Please give Jared a warm Aussie welcome for a fellow booger, about to take on the dry, sucking, pounding and punishing place that is SI, where the ocean gives no welcome..... only challenge.
Doc: Hey Jared where are you from in South Africa and what are your local waters these days?
JH: Well I grew up in a small university town called Stellenbosch in the wine region of the Western Cape,started on the foam at a crappy beachy called Strand Pipe.
Luckily enough there is a pretty world class wave just round the corner from Strand Pipe known as Caves, so I learnt some Valuable stuff there.
When I was 14 my parents moved out to a suburb north of Cape Town called Tableview, which at that time (kinda slowed down now) was a hotbed of bodyboarding talent in the area.
I call Tableview home now, but I still cruise out to caves every chance I get.
Doc: Jared, a lot of folks don’t know much about the geography of the waves you have over there. Could you give us a run-down of the Geography (reefs, bechbreaks, Bommies etc) wave types and the general Booger scene there?
JH: Yeah,Cape Town has a peninsula coastline,so we have at least one wave that is offshore and breaking 365 days a year. Not all of them are worldclass,but we have a couple of gems. There is not much in the way of all time reef breaks near the city,but further along the west and east coasts there are some beasts that are just starting to get explored. We have 3 pretty sick right hand wedgey peaky waves that are my favourite,Caves, Landudno and the Hoek. The other cool thing about the peninsula is that there is a beach that faces every direction,so just like the winds,there is a spot for every swell size and direction.
Out my side(Tableview), is mainly just soft beachbreaks that can turn on if the banks play along.
Doc: You’ve been invited to the 2009 SIC, what are some of your feelings behind taking the legendary place on? (give us the real stuff bru – adrenaline, fears, thoughts, amp, uncertainties)
JH: I am really anxious to get in the water there. My main concern is that I have heard its super hard to surf, so I'd love to get a few sessions in there before the event, not sure if it will be possible though.
When I heard I had gotten the wildcard I was just so over the moon hey. I’m really keen to get out there and bust some big airs, show the world what I can do. Hoping I don’t kook it. I know it’s pretty gnarly at times and I’ll be respectful of that. I guess I’m a little scared, but nothing overboard.
Doc: You came over to Oz in June, harsh place in a way aye. You’ve a blog at : http://frothspot.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-begginings.html
You’ve been hanging out with Leuhman, Griz and others – what has been striking you about Oz waves-wise and the whole boog-scene here?
JH: Yeah I started the froth to use as a self promotion tool for myself and also toi just give whoever was interested an insight into where I’m at, its still got a long way to go.Its pretty rookie at the moment. Well I met Griz in Hawaii and I cruised with them while they were in saffa last month, get on really well with them and its been sick surfing with them and whatnot. I just really enjoy their company too, good guys. I haven’t had many waves yet, but im really impressed by the number of kids over here riding bodyboards and how big the industry is compared to back home, guys getting backed properly for doing their job you know, real good to see.
The waves speak for themselves, I cant wait to get some hell pits.
Doc: You’ve “Fallen in Love” with Box in W.A, have you managed to hit it when it’s cranking yet? What is it about that break that grabs you so?
JH: The box has got to be one of the sickest waves I have surfed and it wasn’t even that good when I got it. I love airs, that’s my best thing about bodyboarding and I just went so high at the box, I said on my blog that it felt good to go so high and so far out that I felt disorientated. That sums it up for me. It’s really well suited to the bodyboard, it’s got a little bit of everything. I haven’t got it good yet, and it’s pretty sad to think that I wont get it good (just storm after storm lined up for the remainder of my WA trip).
Doc: what mix of Prone and DK are you riding?
JH: I am 100% prone, I suck so bad at dropknee and it doesn’t really appeal to me that much anyway. Like, I fully appreciate what the guys are doing, my fellow countryman, friend and mentor Sacha Specker is the best in the world in my eyes, some of the things I have seen him do is just insane. He rides DK like he is on a surfboard, which is the most functional way in my eyes.
But yeah,for me, I’ll stick to lying down haha.
Doc: What boards are you running in your current quiver and what are your current faves?
JH: Ah my current boards are pretty weak, I have a black ‘mystery board’ that I got in Hawaii, it was the sickest board while it lasted (3 weeks) and now I just use it in big heavy waves coz its got so much flex and response.
My main Board is a Science TR which is also still from Hawaii, it goes alright, not really my kind of board, bit stiff and too big, but I ride it pretty well so that’s ok, should have my new boards from Al Taylor and Mike Stewart in time for the island contest.
They are gonna be sick and I think like nothing ever seen before.
Doc: What dimensions and core compositions are you finding hot for your riding at the moment?
JH: To be honest, I ride whatever I get. As long as it’s a 41, crescent tail and a narrowish shape with good colours I’m happy. My Shaper and Sponsor Al Taylor, knows what I like and every now and then He throws something new into the mix and it always goes super well. So you could say I put my full trust in Al, if it fails I blame him haha. Nah, I just have always believed that a good rider enhances the boards performance and not the other way around, at the top end of the sport anyway.
But in saying that, I have had some boards that I ride way better than others, but I’ll give a run down on that further along.
Doc: And how about accessories – leash, fins and wetsuits?
JH: I Ride for Limited Edition fins, they are really sick, I have been riding that shape for a while now and I find they are the best for big scoops and are aesthetically pleasing.
Leashes have to be a bicep but I’m not in a contract with anyone at the moment.
My wetties are sorted out by Reef Wetsuits in South Africa, I have been with them for about six years now.
Doc: D.O.B height and weight?
JH: 22/04/89
I don’t know my exact height, sorry. Pretty medium sized though.
Between 68 and 72kg, it fluctuates.
Doc: Fave breaks – local and overseas?
JH: Local you will always find me at Caves, around my house or at a reef up the West Coast, pretty much a little Skatepark for bodyboarding.
Doc: What would be the biggest wave you’ve taken on?
JH: Umm,pretty hard to say, we have a contest in South Africa called the Bayview big wave, which I have some good results in, last year it was held in conditions of up to 18ft maybe?
Otherwise I have had some pretty big ones up the west Coast at a place called Skaap Eiland and further. Oh and I got a pretty big one in this years Pipe contest, I kina blew it though, looking for the safe part of the bowl, next time I’ll just hit the peak for sure. Shoot myself to instant stardom and a hospital bed.
Doc: And what’s the toughest wave you’ve hit up?
JH: I found Pipe real challenging, especially as Lefts are not my strong point. I probably had some of the best waves of my life there, made even sweeter by the fact that they were not easy.
Doc: Do you have a crew you hang with in the water?
JH: Oh yes, I get in so much trouble when I sneak off on trips with only a select few, everyone else just whines like stuck pigs.
The guys that push me are guys like Specker, Mark Mccarthy, Daniel Worsley and this younger guy Jarret Johnson, he’ll go on some mad waves, and I’m not one to be outdone by haha.
But I also have my close friends, guys that I surf with on a daily basis that push me too, Simon Heale, Lourance Klose, Jarret and the list goes on. Simon and Jarret are actually in Australia now too, they are such sick guys, if you see them down the south coast of NSW go say hi.
Doc: What’s the maddest roadtrip you’ve been on?
JH: Ah Definitely one I went on while I was still in school with Ian Kruger and Specker, the waves were just so good.
We all got really good results in the comps which made it that much sweeter.
Doc: Best boat trip?
JH: Never been! Only boat I have been on is one to Robben Island(where nelson Mandela was imprisoned) on a school outing haha.
Doc: Who are some of your fave photogs?
JH: In South Africa, Damon Crawford, Cobus Bosman, Simon Heale, Ferret,Specker and the list goes on.
The only internationals I have ever worked with have been Alex Turoy, such a rad guy, I have been cruising with him In WA and Maurice Aubuchnon from Hawaii.
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?
JH: Aaaaait,here goes.
Aquafin 500(first board ever,no slick.)
Wave Warrior Bat(first board with slick.)
Morey Pro Comp 40
Pick up my first Sponsor Rossi Bodyboards.
I had a number of customs from him that went really well.
Leave Rossi and Sign with elemenohpee.
Virtue Bat 41. (One of my best boards to date)
Skipp 41 Crescent (My first Crescent tail board, this signalled a major shift in my Career,I won my first national title on this board in 2005).
Leave E and sign with Vortex, I had a number of Custom and stock boards from Vortex while I was with them, the one custom board I had was amazing, actually every Custom I had from them was amazing, they just didn’t last.
I signed with Al taylor designs in 2007 and Haven’t looked back since. Al makes crazy boards and is one of the most knowledgeable guys in the sport of Bodyboarding.
He teaches me a lot and I have honestly Loved every Board he has made me.
He is super understanding of my needs and even though I go through a lot of boards he has always been there with a new one for me.
I had this one that was pretty much my model, It was such a sick shape.
I rode that Thing till its absolute death.
Doc: Scariest moment on the boog?
JH: For sure my scariest moment was in this years Pipe Pro, I was lying in 4th and I needed a big score to move ahead. Anyone who has surfed pipe will know that once it gets over 10ft,backdoor kinda becomes a no go, and paddling back through Backdoor is suicide.
So anyway, I’m sitting there, no score, and a 6ft right comes through, I didn’t even look and paddled straight into it, I got a barrel and came out to score a 7 or something(they reward you for going backdoor as its way more unpredictable than pipe),I pulled off and heard that I was in 2nd,but 3rd was very close too me, I needed one more and there was like 2 mins left on the clock, so I figured stuff it, I’ll chance it. True as day, a 2nd reef set started feathering and the boys and myself thought I was tickets, I was so scared and just praying so hard that I never got caught nevermind make the heat.
I just managed to sneak under the first ones, by this stage closer to pipe and just swung around and went on the 2nd one (half coz I needed another and half coz I wanted to get the hell out of there) but when I got to the bottom it just went straight into a massive beach long close out.I rolled it,somehow stuck it and won the heat,best transition ever.
Doc: What do you love most about the BB culture?
JH: Just the good times, hanging with the boys.
South Africa is just the sickest place for cruising and having good times. I love the fact that were different and I’ll always stand up for lying down.
Doc: What do you reckon BB needs most at the moment?
JH: Globally, I don’t know, I haven’t seen enough yet.
In saffa, kids need to make and support a core bodyboarding label, and in turn companies need to start supporting riders properly.
I will most likely get in trouble for saying that, But it’s the truth. Otherwise Mccarthy might be the last success to ever come out of SA.
Doc: Who would you like to give a shout-out to?
JH: Id like to give a shout out to all the saffa crew making a go at the world stage, spending their own money, without any financial backing just to put Saffa on the international map. It’s paying off.
My girlfriend, mom and dad and my family.
Doc: And finally who are your sponsors?
JH: My sponsors are :
Al Taylor/Mike Stewart Designs.
Limited Edition Fins.
Sport Unlimited Stores.
ThereforeIamclothing.
Reef Wetsuits.
Edit 13th April 2010: Jerry's new blog is up at sixty40 http://www.sixty40.co.za/blog/jared-houston
Jared has sent a sweet selection of pics to go with the interview, but there are a whole lot more in Jared’s profile on the Sixy40 website (S.A Booger mag) at:
http://www.sixty40.co.za/profile-jared-houston-14
1. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Cobus Bosman
2. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Marcel Habet
3. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Spex
4. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Damon Crawford (DC)
5. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Damon Crawford (DC)
6. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Damon Crawford (DC)
7. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Damon Crawford (DC)
8. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Damon Crawford (DC)
9. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Damon Crawford (DC)
10. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Damon Crawford (DC)
11. Rider: Jared Houston Photographer: Damon Crawford (DC)
