Portrait // Jye McDonald
RT: Can you tell us about yourself, where you grew up and how you got into bodyboarding?
I grew up in a little country village on the North Coast called Tyalgum, it was so fun growing up there. Now I live in Murwiilumbah, it's like 25 minutes inland which is sort of annoying. All my mates that surf pay me out about it. I first started bodboarding when my older brothers started to get into just mucking around on the shorey when i was like 12.
Elliot flipping out of D'Bah. PHOTO // Jye McDonald
RT: Do you think you'd like to get onto the world tour or free surf? Which one appeals more to you?
At the moment free surfing because I usually go terrible in comps but I really want to work on my comp surfing and qualifying for the top 24 would be insane. I also don't think anything would beat the feeling of winning a world title.
RT: Also could you tell us about that wave Slater called you into at the reef?
Yeah i guess it was pretty lucky just being in the right place at the right time. He was paddling on to it but wasn't going to make it so he told me to go, I got kinda pumped but it was worth it.
RT: You went to Hawaii this year for the first time, how did you find the experience on a whole?
At the moment free surfing because I usually go terrible in comps but I really want to work on my comp surfing and qualifying for the top 24 would be insane. I also don't think anything would beat the feeling of winning a world title.
RT: Also could you tell us about that wave Slater called you into at the reef?
Yeah i guess it was pretty lucky just being in the right place at the right time. He was paddling on to it but wasn't going to make it so he told me to go, I got kinda pumped but it was worth it.
RT: You went to Hawaii this year for the first time, how did you find the experience on a whole?
Yeah it was a really good experience. I somehow managed to burn someone on the first session out there on a big day so I was so careful not to do it again. I definitely learnt a lot and being around everyone improves your surfing heaps.
RT: Have you got any trips planned for the end of this year?
Not definitely yet but I'm trying to save the coin for Canaries.
Slowed down hack. PHOTO // Jye McDonald
RT: What would you say to try and sell yourself to a possible sponsor? Is hustling your thing, or would you like that to happen organically?
I have no clue mabye suck up to them heaps and talk yourself up. I'm an organic kind of guy though.
RT: If you could have a heat against any bodyboarder in the world who would it be?
Definitely Stewart.
RT: Who do you look up to in regards of successful people not just in bodyboarding?
Anyone that has a good attitude and is down to earth.
RT: Have you got any trips planned for the end of this year?
Not definitely yet but I'm trying to save the coin for Canaries.
Slowed down hack. PHOTO // Jye McDonald
RT: What would you say to try and sell yourself to a possible sponsor? Is hustling your thing, or would you like that to happen organically?
I have no clue mabye suck up to them heaps and talk yourself up. I'm an organic kind of guy though.
RT: If you could have a heat against any bodyboarder in the world who would it be?
Definitely Stewart.
RT: Who do you look up to in regards of successful people not just in bodyboarding?
Anyone that has a good attitude and is down to earth.
