2006 World Longboard Champion Runner-Up
In
2000, a teenage Ned Snow thought his life was over. At the time, his
parents were finalizing a divorce, and young Ned was forced to move
from the quiet West Side of the Big Island to the urban hustle and
bustle of Honolulu. The lanky regular-foot was still competing in the
Hawaii Island amateur organizations on his shortboard with Kaimi Hui
Hui when he made the move to Oahu. Ned left his friends, father, kalo
(taro) farm, home break and a piece of his heart on the Big Island.
Snows tragic transfer to the Gathering Place was actually a blessing in
disguise. Shortly after arrival, Ned realized the benefits of being an
Oahu wave rider. The high frequency of swells hitting the island. The
North Shore. And steady access to backyard waves at Diamond Head. He
would also discover the groovy hula of longboarding in Oahus surf.
Snows 90-and-over skills progressed quickly. His progressive style on
the nose and off the tail soon gained recognition from the local
longboarding community.
Three-time World Longboarding Champion
Rusty Keaulana was the one of the first to acknowledge Neds game. He
took the fair-skinned Snow under his wing, hooking the grom up with
sponsorships from Russ K Makaha and Quiksilver. Under Rustys guidance,
Neds surfing flourished and he was soon making contest finals among
Hawaiis finest longboarders. Snow developed a BFF friendship with Macys
E-Series Longboard Champion Kekoa Uemura. The pair surfs together every day, throws a surf contest/party in Neds backyard every summer and even travel together.
Uemura
and Snow went to Costa Rica for the World title contest this past
summer, where Ned owned Playa Hermosa like it was Pupukea, finishing
the comp with a hard-earned runner-up position. The same ranking Uemura
earned in 2004. As soon as Ned got back to the states, FSM cornered the
21-year-old Hawaii Business College student in California. Fresh off
the plane, Ned Snow discussed the pleasure and pain of second place,
three-time world champions, Hawaii Island and his Professor
Xavier/Magneto relationship with Kekoa Uemura.—DI
FSM:
Bruddah Ned, congrats on your second place finish at the 13th Annual
Rabbit Kekai Longboarding Surfing Classic and ASP Mens World Longboard
Championships.
NS: Thanks. This second is a strong result
because my goal was just to get top 16 and everything else was icing on
the cake. But its not a championship title win. Ive been getting
seconds a lot lately and at first I was bummed. But I like it now
because its motivating me to work harder. I like the challenge.
FSM: What were the conditions like in
the final?
NS:
The final day was pretty good with solid three-foot waves with some
four-footers every once in a while. Towards the start of the final the
tide was rising and the wave was really changing. I had good waves, but
I fell on a couple of good ones. Its so hot [in Costa Rica] it really
drains your body. I felt kind of burnt out.
FSM: How warm are we talking, like hotter than midday Ma-kaha with Kona winds?
NS:
Costa Rica is a really humid hot, like Hilo when its on fire. Its hot
like all day and the ASP only provided water from a jug of water with
cups, like the little ones you would have in an office. Plus, they
didnt even have food and this was a World Championship event. They
should at least provide the competitors with lunch.
FSM: You guys shouldve gotten a quesadilla at least. Now you and Kekoa
can talk about being world runner-up. You guys are best friends on the
beach, but is there a superhero/arch-nemesis relationship when you put
on the contest jerseys?
NS: Kekoas surfing has helped me get to the level that Im at. Rivalries between surfers who are good friends, like Kekoa and myself, get people more into the sport. Its cool because were feeding off each other. I want to beat Kekoa as much as he wants to beat me. In fact, he probably wants to beat me even more now.
FSM: Thats solid that Uemura has influenced your surfing so much. Who has been your biggest influence?
NS:
I have to call Rusty [Keaulana] my biggest influence. He allowed me to
work with a great shaper, Matt Yerxa. And go surf Ma-kaha whenever
there were waves. I have all the respect for the man. Rusty has done so
much for the sport, and I feel he doesnt get enough credit. Hes a
three-time world champ, the equal amount of world titles as Colin
McPhillips, and the [surf industry] holds Colin on this pedestal that I
feel he doesnt deserve. Colin doesnt surf as well as Rusty.
FSM: While were on the subject, any other words about the longboarding surf industry?
NS:
Id like to see a longboard tour or world championship in Hawaii. It
makes way more sense to have a championship event in Hawaii than any
other place in the world. Id like to see it at Ma-kaha. The 1997 World
Longboard Championship contest that Dino [Miranda] won at Ma-kaha was
the best world contest ever. That was also Duane DeSotos first event
where he opened up the surf industrys eyes. There needs to be more
opportunities like that for the younger, up-and-coming Hawaii
longboarders who dont get much exposure.
FSM: Speaking of lack of exposure, we heard youre home break on the Big Island is deep in the boonies?
NS:
[My home break] was a journey from my house. You had to be dedicated to
surfing to wake up at 4:30 am so you can get there before the wind
blows out at 8:30 am. There are taro farmers down there and its not
overpopulated and I hope it stays like that. Just taro farmers living
off the land. My hats off to them because I think thats what life is
all about. If youre happy, who cares if youre just making it.
FSM: Considering Oahu and the Big Island were both critical in your development, where do you claim youre from?
NS:
The Big Island for sure! Just because I transplanted on Oahu doesnt
mean my roots are not in the Big Island. Im looking forward to going
back to the Big Island more these days to do the surf trips I used to
do when I was a kid.
» 1 Comment
1Comment
at Thursday, 27 March 2008 04:20
If thier is any way you can get this comment to Ned (Frank) Snow let him know that his cousin Billy Snow is very proud of him with all he has accomplished. We miss him for i have not seen him for ten years.
» Post Comment
Only registered users can write a comment.
Please login or register.
|
