Category: Meet the Pro

A series of stories and articles introducing you to the Pro athletes of Action Sports and the Extreme World.

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Meet Mr Multi Talent – Steven Steezy Sawyer

Steven Steezy Sawyer is an incredibly talented young guy. Whether strumming the strings with making soulful tunes, winning national longboard titles or coming up against the best in the world at the Jbay Open, he always impresses. He is one of my favorite guys to watch on the longboard and now he is learning the craft of making surfboards from his legend, old man, Des Sawyer. Have a watch, get to know Steezy better and help a young gun out by sharing this post!

This is a short clip of Steezy, jamming music, shaping boards, surfing and talking about 2016’s festivities.

Special thanks to Grant Beck of (Pineapple Productions) for the interview and editing of the clip
Jonathan Mcgillivray, for the drone footage
Cara Sawyer, for the surfing footage

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Tyler Wright charges!

When I am asked why I say all the time that ladies surfing has turned the corner, from now on I will just point them at this post and let them watch this video clip of Tyler Wright charging, heaving pits. A few years ago this could have been considered unbelievable, but now tis becoming the norm for the world’s best female surfers. So girl groms, if you want to become a pro surfer, best start lining up some serious tubes!

Ladies Of The Sea – Tyler Wright from surfstitch on Vimeo.

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Urban Snowmobiling in Saint Paul | Levi LaVallee

Levi LaVallee is the poster child for dynamite comes in small packages. I met him back at X Games in LA a few years ago and the guy is short, full of life and loves a good party. On top of all that he rides a snowmobile like a man possessed! Check out his latest web video where he cruises the streets of his home town, its pretty dam ridiculous.

Some people see the world as a playground, where anything and everything can and will be a shreddable obstacle. As a kid growing up in Minnesota, Levi LaVallee looked at his state’s capital Saint Paul like a ripe fruit, begging to be plucked…and ripped to shreds on his snowmobile. A land of opportunity that only he could see, it was his mission to take that city over on his trusty sled. Now, he’s done it.

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Boogie Man – Andre Botha slays monsters on the North Shore

When you meet Andre Botha, your first impression is a very quiet and almost distant person, then as you spend more time with him you realise he is not distant, simply focussed on the next heaving mass of water he plans on entombing himself in. The guy feeds off heavy water. On a long day at Donkey Bay, where everyone else is taking the 3km walk back as slow as possible, Andre spent the day running back up the point and charging right back down again. In this video he spends as much time on the foam ball in serious Hawaiian waves as possible, literally the only thing that knows the feeling he does must be the corn kernel caught in your drunken nights projectile vomit, he gets spit out that hard, that often. Its just terrifying madness and thats why he is called, the Boogie Man.

Boogie Man from Andre Botha on Vimeo.

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Ultimate X Wednesday – Kevin Peraza, Arizona Fire

With Ultimate X 2016 just over a month away and the athlete list announced already, I thought it would be a great idea to feature one of the International athletes coming out each Wednesday. As the host of the event I want to introduce you to some of the insane riders heading our way. The BMX field is looking off the charts with greats like Kevin Kalkoff, Pat Casey and Daniel Dhers on the list, not to mention our own Greg Illingworth, but today we feature last year’s standout rider, Kevin Peraza, from Mexico. This guy brings a whole new bag of tricks to the table and in his latest video you get to see just a pinch of his bag of tricks.

While most riders make the move to Southern California, Kevin is happiest at home in Tucson surrounded by family and friends. For the last year he has ridden his local spots, visualising new lines and tricks on the familiar ramps. When it came time to put it on camera Kevin was unstoppable. Whether it was coming up with a way to create green fire, building a massive wall ride or pulling never been done tricks, when Kevin sets his mind to something he always gets what he wants.

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RIP Eric Roner – Nitro Circus Mourns

The action sports community lost one of it’s favorite sons this week when Nitro Circus star, Eric Roner, died on Monday after a skydiving accident in the US. Roner was a much beloved member of the crew and was a leading ski, bike and base jumping legend.

Travis Pastrana said today, “Erik was an amazing person who made everyone and everything around him better. His smile, laughter and personality will be missed by everyone at Nitro Circus. Most importantly he has a beautiful wife and amazing kids that will miss him dearly. He is gone… But will never be forgotten.”

The tragic accident occurred at the opening ceremony of the 4th Annual Squaw Valley Institute Celebrity Golf Classic in Squaw Valley, California.

Roner was the third member of a three-man parachute team to jump and, according to witnesses, was off the drop zone target on descent and hit a large tree. He was then transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Nitro Circus have set up a fund to assist his family and you can show your support here: http://www.road2recovery.com/cause-view/erik-roner-fallen-hero/

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Inspiration from a Pro Skateboarder with no Legs – Italo Romano

Blows my mind how this guy took what most would have accepted as a life without adventure and risk, having no legs, and turned it around to not only push himself, but the sport. Bloody inspirational man!

Italo Romano is from Curitiba, south of Brazil, and he has a unique story. At 11 years of age, Italo had an accident playing with his friends which cost him both legs. But, what seemed like a tragedy ended up being a new way of life, and a year after the accident he was back on the board. He believed in his talent and gave everything up to try to make a career out of skateboarding. After two video parts and many achievements in the skateboarding world, he was finally able to turn pro at 23. For Italo Romano, it’s “never give up, never give in, you make your own way”.

Watch Italo Romano’s inspirational story, and if this doesn’t get you pumped to get out and skate, we’re not sure what will.

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The ballad of Ricky Basnett – No Regrets Trailer

Anyone who has spent time with surfer, Ricky Basnett, knows that first off he rips with reckless abandon, much like he lives life. Secondly you know that you will never be bored in his presence, especially when he is obsessing with Puns and word games like he often does. Thirdly, you know deep down that he was better, much better, than his results on the World Tour could ever reflect on his surfing. Many speculated, but Ricky chose to come out and let the world know his story, with the help of film maker, Jason Hearn, that he almost threw his life away on the booze and it was surfing that saved him. He is now sober, focused and wanting to show the world what they missed when he was on tour. With the release of the trailer for, No regrets, I thought it was a good time to have a chat with the enigmatic man about life, past and future…

Firstly, its great to see you so pumped on surfing again and charging dude.
Lets get it over with, booze, drugs nihilism – you had your slice, now you sober. What happened?
Ja I definitely had my fair share of fun over the years, but there comes a time when it stops being a jol, it just becomes repetetive bullshit. It’s a tough cycle to break out of, and it really messes with your head, I almost lost everything I had near the end.

How did all the above effect your life outside surfing?
My life was a mess, I was pretty much a functioning alcoholic, but it was a really good lesson for me, it got me where I am now and I’m loving it!

When you were a grom, you dominated, even Jordy Smith was scared of getting you in a heat. How did that effect your mind set going onto the tour?
My junior career went really well, and I was confident going into the CT, but I soon realised it wasn’t all that I though it was. I don’t really want to talk shit about the tour, but it just wasn’t for me.

Does it play on your mind that you finished dead last on the World Tour? The dreaded 33rd back then.
Doesn’t bother me at all, I’m a record holder hahahha!

If you could go back on tour, would you want to? Do you feel like you could be a World Champion?
I would never go back on tour, it just isn’t what surfing is about for me these days. I just want to explore Africa, find new waves and shred till I’m dead haha…

What are your goals moving forward?
My goal at the moment is to carpe the fuck out of every diem I get!

Tell us about your love of food and making it? Apparently you make a boss burger… In line with the new you, are you eating healthier too?
Ja cooking and food is another passion of mine for sure. I had a little gourmet burger pop up for a while, it was such a jol! I guess cooking is similar to surfing for me, it kinda keeps you in the moment, therapy for me! I like to eat pretty healthy shit, but I’m not going turn my nose up at a fat greasy take away if you put it in front of me either haha!

How did the film project, “No regrets” come about? Do you have a point to prove?
Jason called me up one day with the idea for the film, I was pretty fucking nervous before we started shooting, I hadn’t done anything for so long that I doubted heavily if I could still perform! But I think it turned out pretty cool, I owe Jason huge for believing in me and making this thing happen. Theres no point for me to prove to anyone, I’m just loving going surfing everyday, fuck yeah!

Surf trip anywhere with anyone – where and who is coming?
Road trip from Mozam to CT, pull in!

Thanks Dude. I for one cannot wait to see the finished project!

Check out the trailer for “No regrets” below.

No Regrets Trailer from Jason Hearn on Vimeo.