Transmission Daniel Vernon Interview

In: Transmission by doclach 0 Comments Sun 19th Feb '12

Tags: Daniel Vernon , Headlanders , Matt Brockie

While we're watching our champs at Pipe. it's also good to look where it all starts. Young Daniel Vernon rides for Headlanders bodyboard club and is showing promising riding skills and sick attitude that will get him far. the lad knows how to write too. No editing required from me - extra points for Daniel for representing sponsors in the future.
I asked Matt Brockie, one of Queensland's top water photogs what his opinion on Daniel was from a shooter's perspective (Groms if you want to get shots, you have to know what to do for the shooters - tip). Brockie said:

"Vernon's definitely one of my favourite riders to shoot, he's always on the wave of the day, good clean lines, and hits any section that comes his way"

Please meet Daniel Vernon, with alter ego nickname of "Matty D"......
Doc: Hey Daniel, you're from the Far North Coast, can you tell us what it's like living and riding up there?
DV: Hey Doc, well it's a blessing and a curse I better not say to much but having the stretch of coastline that we do from Iluka wall that is 20 minutes away to the end of Angourie we have some amazing waves I'm stoked to call it home. But from a get yourself out there point of view it pretty minimal, there are never any pros or company men around here.

Doc: You ride with Headlanders club. Why do you ride with a small, grassroots club? What do you feel it gives you?
DV: Well I guess it's location, location I don't have the money to go up to goldy or port mac every month and headies is a pretty sick club. Frank and Kaye from Inverted Bryon Bay put real time and effort into that club which I really respect them for. I think its pretty sick up there, Frank is a madman and always cracks everyone up.

Doc: Does being in a Bodyboard club add to your riding and competition skills?
DV: No I really hate that comp surfing type of riding not the tech side but the 4 spins and 3 custard rolls (rolling of nothing), I try really hard when I'm in a comp not to not grovel if the waves don't come then that's that for me, I guess my menality is that I'm going for a 20 minute surf and I just go about it as I was free surfing.

Doc: Have you met other boogers you now hang and ride with through the club?
DV: I haven't really I guess most of the boys are coming from Bryon and Ballina so for me there isn't much up there compared to home in the way of waves but when I go up there I try to catch up with them.

Doc: What's your mix of riding prone and DK?
DV: Well let's just leave it at prone. I'm hopeless on the knee I don't know why but I don't have a backhand so yeah its always had me fucked.

Doc: What board(s) are you riding?
DV: Currently Riding a H board I got off my good mate and I'll go this far, legend on the bodyboard Rob Laurie, I have also been riding some science tri core board to mix it up but I haven't been loving it at all.

Doc: How long have you been on the Boog for and what got you into it?
DV: I would have been riding for about 5 years now. Well its funny I grew up as a surfy kid yewww, I used to love to get barrelled on that then I saw the potential for the barrels I could get on a bodyboard around home and bang dad went out and got me a 38.5 inch Mitch Rawlins board and the love started from there.

Doc: What BB brands are you supporting in your clothing and what caused you to choose their threads?
DV: I normally get around in something from Inverted, Kaye and Frank from Inverted Bryon Bay have helped me out so I try and get there name out there as much as I can.

Doc: Which riders inspire you most and how/why?
DV: From the top Mitch Rawling and it is as simple as how doesn't he inspire anyone who bodyboards to push their level of riding just watch anything with him in it and you will see what I mean. Rob Laurie is also someone I have looked up to when it comes to big airs, he just sheds sick vibes and is just amazing to watch in the surf.

Doc: Fave move and why?
DV: Reverse air the feeling of doing a full rotation to flat it just tickles my fancy.

Doc: What do you think can be improved in our sport? What would you like to see in the future?
DV: Well the last few weeks I have seen that invert to air reverse of Rob Laurie and that crazy Tahitian flip, I think bodyboarding is getting more creative so I'm frothing there. This new world tour format is looking sick as well so I don't know maybe just less focus on the tech side of surfing and more on boosting and people having there own style.

Doc: Do you have a fave boog photographer? Any particular reasons for your choice?
DV: Yeah I really like the work of two photographers that occasinally come down here Matt Brockie and Ben Cahill when they come down they always seen to pull some good shots and angles.

Doc: Who is an up and coming rider in your local crew who you reckon will go far in the future?
DV: There could be a few but Amos Ferguson is by fair the stand out give it a few months and I think a few people could see his potential.

Doc: Your future aspirations?
DV: I really want to just save and travel around Australia this year hopefully hit the desert and south coast, for now that's all I have in mind.

Doc: Who would you like to thank?
DV: My car bessy for being a boss. Dad because he is the reason that I am hear now and no I don't mean because my olds got it on. He has filmed for me, taken me to a few secret amazing bomboras in his boat, helped me out with comps and just been a legend. Also Grubby, Rayne, Caleb for filming and all the boys from work.

Be sure to check Daniel's podcast here to see his fluid style http://vimeo.com/35625514

 

Photos// Matt Brockie