The Global Paddling Community

Interview – Dave Speller - World Champion 2009 (Short Boat)

This interview was originally produced for the Portuguese Playak partner site  'kayaksurf.net'.

Name: David Speller
Age: 19
Address:Jersey
Occupation:Student/Surf Kayak
Paddling since:1997
Gear: kayak: MEGA Neutron. Helmet: None, but would help!. Paddle; Werner Sho-Gun.
Sponsors: Mega (www.surfkayaks.com), Werner Paddles (http://www.wernerpaddles.com )-(www.systemxkayak.co.uk ). ESC Sporting Programme that helps me, and some of Jersey top athletes by providing training facilities and trainers. Big Thanks to Pete Irving And John Scriven for their help!
Recent Competition Results:

• 2005 Short/Long Boat UN18 Champ
• 2005 Jersey Sport Person of the year
• 2007 UN18 Short Boat World Champ
• 2007 Jersey Sport Person of the year
• 2008 2nd World Surf Kayak Tour
• 2009 World Champion

Favorite move: Low Tide Splash (my own)

What is your opinion about the Worlds in Portugal?
I had a mix of feelings about the worlds in Portugal but I was amazed by the greeting of stands of facilities Ocean Spirit had provided for the Surf Kayak Worlds. Big thanks boys! The competition was sick! I didn’t compete on the first few days and I saw surf kayaking at a new level not just in one or two paddlers but in most people who were competing - it was great to see! I don’t think I spent 20 minutes without seeing someone throw an air!

What would be your favorite destination for the next Worlds?
Australia (derr) – Laugh - I have a few reasons for wanting Australia, mostly because I was heading to University around there, and secondly because of the quality of the surf there and the potential profile raising it could have for our sport!

What’s your personal vision about the Ocean Spirit Festival?
Very good event and I can see it having a great impact on the sport. People may come to watch some of the other ocean sports there and will see Surf Kayaking, and it may be the first time some people will see the sport at a high level and will realize we are not all a bunch of Kooks!

How do you see the evolution of kayak surfing in the near future?
From watching the sport develop from 2005 to 2009 there already has been a great evolution in the sport, such as new radical and bigger moves being executed. I’m not too sure how the evolution of the sport will go from here but I would like to see surf kayakers surfing heavier, more punchy waves that are good for hitting and tweaking out and aerial, I know there is so much possible in a kayak that we haven’t seen the day light of yet!

What are your personal goals in this sport?
Next year I want to win the world kayak surf tour!

Any thoughts about Portugal?
This was my third trip to Portugal and it won’t be my last for a while... Obrigado! See you next year!

Text: Luis Pedro Abreu / www.kayaksurf.net
Photos: Pete Copp and Tim Harvey - www.photof8.co.uk