something back into bodyboarding.
Things like Dale Sattlers
magazine that he put out a few times and Web pages are great as well as
the guys like Bill Parata and Des
Tuarima and the rest of
the Wellington crew who commit themselves to helping bodyboarding progress
in New Zealand.
I think the sport is constantly
progressing here but there are definitely a few factors holding it back.
Mostly lack of funds and people who are keen to just be involved, I think
we need to have the same vision of where bodyboarding is headed then work
together to get there. Right now we are working on some things for the
AGM at the Bodyboard Nationals where we start shaping the future of our
sport in NZ.
Gavey rolls
Ed)
Where do you feel the future of NZ bodyboarding is headed?
Gav) I know that GOB Australasia
is very keen to make us a part of their circuit even if it is just starting
with one event next year, and with guys like Ben MacKinnon competing on
the GOB as well as in the Pipe event and Jon Blackwood and Pine Ross in
doing the Australian circuit there starting to be a bit more recognition.
So I am hoping NZ is just going to have a lot more international exposure.
This will raise the level of Bodyboarding in NZ as well as get the sport
more media attention, Bodyboarders and ultimately the funds to be able
to do a lot more with the sport.
Ed)
You are helping to organise next years Bodyboard nationals, how is that
going?
Great we have $12,000 in
Prizes confirmed from our generous sponsors BSD, Fangs, Bodyline, Dirty
Dog, Reef, Vescovato, Sticky Bumps, KOOP, Spongrez.
Also Des and Charles at
DC Bodyboard World and Sons of Tangaroa have put in a huge effort to make
these Nationals the best ever. There is still quite a bit to be done but
we're getting there.
The Nationals are an awesome
event if you've ever been it's the only time that all the Bodyboarders
from around the country get together and hang out. We have added DK this
year as well as a teams challenge so those events should be fun.
I can see up to 100 people entering this year
Ed)
Anything else you would like to add?
Gav) Bodyboarding is a great
thing I really like it but you can have all the best waves in the world
everyday of your life and never be satisfied or have meaning, the same
goes for money or anything else. Jesus said "What good will it be for a
man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul".
Just keep it all in perspective.
I know in the past I have been so focused on surfing more or better and
all that stuff, that everything else in my life suffered. God showed me
he is much bigger than Bodyboarding or anything else for that matter.
Gavin
shows off his world famous skating skills.
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