Bodyboarding

Lihue, Kauai
25 years old
Drop-knee connoisseur

By Jeff Mull

There’s a lot we can say about Dave Hubbard. Rippah, shreddah, da bugga is funny…and so on and so forth. Throughout his tenure as a pro bodyboarder, the Kauai-born lad has cemented himself as the epitome of good nature. On land, Hubbard’s all smiles, cracking enough one-liners and jokes to warrant his own HBO special. But put young Hub in the water and it’s an entirely different game. Dave’s a spectacle on the sponge—prone or drop-knee. Hell, he’s even got his own Wikipedia listing. Apparently, he’s a bit of an innovator in the realm of the drop-knee world as well, pulling the second-ever drop-knee rolo.
We know there’s a rift between the surf world and the bodyboard world, but if there was ever a man capable of winning the hearts and minds of both worlds, it’s Dave. He’s impossible not to like and, as was previously mentioned, he drips talent. Personally, I’ve surfed with Dave a few times, and every time I see him in the water, he continues to impress me. A certain early morning session at a very-secluded-as-in-I-will-never-mention-the-spots-name-for-fear-of-my-life wave on an outer island stands out in my mind. In the lineup, Dave was redefining what was possible in the keg—bodyboard or thruster. The kid was getting deep, making ridiculous ledges going drop-knee, and driving crazy lines on the face. Impressive stuff indeed.
In his mid-20s, the future looks very bright for the Kauai native and drop-knee world champion. Look for Hub to bring his act around the globe where he’ll continue to wow competitors and spectators alike with his unique lines and unparalleled sense of humor. Good on ya, Dave.