Doc: Hey Doug,
Where you from in Hawaii and what are your local waters these days?
DS: Hey what’s up Doc!! Chee first of all I just wanna say thanks for this opportunity! Im stoked to be a part of this! Im just your typical local boy. I was born and raised on the eastside of the Big Island of Hawaii in a tiny town called Hilo. I usually surf anywhere with waves, but if I had to be specific, I would say a secret slab, where the birds fly and the seals sleep.
Doc: Can you tell us a bit more about your side of the Island?
DS: Hilo’s boring, don’t come here.
Doc: what mix of Prone and DK are you riding?
DS: About 98% prone and about 2% DK. All style though!
Doc: What boards are you running in your current quiver and what are your current faves?
DS: I’ve only owned about 5 bodyboards in my life and each one did their job well. I recently got a VS Hardy Ltd. 42.25 from my mom on Christmas, and couldn’t be happier with it. It’s a super sick board that’s helped me pull in some fat barrels and launch some 500 foot backflips! Haha thanks Ryan Hardy!
Doc: What dimensions and core compositions are you finding hot for your riding at the moment?
DS: The 42.25 has been doing the trick so far.
Doc: And how about accessories – leash, fins and wetsuits?
DS: I usually rep my $12.99 XXL rashie from Costco, my grey and blue Churchills, and my Bullies bicep leash!
D.O.B height and weight?
DS: 12/16/1990
175lbs
Doc: Fave breaks – local and overseas?
DS: SANDYS for sure, on Oahu! It’s the sickest shorebreak in the world, and that’s where I met one of my biggest bodyboarding idols; Jeff Hubbard!! He did an ARS that was at least 10 feet over my head!
Doc: What would be the biggest wave you’ve taken on?
DS: Magic Sands in Kailua, Kona. Heaviest sesh for sure!! 4-6 solid shorebreak.
Doc: And what’s the toughest wave you’ve hit up?
DS: Magic Sands, I almost drowned on the paddle out! haha
Doc: Do you have a crew you hang with in the water?
DS: Oh yeah, im always surfing with someone, I just hate surfing alone and having no one to share the stoke with. I usually surf with one or all of my good friends, Nacoma Herrington, Daniel and Josiah Smith, Bronson Atkins, Isaac Ikeda, Damien Arcangel, Jonah Kamoku, Taite Winthers Barcelona, Keahi Camara, Brain Alben, Mokila Joaquin, Travis Hanley, and a bunch of other underground rippers!
Doc: What’s the maddest roadtrip you’ve been on?
DS: Haha I guess it would be that mission to Magic Sands in Kona. Ok so this is the story, I was partying at my friend’s house one Friday night, when one of us just said, “Dude, I think Kona get waves.” The rest was history; we packed all our boards in my friends Toyota truck and crammed like 4 guys in the back of his truck bed. We booked it straight out to Kona with out any stops for one of the sickest surf sessions and road trips of my life!
Doc: Best boat trip?
DS: Never went on a boat trip.
Doc: Who are some of your fave photogs?
DS: My boy, Isaac Ikeda. He can take a picture of anything and make it look cool, definitely a name to look out for in the future. Besides my friend, I really like all the photogs at Riptide, they always come up with the dopest shit!! Guys like Phil Gallagher, Tungten, Tim Jones, and Trent Mitchell.
Doc: Board history – any chance you can remember and name the boards you have had under you over time? Fave ride ever of all of them?
DS: I started with a shitty old BSD board about 6 years ago. I then went on to a BZ Quatro, after that shifted over to one of my friend’s old hand me down Omegas. Such a good board! After my Omega I went for a Mike Stewart Science 8 board. That thing shredded. And finally im at my VS Hardy board! If I had to choose which board was the best I guess it would be my Science board, I pulled off my first air reverse on that thing!!
Doc: Scariest moment on the boog?
DS: There was this one surf session I had with my friends not to long ago. It was at this heavy shelf break and I was waiting to catch my last wave in. I look toward the shore trying to see where my friends are, when suddenly I felt this rugged, “thing” bump into my leg kinda abruptly. I turn around and see this enormous sea turtle right in my face. It scared me half to death! I swear I almost needed to change my shorts! haha but that was the scariest moment of my life, I thought I was going to get eaten by a shark!
Doc: What do you love most about the BB culture?
DS: Every bodyboarder I know lives and breathes bodyboarding! That’s exactly what this sport need to thrive and grow!!
Doc: What do you reckon BB needs most at the moment?
DS: More money, more recognition, and more BB shops.
Doc: Who would you like to give a shout-out to?
DS: Nacoma Herrington for being the foot holding my bodyboarding door open! My family especially my mom, she’s helped me out so much, whether it be driving me to and from the beach when I didn’t have a car or paying for my contest fees! I would also like to thank everyone reading this! And of course you Doc, thanks for the opportunity!
Doc: And finally do you have sponsors?
DS: None, but I’m building a resume.
Thanks so much for your time Doug
1. Rider: Douglas Sodetani Photographer: Isaac Ikeda
2. Rider: Douglas Sodetani Photographer: Isaac Ikeda
3. Rider: Douglas Sodetani Photographer: Isaac Ikeda
4. Rider: Douglas Sodetani Photographer: Isaac Ikeda
5. Rider: Douglas Sodetani Photographer: Isaac Ikeda
6. Doug with Mike
