Robust Flavor Interview With Pro Surfer Dan Malloy

May 19th, 2008 Posted in Interviews

Introducing professional surfer Dan Malloy, the youngest of the Malloy brothers, all pro surfers. Dan is a former amateur surf star and longtime pro who shifted gears a few years ago, dropping out of the contest scene in favor of a different path. He opted for photo trips and got sponsored by Patagonia, connecting with the environment and the adventure side of surfing. Read all about Dan Malloy here…

RF: Where did you grow up?
Dan: Ojai and Ventura California

RF: When did you start surfing?
Dan: My dad pushed me into a wave when i was 4 or 5.

RF: What was your first set-up?
Dan: Mach 7-7 with yellow top black rails and orange slick bottom. then i got keith’s old blue 6′1″ single fin with channels. it was the best board ever.

RF: What was the scene like back then?
Dan: catholic school, chores,baseball, then we would beg my dad to drive us out of the valley and down to emma wood. it was us and the lennons and vaughn and mark brown. super disconnected little scene of grommets. we thought emma wood was the best surf spot in the world. we had no idea that the santa clara river mouth was just a few miles away. we would camp out at the wood all summer switching spots and names every couple weeks so they wouldnt boot us. it was epic.

RF: What was the first video you were ever in?
Dan: my brother chris would make little shitty home movies. um..maybe focus was the first real movie i was in.

RF: Which sponsors have you had throughout your surfing career?
Dan: my first sponsor was called rip it up. they gave chris a whole pack of stickers and a t-shirt and i almost shit a brick. oh and moon dogies surf shop and sg surfboards. channel island surfboards was my first real sponsor. they were a huge influence on all of the grommets in this area. we would all meet once a month to surf heats, watch videos and hang out. al would coach us and his wife terry would make us tacos or lasagna. i am definitely lucky to have been around that crew. i rode for hurley for a long time and bob and paul were super rad too. smith for a couple years until i got the silver toe award. anyway, now it is patagonia, nixon and etnies. they are all bad ass companies and i am really stoked to be surfing for them.

RF: When did you start riding for Patagonia?
Dan: 3 years ago.

RF: Where in the world has surfing taken you?
Dan: back to my home up in ojai. and recently to iceland.

RF: What are your favorite surf videos of all time?
Dan: anything with tom curren. litmus. earth to meekus. crystal voyager. come hell or high
water. sunshine sea. momentum 2

RF: Are there any contests that are the most memorable for you?
Dan: yes. my first time to hawaii i drove straight to haleiwa and curren, johnny boy, carrol and martin potter were paddling out for the finals. it was the best heat ever. i could not believe it was real.

RF: You surf with your brothers Keith and Chris all the time, what’s it like to share this experience with them?
Dan: super fun

RF: What else do you do for fun outside of surfing?
Dan: i breath a lot. work with my dad. work for my friend on our boat.

RF: Describe a typical Dan Malloy day:
Dan: right now it is calling a bunch of people i dont know because i am trying to find a place to live up in ojai.

RF: What is next for 2008?
Dan: continue to travel less. id like to learn how to shape a bit. chris is working on a crazy film about the land in chile. i hope i can be a part of that.

RF: Shout outs?
Dan: huge shout out to my little sister mary. she is an angel.