Transitsurf and Le Boogie magazine managed to get a hold of Winston during a short break between Aus and US tours to ask him a few questions.

TS: You come from a family rich in bodyboarding history. Your father, Chaz, was the first bodyboarder to surf Shark Island in the late 70’s and soon became renowned for his fearless wave riding approach. Did he push you to pickup and ride a bodyboard or was it something you saw others doing and wanted to give it a try for yourself?

Both my parents charged. My earliest memories are of sitting on Cronulla Point and watching my parents take waves that surfers couldn’t / wouldn’t. I was in the water from an early age. I tried surfing, but I found I liked the feeling of riding a bodyboard in the barrel lot more than on a surf board. I think you can ride parts of the barrel with more function on a booger as apposed to a surfboard.

TS: A lot of the early bodyboarding video’s by guys like Sean Manning and Chris Stroh featured predominately punk rock soundtracks. Growing up watching these films would it be fair to say the music influenced you as an artist?

Soundtracks are what got me into punk in the first place. It was this music that made me just want to get in the water and go crazy. It got stuck in my head and just seemed to fit wave riding so well. I’d find the bands on the soundtracks and go the local CD shop and order them in. That’s were it all started.

TS: Despite fading from the mainstream bodyboarding spotlight your relationship with one of bodyboarding’s premiere brands, Unite, continues. Tell us a little bit about your relationship with Joel Taylor and what it was like to be growing up in such close proximity to each other.

I’ve know Joel for years. I think we met at school when I was about 14, he was from Lennox, which is a town just down the coast from Byron. We used to bump into each other in the waves and went on some trips together. We hung out a bit, went to contests together and both pushed each other pretty hard. I know for a fact I wouldn’t surf like I do now if it wasn’t for Joel’s influence. In the water he was a freak. It was always the case of thinking you nailed the biggest move of the session, then Joel pulling some freak move out of nowhere and put you straight back in your place.

I was out at pipe the day of the accident. I can remember the helicopter coming over, and I just had this horrible feeling it was for someone I knew. I freaked out and thought of my little brother who was out that day, but he was on the beach when I came in so I was really relieved. Then he told me it was Joel and my heart just sunk.

After about a year of recovery Joel stated filming me in the surf. I’d go pick him up for an early and we’d treck around in my shitty car and he’d film my pre dawn sessions in the cold morning air. He told me the idea for Unite around that time and I can remember think, this is going to be big, simply because I knew Joel’s personality and determination. If he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it well, and he’s going to do it right. From him showing me the first couple of designs and cuts, to building a mini empire, I’ve seen him do it all off his own back.

TS: A lot of your live shows you are wearing unite tee’s. Has there ever been any discussion on a possible PWD / Unite collaboration?

Not really, simply because I’m the only bodyboarder left in the band hahahaha, so it wouldn’t really fit too well, but personally I’m always going to back whatever Joel does, so me repping Unite isn’t going to change any time soon.

Parkway Drive the DVD OUT NOW

For Parkway Drive official merchandise and tour dates be sure to checkout www.parkwaydrivemerch.com

Riptide cover images © Morrison Media

FEATURE 1st PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2008

TS: Mike, welcome and thank you for your time.

Thank you very much for yours!

TS: You have had close ties to the bodyboarding and surfing scene here in Western Australia for quite some time. How did you first get involved?

I’ve been a keen body boarder since I was about 14. I went to school at Carine High in Perth and the lifestyle at the time was immensely beach orientated, so needless to say I was surrounded by some very good surfers and bodyboarders. Since then I’ve worked and managed surf retail outlets and for the past 7 years have been involved a little more behind the scenes at a wholesale level working as a brand manager for a number of labels. Throw into the mix that I’m a keen photographer and videographer and that I have had the pleasure of growing up with some of the sports best, it just all kind of snowballed.

TS: Like others such as Jeremy Grieve and Chris White you first made a name for yourself as a videographer working alongside the likes of Andy Lawrence. Was photography a natural progression or was it something you have always been interested in pursuing?

I have always had a love for photography, but I think regardless of whether you’re sitting behind a video or a stills setup, then you share a strong visual sense. Using a stills camera at school taught me a lot about using video in and out of the water, and my progression with video taught me a lot about how I currently approach my photography!

Guys like Chris and Andy are inspirational on different levels, Andy is extremely creative and artistic, he dissects every aspect of both his video and stills work, where as Wong has always just put his balls on the line, physically putting himself in positions a lot of others would hesitate in and you can’t help but respect that!

TS: Tell us about the gear you shoot with, we understand you have a dual flash water setup. How did that come about and how does it work?

I don’t use the flash set up enough, but when it all comes together the results are amazing. My love of art, fashion and skate mags were the inspiration for following flash photography. The whole idea is to take the concept of a studio shoot, pick it up and chuck it in the water. Adding artificial light to naturally lit conditions gives a photo extra depth, detail and almost imitates a form of art. You’ll stare at a surf flash photos longer for the simple fact that it looks fake, it’s not something that the naked eye would generally capture. An extra person, a switched on rider and favorable lighting conditions are needed to ensure the job gets done.

TS: As an advocate of the digital age and experiencing first hand the pro’s and con’s over traditional film photography, what in your opinion has been the biggest advantage for yourself in the development of your own photography since making the switch?

It goes without saying that you need a basic knowledge of what makes a great photo but knowing the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of your equipment is the biggest key to developing your photography. The next big thing is being creative, when you have 3 or 4 guys shooting the same session then the most unique and innovative image will always get snapped up first. Digital has undoubtedly changed the face of photography forever, most people will say it is for the better and I would tend to agree. Always remember that photography is a visual art, every photo is open to interpretation and judgment. What you might consider to be an amazing photo, others might not like and vice versa. Some of my favorite images will never be published and at the same time I’ve had some run that I would have preferred not.

TS: The magazine editors and riders have all had an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings on the subject of tow out bodyboarding. As a photographer who has been a first hand witness to its rise, what is your personal opinion on this aspect of bodyboarding?

From a photographic perspective it’s one of the best things ever to happen to the sport . It’s a great way to turn poor conditions into a positive and also to make use of good backdrops in locations where the conditions may not get any better than 2 or 3ft. Towing out tests a riders skills, I’ve seen guys having to completely adjust their styles to get whipped into waves and I also have no doubt that that learning to control your body whilst completing a 10ft tow out boost is good preparation for surfing solid wedging and bowly waves.

For the likes of Mitch, Brad, Virtue and Chad a ski is at the top of the travel checklist alongside board and fins, I would class it as an integral part of pushing the limits of both small and big wave riding.

TS: You have worked closely with the likes of Tim Fowler, Ben Horrocks, Trent Sanford, Brad Hughes, Chad Jackson etc. Do you have any favorite riders you like to work with and do you think it is key for photographers and riders alike to work together to produce extraordinary images?

Riders and photographers definitely have to click and work together. Both parties are there to get a job done, so there is definitely an element of business involved. With petrol prices the way they are and the introduction of digital cameras and jet skis, there is a lot of money and risk involved so you have to be on your game. As far as favorite riders go, the list is endless but I mostly shoot with Brad, Chad, Mitch, Trent and Virtue. But there are also a lot of guys I would love to spend more time shooting with like Luehman, Backshall, Szczepanski, McCurdy, Fowler and Horrocks. Everyone of them is an amazing body boarder and all for different reasons.

TS: As a water photographer have you had any injuries or close calls which made you think twice about the positions you put yourself into in the name of getting the shot?

I have had a couple of close encounters at Box and North Point that have shaken me up but asides from that (touch wood) nothing too serious. I have however split my head open with my water housing while shooting with Trent Sanford on a terrible day at Trigg and I must confess that I returned the favor to Whitey putting a hole in his noggin while we were mucking around at Cobbles a few years back! Both were with a video camera, so it seems as though the stills setup has been a little luckier.

TS: Do you have any surfing or bodyboarding sessions you were witness too that have stuck in your mind due to sheer lunacy, perfection or outstanding riding of the riders etc?

There are 2 video sessions that I’ll never forget. One was with Sean Virtue at a wedge down in the south west, after we checked the whole coast on a wet and windy onshore day we rocked up at 11am as a last resort. When we arrived it was light offshore and pumping with no one around. Sean spent the next 3 hours charging what at the time were some of the biggest airs on the craziest wedges I had ever seen. The results can be seen in his section of Superstars 2, that section is amazing!

The second was a tow out session with Hardy and Virtue. It was in the infancy of tow out body boarding and I’m pretty sure it was the first time Hardy had been behind a ski. I was filming for the Tension movies and I just remember swimming in the flats and thinking how lucky I was to be capturing such fresh and innovative footage. I’ll never forget that arvo back at Whitey’s house, we were watching the footage and everyone was so blown away with what these guys had just done, there were 2 cameras on land and me in the water and everyone had incredible footage.

TS: For any budding photographers out there what is the most important bit of advice you can give?

Do it cause you love it not cause it’s the cool thing to do and don’t drop in on other people’s photo sessions.

TS: Mike, thank you yet again for your time. Any last words?

Don’t upgrade your Whopper meals. None of us need the extra sugar, salt or added expense. It’s a con!

The shadow cast from the likes of established and emerging riders Jackson, Hughes, Luehman, Backshall and Fowler etc is vast and unforgiving for anybody, and with the tight knit nature of bodyboarding in the state its little wonder why you would have most likely never heard of Brett Ayres before now.

FEATURE 1st PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2008

TS: Brett, welcome and congratulations on being the first rider chosen to feature in our “out of the shadows” series.

Haha, Thanks for having me.

TS: Firstly, details are scarce so tell us a little about yourself.

Well I turned 20 this year, I’ve lived in Perth WA for 12 years and before then some country town up north. I work as an electrical apprentice and starting surfing about 4 years ago for something to do.

TS: Brendon Backshall is a regular surfing partner of yours; do you think his riding has influenced your style and attitude in and out of the water?

Surfing with him has changed my surfing heaps through style and how I go about it in general, it’s good to surf with some who surfs well consistently. It kind of pushes you to try harder and learn to surf better. Out of the water just someone to go on weekend bender with whenever he breaks up with a girlfriend really. ha! Which is pretty often.

TS: Like Brendon you’re not a regular face around the competition scene. While obviously not hindering your growing reputation locally do you feel that with the current state of bodyboarding there is a prerequisite to have good competition results before getting noticed from sponsors and magazines alike?

Competition riding is definitely a good thing, especially when your younger as it gives you a taste of competition and rivalry against other riders. Having good comp results is obviously going to get you further but I don’t think it’s the only way to get sponsors or magazine coverage. Personally because I am sponsorless I would rather spend my time and money on getting good waves and photos because I find it a lot more satisfying. This is also because any competition I have seen held in Perth has not been anything but 2ft beach break waves.

TS: Until recently there has been a large media focus given to eastern state riders. How do you feel this has affected the attitudes of not just yourself but a lot of the other emerging riders in WA?

I think that this has made WA riders even more eager to make an impression on the media because it would feel like more of an accomplishment to turn heads than if WA was in the limelight repeatedly.

TS: Living in Perth, the world’s most isolated city, do you have any immediate plans for travel abroad?

Living in Perth is good, I like how isolated it is but I’m hanging out to surf somewhere different for a change. I went to Sumatra with Alex (Turoy) and Tom (O’Brien) a short while ago and that was good fun to surf different waves and in good weather too. Various trips up and down the WA coastline is always easy to hook up, maybe even a quick run over east when the swell is good and my tax return is well timed (laughs).

TS: In the past a lot of riders have used places such as Pipeline as a stepping stone to promote and pursue a career. With the quality of waves on offer within 12 hours north and south of your home do you feel the pressure to follow this trend or forge a new path for yourself ratpack style?

There are so many waves lurking around WA it’s not funny and I’m frothing to explore, travel and surf as many different waves as possible to improve my surfing. In saying that however I would still love to go to Hawaii for the waves and experience.

TS: Brett, thank you for your time and lastly, any shout outs you would like to give?

It’s been a pleasure, thanks for offering me the chance to be interviewed and thanks to Mickey an Alex for allowing you the use of the photos. Yew!

FEATURE 1st PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2008

TS: Brendon, thanks for your time. What’s been happening lately?

BB: Not a lot has been happening of late. To much time to watch the Olympics and generally being slack due to an ankle injury.

TS: Doesn’t sound too good, what exactly happened?

BB: I have torn the main tendons in my ankle and the ligaments through the top of my foot. It happened surfing 2 foot Scarborough on a 1ft wave.

TS: With all the time out of the water of late we bet your itching to get back in the water. We understand you recently acquired a Jet Ski. Is tow outs something you are interested in or are you looking at the investment as more of a big wave aid?

BB: I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to actually get back in the water and have fun. I like doing tow outs and it’s always so much fun but ideally the purchase was made to tow into waves more and just using for exploring and having fun. It’s something that I’m really excited to hopefully start doing a lot more of, that and catching fish.

TS: You have worked closely with Reon Fisher over at Manta HQ to perfect your board model due in stores soon. Was big wave riding something you had in mind when making your refinements or have you opted to focus on all around rideability given you are known most for your smooth style of riding.

BB: My boards have been the same for around a year now and when having to sort everything out with Reon at Manta for my board model none of the dimensions changed. I’d say the boards I have been riding this past 12 months were based on all round rideability though and what will be in stores is exactly what I am riding as when I ask to get new boards now they are stock boards.

TS: You spent your early years in Geraldton alongside the likes of Sean Virtue and Kris Nelson whose riding was primarily aerial based. What influence did these riders have on the way you perceive a wave should be ridden?

BB: At that stage I had only just begun to bodyboard and to have guys like Sean, Kris and Ben Sukinik down the local beach to look up to was a huge influence. Probably not so much on how I rode my bodyboard as I was only beginning but definitely on wanting to bodyboard as I looked up to those guys like gods when I was younger. Particularly Ben, even now the way he rode a bodyboard is still the way I wish I could ride mine.

TS: From Geraldton you moved over to the Sunshine Coast where you knocked up some impressive competition results. However since moving back to your home state you have been a noticeable absentee from the competition scene. Was this a personal choice or did you find the lack of local events in the south west region a major factor in your decision to focus more on free riding?

BB: I’m not really to sure how it initially happened. My first year back in WA I did all the competitions and I was lucky enough to go ok in them too. I think a major part of it was the waves I get to surf at home on such a regular basis are perfect for bodyboarding and I enjoy it. I have so much fun doing it but the waves the comps are held in are always so terrible and I never enjoy myself where as when I was living on the Sunshine Coast the waves were much the same be it in competition or when I’d just go to have fun. Ideally though next year I would like to actually start following the comps at least a little bit closer then what I have been the last few years.

TS: Tell us a bit about the local scene in WA. There’s obviously some guys your surf with more than others. Who has been impressing you the most?

BB: The main riders that are doing the most impressive things are obviously Brad (Hughes) and Mitch (Rawlins), those two guys are by far my two favorite bodyboarders. Aside from the main guys Adam (Luehman) and Tom (O’Brian) are who I usually surf with. Adam probably doesn’t realise it but he is a huge influence on my bodyboarding and is always impressing me with his skills.

TS: It seems Adam and yourself are always categorized together when talking about Western Australia’s arial young guns. Is there any competition between yourselves?

BB: I’m not sure how Adam feels about it but I wouldn’t say there is any really strong competition / rivalry as we both approach bodyboarding pretty differently. We do strive to out do each other and I know I get that damn jealous when he does something amazing wave after wave but I’m always that amped for him and really like watching him more so then almost anyone else.

TS: Working for fellow bodyboarder Tom O’Brien must be fairly interesting. What’s the situation like when the surfs pumping?

BB: Working for Tom is by far the best / funniest / funnest thing ever! I’ve never laughed more in my life then in the past 6 months working for him. He has taught me a lot though and is a huge influence on me as he is so successful and so young and one of the coolest guys ever! When the waves are good there is definitely no dramas with getting to go surfing as Toms the boss and it is only him and I working and he’s always so keen to surf so I never miss out on waves and getting extra money in the bank balance.

TS: Brendon, thanks for your time, are there any shout outs you would like to give?

BB: Thanks to Reon at Manta for always helping me out. Todd and Dav at IAMNONE for keeping me covered with clothing and to all the grubs that put up with me and are my good friends!