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Frank taking a few moments to let his achievement sink in
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We caught up with Frank Solomon for a small Q&A to see how the contest went down in Peru, and by the sounds of things Frank is stoked on his result. check out the interview below with Frank Solomon.
How does it feel to make it to semis again in another big wave contest?
Yeah super stoked to make the semis again. It was kind of a bummer because the judges missed 2 of my better waves. But I guess that’s how it goes in contests.
This wave is a right-hander, did you feel like you had a disadvantage riding it on your back hand?
Yeah this wave was really tricky on your backhand it was super bumpy on the face and trying to control those big boards on a wave like this is really hard. It’s a super good big wave though.
What equipment did you use for this contest?
I used the same board I used in Chile a 9'11 Bilt that’s been going really good for me.
What contest is next on the cards?
The next comp is Nelscott reef in Oregon its going to be really hard for me to get there but I am I’m trying my hardest to make it, so I hope things will work out.
In comparison with the Chile Contest, which do you think was harder and why?
I think that this comp was a lot harder as the wave is really shifty and you kind of don’t know where it’s going to break. There is a outside peak and a inside one so if you sit and wait outside and there are no waves the guys on the inside will make the heat. Chile was a point break with a defined peak so it was much easier to line yourself up too catch waves. This was definitely one of the most challenging waves I have ever surfed.
Were there any life threatening moments during this contest, what was your biggest wipe out, if you had one?
Yeah in my semi I was going as hard as I could one of the biggest sets of the day came through and I was a bit deep but I really needed the wave so I swang and went. Carlos was on my outside and he just managed to make the section. I however got the section on the head and got so destroyed. There where only a couple skis out there and the guys couldn’t get to me so I took 5 sets on the head. I used all my energy on that and when i paddled back out I was really struggling to get my breath back. i was hoping that no more sets would come for awhile. It was one of the worst beatings I have had in a long time.
Did you have a plan going into this contest, what was your strategy?
My strategy was that most of the time guys don’t even catch a wave in there heat so I figured if I get 2 waves straight off the bat and then work on getting a bigger one I should make the heat. It worked for my first heat and kind of my second, except in the semi the judges missed my 2 best waves.
From an underground charger to your name all over the big wave scene, how does it feel?
Hahaha! Yeah I don’t feel any different then I did before any of this happened I still just love surfing big waves and am so thankful for the opportunities I’m given.
Two great results, where to from here on the big wave scene?
I really want to win an event soon so I guess that’s the next step for me. Hopefully ill be able to get to Nelscott reef and do well there.
Lastly I really want to thank Tristan and Red Bull for supporting me without them I wouldn't have been able to compete here.
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