CF- Since you were a little kid, you got envolved with the dad´s Lance Surfboards.Searching inside your memories, how was your first perception about the surf and the fisrt contact with boards?
RC -I was a little kid wanting to be like my father. i just wanted to hang with him and surf. we had a surf shop at the beach and one day i just grabed a surf board and started surfing.
At 11 age, you got your first mag shot. At that time, did u feels that u find your way? How was this enviroment with friends, parents, family?
when i got my first mag shot at 11 yrs of age, i was in shock. i remember my mom and dad looking through the mag and when they came to my shot, they showed it to me and i thought it was my friend. when i realized it was me, i was in shock. i could not believe it. all the guys were very stoked for me also.
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You railed against the estabilishment with the things you said, the way u looked and the way u surfed! You are the same or u changed when u turns a big dad? Tell us the diference between the past and the present days.
I am pretty much the same, just a little more mellow. i have to remind myself it is not just me anymore, but now i have a family that needs me so i have to be way more care full with all my surroundings.
You learned how to build your own equipment, from cutting the foam to airbrushing, glassing, and sanding. Why u decide to surf with your own shapes?
I shaped my first board when i was 11 yrs old. then i shaped my next board when i was 13. i finally started shaping and building all my own boards by the time i was 14. i wanted to be just like my dad, a surfboard builder. as i got more into shaping i started learning about the designs and the boards worked. as the 3 fin made it big we started working on 4 fins. the twin fin was still real popular, but the 3 and 4 fin was taking over. it was a great time in my life to be a part of this evolution. and then from there i just started doing all my own stuff.
Describe how WaveTolls was born. It was because your father influence? That was a kind of passion when you shape that boards?
My mom and dad stated wave tools back in 1969. my dad started shaping before that because he had his own ideas on how to improve the way surfboards were maid. i guess father like son.
Are you still shaping WaveTools? Tell us about the shape process u do. What u expects from this?
I am no longer shaping under the wave tools label. i have been doing my own label for years. i had a couple different names, but finally decided to just use my name richie collins surfboards.
In the past, when we saw the wavetolls in action under your feet, we watched a magic board. You were bringing airs, long floaters, and more than vertical backside snaps into his heats. Do you think that your way to surf changed the judgment competition? How u see the “new” generation in the tour?
I think that my surfing has been a great big part in todays surfing. big moves and crazy turns. it is unfortunate that the kids now a days do not realize were the got all these moves. all my influences came from pro surfers like mark richards, shaun thompson, cheyn horan, rabbit, dane, larry bertlman, buttons, simon anderson, tom carroll, tom curren, occy, richard cram and the list goes on.
Fernando, i will do the rest later. time to surf with the kids.
You are the master of floaters because the way u do that. The style, the power, the way u fall down from the wave´s lip. Many kids growing watching your floaters and trying to do the same on the beach. Did u realized in that time the influence you had for the most kids around the world? And how u see this influence today for the kids?
The floater became a dot to dot move. the kids today have no clue where it came from even thou they all do them.
Can u describe the feelings that legendary final with Tom Curren in 1989?
In 1989 when i beet tom curren at the op pro was an amazing feeling. that win pretty much maid me who i am today. not many people in this world can say they beet tom curren in the op pro.
After 10 years u get back to surfing. It´s a good news for everybody. U got surprised when u felt and saw the crowd and media in Brazil? How was this experience?
This is what surfing is all about and any other sport. when you have someone like me show up to the comp, win or lose, it is great publicity for all the sponsors and the media just eats it up. i love the response from all the people in brazil and around the world when i show up. but for some reason all the companies don’t think i am worth a damm.
The art is always with you. That magic board pink-yellow was unique and top of mind ever. People are self painting their boards now, a way to self-expression. What u think about surf-art. Can u point some artists u like?
It is pretty interesting that a lot of the kids now a days get to scribble on there boards. i think it gives them a more personal feeling about what they have done and get to do.
In Brazil, u arrived with a 4-fins surfboard. You are always surprising evebody, that was a nice way to get back? Backing to the past? How was the performance? You think was a good return? Your hair still the same…
It is always good to bring back the memories from the past. people remember the great times that they grew up watching. it always puts a smile and a little warmth in knowing that they where a part of that era of surfing.
Where the places you like to surf ever? Please, tell me about your perfect wave. How this wave must be?
I really don’t have any perfect place to surf. i just like to go surfing in 3 to 4 ft surf and get tubed and hit the lip. when i was younger i really enjoyed surfing sunset bch hawaii.
I heard you got back on surfing after see Meah´s performance. You think that is good for her have Dad going to the beach early in the morning to show what the surf is? And show her the mags? How you see her future on surfing? What do u expects? How is this new surfing feelings?
Being able to take my meah surfing and making sure she gets all the waves is the best feeling in the world. between her modeling and surfing now it is all about her. if she decides to keep going forward with her surfing, she is only 9 and will be unstoppable in about 2 yrs time and even the top pro’s will be wondering what to do when she starts competing with them. i expect her to become the youngest world champ and do more than i ever did. that is if she does decide to keep surfing.
Did u got inspired from some surfers? Why? Or tell me some surfers you like.
My inspiration came from ausies like mark richards, cheyn horan, rabbit, simon anderson, kong, and some hawaiin’s like dane, larry and buttons. there are so many more surfers that influenced me as i grew up. but my favorite surfer has always been mark richards.
Tell us a phrase or expression that u tells for yourself to spread good vibrations.
You need to learn to crawl before you walk. you need to walk before you run and when you can run it is time to learn how to surf.
The Richie Collins art is…
Strait up honesty.
By Fernando Bari
English
Português
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