Talk Story: Clay Marzo E-mail
ClayMarzoTR_MG_3248.jpgFull Name: Clayton Michael Marzo
Age: 18
Homebreak: Puamana Pools
Stance: Goofyfoot
Sponsors: Quiksilver, Vestal, Spy, Rock Star Energy, Creatures of Leisure, Super Boards, Future Fins

“Cruisey on land and demolition mode in the water,” boasts Quiksilver Team Manager, Chad Wells, of 18-year-old team rider Clay Marzo. “Clay has the ability to read waves like someone that has been surfing for a lifetime blended with the gnarliest new school bag of flare.” When you’re modest by nature, like Maui-grown Clay Marzo, sometimes others have to do the bragging for you.

The son of Jill and Gino Marzo, Clay grew up surfing Puamana Pools on Maui’s west side with older half-brother, Cheyne Magnussen, and friends. Clay started competing in local amateur contests at age six and is still going strong. Since dominating the prestigious NSSA Nationals Open Men’s division in 2005, Clay has been competing in what WQS events he can fit in between jet setting from boat trip to video project and back. Clay has been featured in Young Guns II and III, Burn, and TransWorld SURF’s first film, Tomorrow Today; he has graced numerous magazine covers, including yours truly, FSM, at the age of fifteen; and most recently, launched his own website, www.claymarzo.com.

Clay doesn’t talk a big game. No, the shaggy haired, green-eyed goofy-foot seems to barely talk at all (although according to childhood friend and travel buddy, Granger Larsen, he is super hyper when the waves are good and only shy around people he doesn’t know). Regardless, a kid like Clay doesn’t need to hype himself up to turn heads. The photos streaming across FreeSurf’s desk of Clay conquering the deepest barrels and throwing the most technical fins-free turns with reckless abandon scream for attention. No, Clay will probably not be starring in the next reality series on surf stars and their fabulous lives. Nor will he be hosting the next episode of Fuel TV rocking a Speedo. Clay would probably shy away from that type of thing. But count on filmmakers and photographers to keep documenting his every move, as Clay’s radical maneuvers in the lineup are always attention-worthy. And that is why FSM continues to probe and pry at this young phenom to find out what he’s all about and what he’s got in store for us.

When you were a grom, who did you look up to?
When I was a grom I looked up to my brother because I was young and he was the new guy coming up. It was cool to have him. I surfed with my brother and learned from him and his friends like Ryan Jung and other underground surfers.

Have you had any hero/Hollywood moments?
Yeah, It’s been happening a lot more and more. Like kids looking up to me, I guess. In Florida, it was the first time I had to sign stuff for kids, there were little kids coming up to me and they wanted to touch my board. It was kind of a trip.

What’s the biggest compliment from a hero of yours?
Probably the best compliment was on the Young Guns II boat trip when Slater complimented me on this one turn I did. I was stoked after that.

It seems like you do a lot of surf trips with Kelly Slater. What have you learned from him?
Just to have fun when you’re out there surfing and not think about everything. I’m trying to just to get better at that. I’ve heard him say that, to just free your mind out there.

What is your main focus in life right now?
My main focus is just to get a good video part and have people see that and like it. Hopefully get some good results in the contests and make it to the ‘CT some time too.

What sets you apart from your peers like Dusty Payne or Granger Larsen in your surfing?
We all just had our own paths and had our own visions. We have our own style, that’s how we’re different. We have different styles, but we all surf the same wave so we kind of surf alike too.

What is your favorite maneuver?
I like trying airs and for sure getting barreled, also throw tail ‘cause it feels good!

What is your favorite wave in the world?
The Mill and Pipe, because Hawai‘i is insane!

Are you and your brother Cheyne pretty different?
Yes. Cheyne is way more outgoing, but surfing is the best thing that has happened to both of us. I’m shy. Cheyne is not.

He kind of took the Hollywood route and you are going more the contest and video project way. Why do you think that is?
He went at it for a while and just lost it. He partied for a while. I’m still doing the contests so hopefully I won’t drop out of it. I don’t know. My brother just did his own thing.

Are you and your brother pretty close?
I would do anything for my brother! We don’t talk very much but we are close forever.

It seems like your mom is pretty supportive of your surfing career. Did she have a big influence on you growing up and deciding to pursue surfing as a profession?
Yeah, it kind of comes with my family. They all surf, we grew up on Maui, so for sure I surf, and they supported me to do what I love.

I think both you and your brother told me you’re pretty into spear fishing, right?
I used to [fish] more when I was a teenager. I want to get back into it.

What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever caught?
That’s the question? [laughs] That’s funny. I speared a mid-size papio. That was pretty cool. My friend said that was sick because they’re fast before they’re big ulua. It was in Lahaina. It wasn’t that big though.

As far as I know, there’s never been a Maui guy on the ‘CT. Who do you think will be the first?
We’ll have to see who from Maui will be the first. I don’t know, hopefully one of the boys: Dusty [Payne] or Granger [Larsen] or Wes [Larsen] or something.

You’re one of the feature guys in the Young Guns videos and from what I hear, Quiksilver is making a whole film about you. How does that feel to be put in the spotlight like that? Are you still filming?
There’s one more month of footage. It should premiere around the US Open. I think it’s going to be called Just Add Water, but it could change. At times it gets kind of weird. I don’t like the crowds. I like it at times. I like to have a videographer that I’m comfortable with to film.

Are you a party guy? Are the filmmakers going to have to edit a lot of stuff out?
I’m more mellow than most of the guys for sure. I just cruise. Every once in a while though…

How are you planning on splitting up your year between traveling and contests?
I’m just going to try and get a lot of points on the ‘QS, do a few good star events and hopefully go on some video trips. Just try to do the best ones I can do, but not full time for sure. I’d rather do more video stuff and just film.

What is your most memorable contest moment or most memorable win?
I think my best win was the Open Men’s title at Nationals in 2005. Granger and all my friends were there and picked me up after. It felt good.

What is your most memorable surf trip?
Guaranteed my most memorable was the boat trip for Young Guns II. The boat was so nice. There were just all the good surfers that I’ve looked up to forever and we surfed good waves. I surfed with Slater, Freddy Patacchia, a couple Aussie guys, Troy Brooks, Ry Craike and Dane Reynolds. We went to the Mentawai islands.

Have you had any life or death moments out in the water?
I’ve had a little bit of both of those. It’s always scary just coming up last breath, almost drowning. There’s this one spot at home in Honolua Bay, across the bay, there’s this left with rocks right in front. If you fall on the drop it’s pretty sketchy because if there’s a set on the next wave, you’re going to get pounded on the rocks. It’s real sketchy, but I like surfing out there.

When did you realize you wanted to be a pro surfer?
I have wanted to be a surfer since I can remember. I’m just stoked to be good enough to be a pro.

Are there any destinations that you have on your radar that you haven’t been to yet?
For sure. I want to go to New Caledonia and Western Australia. I haven’t been there.

Who is your favorite person to travel with?
Probably Granger Larsen since we’ve always done all the contests since we were young.

What’s the best thing about being a professional surfer?
Surfing the best waves in the world.

What’s the worst thing?
Travel, airplane rides, and jet lag!

We see a lot of shots of you getting ridiculously barreled or doing some freakish move but not many tow shots. Are you into the tow thing?
I would like to [surf at Jaws], but I don’t really have the friends who have jet skis and we live on the other side of the island. Hopefully soon in my career I’ll get some photos and tow Jaws with Ian Walsh or something. I went to Tahiti and towed over there with Strider and caught some 10-footers at Chopes. That was my first experience. It was sick.

Do you feel there are areas where your surfing can improve?
Yeah, there’s always improvement. You see the really good guys with different areas that are good. I’d say a big cutback. I don’t really have the good cutback down. And I want to do some cool airs that guys can do, some crazy flip airs.

What do you want to be known for?
I’d like to be known for a charger. To just be someone who charges.

What is the craziest/funniest/weirdest thing you’ve seen traveling the world to surf?
I have seen so many crazy things I can’t nail it down to one: a dead man floating next to me at Sunset, kids in South Africa sniffing glue so they would not be hungry, large sharks under my board. The list is long.

What is your personal motto or philosophy?
Just live to surf. Just live to surf.


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