The Man Who Needs No Introduction
Feeling some stiffness in the joints.
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WW: A lot of riders say they have a hard time trying a new trick again after stacking hard on their first few attempts. What trick did you have the hardest time learning and how do you mentally prepare yourself to attempt a new trick again after thrashing yourself on the first couple of tries?
SM: If I crash and can still ride, I will usually try the trick again so my head doesn't get in the way too much. It doesn't always work, but generally.
WW: Let's talk about equipment. There seems to be a proliferation of multi-finned boards on the market lately? With your single finned Murray, do you ever suffer from fin envy or have feelings of fin inadequacy? Or is it all just marketing hype?
SM: It's all about riding style and what works for you. I work well with single fin and a different channel arrangement for next year.
WW: Tell us about the new Belmont line of boards that you and Paul O'Brien are working on. What will be unique about them?
SM: It's pretty much the same boards that we've had in the past. I'm tweakin' them out just a little bit possibly. We're kind of working on that right now, but I've just found that my existing board is just my favorite. I haven't been able to top it yet, but its gonna be in 3 different sizes, a 131, 137, and a 143.
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"...I'll always look up to him just for being
one of the most innovative riders. "
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WW: So it will be based on your current shape?
SM: Yeah.
WW: Which one are you going to be riding?
SM: I've been riding the 131.
WW: Are you gonna stay with that one?
SM: Pretty much. I think so. I really like it but, ya know, its also possibly gonna happen that were gonna do a 134.5 and maybe a 139.5.
WW:So you'd have five sizes all together?
SM: Possibly. Maybe get rid of some boards. Ya know, we're kind of throwing it around right now.
Spending some time over Arizona (Russ Olsen).
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WW: So you're working with Paul O'Brien on that stuff?
SM: Yeah.
WW: Will you be riding the new Hyperlite 30/60 bindings?
SM: As soon as I get some.
WW: Oh really?
SM: Yeah cuz they have to hand build them right now. I mean, they're all hand built, but they have to hand cut the rubber and they are kind of built one pair at a time, instead of on an assembly line.
WW: Are there going to be different variations of that or is it just one boot pretty much?
SM: Umm, I think its gonna be pretty much just one boot, but there is talk of this year, instead of going with the standard foot plate, that they're gonna make a better toe ramp on it and a higher arch and possibly two different sized plates.
WW: Would two different sized plates mean a smaller plate for the small?
SM: Yep.
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