Riptide Magazine

Experiment Four - Revolution

Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 16:26

Looking Back Eight Years at the Fourth Riptide Experiment - Featuring Ryan Hardy, Ben Player, Damian King and Matt Lackey.

Riptide #124, October 2002.

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Revisiting the fourth Riptide Experiment featured in RT #124, November 2002.

Ryan Hardy


What were your initial thoughts when you were asked on the experiment? Were you a little suss on the places you were going?
I was amped! I knew it was going to be a whirlwind trip and a throw of the dice at each of the places we went. Plus there was a little adventure and excitement of the unknown, in going to places I'd never been before like Easter Island and Cape Town.



At that point, where did you see your bodyboarding career heading?
Just carrying on as it was: competing on the World Tour, traveling on freesurfing trips around Oz and across the globe.


What was your favourite stop on the trip and why?
Probably Cape Town, surfing new places there and checking out the scenery was incredible. We had fun, uncrowded waves too and mixed with the local bodyboarding crew. It was a really cool end to the trip.



Who did you think was surfing the best on the trip?
I actually thought it was pretty even. Everyone was riding some sick waves at different points throughout the trip. 



Could you have imagined that, over five years on, there'd be such a phenomenal World Tour event in Chile when you were there?

At the time I could see all the potential in regards to the consistency of the waves and potential for bodyboarding performance, but it seemed very isolated from the bodyboarding world and there was next to no money going around to make it happen. Thanks to a motivated and passionate local bodyboarder Christian "Tomate" Peralta, the contest eventually gained momentum and today it's one of the best stops on tour.

Would you do that same trip again or was it too hectic?
I'm happy that I did it then, but I wouldn't do it again now.  I don't like to be away from my wife Leah and son Oli any longer than three weeks unless I really have to be there to compete.



If you could go back in time, what advice would you have to give to your younger self?

Be happy with where your surfing is at and enjoy it! Don't spend so much time trying to better yourself, it will come naturally, so go have fun. Enjoy your hobbies and your family and friends.



Was there anyone you thought should have been on the trip, but wasn't?
For that generation of Aussies it seemed a pretty fitting bunch I thought.

In your opinion, what's the biggest change in the sport between then and now?
A bigger focus on the World Tour with more good venues, more money and better funding and management which is a GREAT thing!

Ben Player
What were your initial thoughts when you were asked on the experiment? Were you a little suss on the places you were going?

The experiment was the most prestigious feature trip you could be asked to do, so when I was told about it I was super excited and when I heard we were travelling around the globe in less than a month I was stoked. It was exciting and something that no-one had ever dared to do.



At that point, where did you see your bodyboarding career heading?
I wasn't sure where I was heading, I kind of thought I might have a few more years in it, but definitely didn't envisage that I would be still be doing it now. I was stoked that the readers voted for me to go on the trip though as it meant that the readers put you in their Top 4 picks.



What was your favourite stop on the trip and why?
My favourite stop was to Tahiti for waves. It was just so fun to be there and surfing with the boys. I really enjoyed being in France too, although we got shit waves when we were there.



Who did you think was surfing the best on the trip?

I would say that Ryan was surfing the best. The most consistent anyway. Although everyone had their moments where they surfed the best.

Could you have imagined that, over five years on, there'd be such a phenomenal World Tour event in Chile when you were there?

No way. I didn't even know about Arica, I just knew about the waves around Iquique. We were the first to surf a new wave there and I could see that there was a lot of potential around the area for bodyboarding, but never knew just how big bodyboarding would get there.

Would you do that same trip again or was it too hectic?

For sure, I'd be really keen (to do it again). It was a rad experience.



If you could go back in time, what advice would you have to give to your younger self?

Nothing really, we really lived it up.

Was there anyone you thought should have been on the trip, but wasn't?
There were so many guys who should've been on the trip. That's why it was such a big thing to get invited as there was a million guys who should've been on it.

In your opinion, what's the biggest change in the sport between?

Faith in ourselves and what we do.

Damian King (Kingy's answers come to you from his iPhone while travelling the Land of the Rising Sun)
What were your initial thoughts when you were asked on the experiment? 

I thought it was a pretty cool concept and the crew were high quality riders. The mag was behind it, so with all the boxes ticked, I was amped!

Were you a little suss on the places you were going?
Nah, not really. I thought all the choices were pretty good and there was a good variety.

At that point, where did you see your bodyboarding career heading?

I think I was just chipping away at trying to get on top, just like the rest of the guys on that trip. We were all pretty competitive and I think that's why we were all put together.

What was your favourite stop on the trip and why?
I didn't really have a favorite stop. I kind of liked them all. Each place had its own thing that made it special, for instance South Africa had AIDS! It was great! Haha!

Who did you think was surfing the best on the trip?
Me!

Could you have imagined that, over five years on, there'd be such a phenomenal World Tour event in Chile when you were there?
Not really. Life's a spin out, that's for sure!

Would you do that same trip again or was it too hectic?
Nah I would do it again, if there was a whole mag dedicated to it, with the right riders, 5-star hotels, hookers and plenty of coke!

If you could go back in time, what advice would you have to give to your younger self?

To try not to overshadow the others on the trip too much with my elite riding and charismatic, full-head-of-hair-charm. Give them a go too!

Was there anyone you thought should have been on the trip, but wasn't?

Umm not really, maybe a little dwarf or something to kick and stuff. 



In your opinion, what's the biggest change in the sport between then and
 now?
Well, first we have all grown a little more feral, myself excluded obviously. We've got some big points on the World Tour scoreboard and I think that as a group we've done some pretty amazing things in the sport, which has added to the growth of the tour, the general image of bodyboarding and has helped the whole sport globally (like a lot of the top guys). 


Matt Lackey
What were your initial thoughts when you were asked on the experiment? Were you a little suss on the places you were going?

I was amped to be voted on to the Experiment. At that time that was THE trip of the year to be on, so i was stoked. The first one I went on was the around the world trip with myself, Hardy, Ben and Kingy. I wasn't suss on the spots we were going to, more just the timeframe (about eight days) in each spot to hopefully score waves in those set dates. That was the risky part.



At that point, where did you see your bodyboarding career heading?

Um, right then I was actually having sponsor dramas with LMNOP, so that whole experiment trip I had to fund myself. After that trip I barred them and went without a board sponsor for a while, then Nomad called me up and it's been happy camping ever since. As in where did I see my career going. I guess it was going in a good direction, being voted on to the experiment meant that you were doing something right. But my career has just fallen into place, you can't force shit like that.

Who did you think was surfing the best on the trip?
On that trip Hardy was killing it. You could see the focus in his eyes on every wave he paddled into. He was putting 110% into his surfing. I get lazy and just surf, but you could see he wanted to push himself on every wave, I tried to take influence from that.

What was your favourite stop on the trip and why?
For the waves I'd say Tahiti. It was just paradise, 'Chopes was like 6ft, flat-bottom and perfect for backside DK. As for the ladies, I'd say Chile. They were just so keen! Good Lord! (I was single at the time)

.

Could you have imagined that, over five years on, there'd be such a phenomenal World Tour event in Chile when you were there?

Not at all. It just seemed so far away from everywhere and it was just a different world in Chile, but this year's tour has just gone to new levels. I'm even thinking about going to some of the events - now that's saying a lot!

Would you do that same trip again or was it too hectic?

Every Experiment was soooooooo hectic! For the readers they think, "Oh sick trip. It looks like everyone got along, but when you're trying to make a whole mag in a month shit hits the fan. The amount of funny/angry/fights/ I've seen on these trips you could write a book on. Quick examples are Ben and Kingy almost punching on, Nick Lawrence and Rawlins almost punching on, Nick Lawrence and Toby Player almost punching on, Jethro Lyons and Ben PLayer almost punching on, Ryan Hardy blowing up at everyone (which is something you don't see often). There were just so many funny moments on those trips.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you have to give to your younger self?
Those Experiments where the best trips I've ever done, hands-down. Just making the most out of every country and trying to experience as much as possible.

Was there anyone you thought should have been on the trip, but wasn't?

I just wish Roach had have got better waves when he was on the Experiment. They went to indo, but it was almost flat the whole time.

In your opinion, what's the biggest change in the sport between then and 
now?
There have been a lot of changes all throughout the sport. I guess the contest scene has gone to the next level and everything is a lot more Internet based. One thing I've noticed is that back then there always seemed to be a dropknee guy on each trip with a bunch of prone guys, but you never see that anymore. Um, fuck, bring back the Experiment issues! You're crazy not to.


A very massive thank you to Chris Apps for hunting down the original footage from the trip - deadset champion.

Congrats to the rest of the Riptide #124 team for such a sterling issue of the magazine: Jethro Lyons (Editor), Phil Gallagher (Photog), Chris Apps (Video), Murray Bell (Video Graphics) and Shane Cresser (Design).

If you're interested in getting yourself a copy of this epic issue, or any other previous Riptide releases, then head to our past issues page or our online store.