Dale Staples impressed the hell out of most of the surfing world with his performance at sizey, vicious Pipeline, during the 5-Star Volcom Pipe Pro which concluded over the weekend. The Eastern Kaapie looked comfortable standing tall in a collection of beasts, as he mowed his way through to the quarter finals.
Should we be surprised? No, ‘Ducky’ has repeatedly done well in good, high-performance waves (like the Billabong Pro J-Bay and Oakley Pro Jnr at Keramas), but this time he stepped up in some of the gnarliest looking conditions on the North Shore this season, showing his diversity as a surfer and a competitor. It’s a big year for him and things are off to a good start, as he carries on the mission to qualify for the 2014 WCT. Now enjoying a few days of down time between flights and events, we managed to catch up with him and hear his post-event thoughts of the last week…
Dale bobs and weaves through a Backdoor drainer on the final day of the Volcom Pipe Pro.
Zigzag: How stoked are you right now with this quarter final result?
Dale: Sheez, I’m just so, so stoked. I was just happy to be out at Pipe with three other guys, just catching whatever you want. Actually finally getting some waves out there.
The waves were heaving, the second day especially was looking quite fierce. Was there some nerves facing Pipe that Heavy?
Sheez, ja, it was very scary hey. It was probably the most scared I’ve ever been. As everyone knows, Pipe is one of the most dangerous waves in the world and being out there with three other guys when the sets are pretty much reaching fifteen foot and you have to actually go, it’s nerve wracking.
Well, despite the nerves you were looking comfortable. Have you put in a lot of time out there at that size?
Whenever it gets big like that you sometimes get the odd rolling ones that you can sit around second reef and roll into them. I always try to get one or two, but it’s hard with the crowds and locals. I try my best to spend as much time as I can out there.
You got into town pretty much right before the event, too?
Ja.
Did you manage to have a couple of warm ups before the contest started?
There was a big swell that came through before the event started, which made the organisers call off Round 1 saying that it was too big. But I still had to get out there and get some practice in. I think there were some proper fifteen foot, third reef sets.
Throughout the contest, do you have a specific wave you remember the most?
Definitely, it was during my first heat. It was pretty much my first proper wave at Pipe (laughs). Ja, that was the one… I took off and went straight into the barrel and went no-hands and then had to straighten out, because it was a massive close-out.
Ducky slots in ‘no-hands’ at the Banzai. His ballsy approach impressed everyone, including the commentators who were muttering superlatives on just about all the waves he rode.
You had a couple like that! Was that a practiced routine, the no-hands stance at macking Pipe?
No, from my first heat when I did that on my first proper wave, I checked that I got such a high score on that one, so I thought I might as well do it on all my waves and keep getting high scores.
Who for you stood out through the event?
Definitely John John. He’s by far the best out at Pipe.
Besides the immense personal achievement with doing well out at Pipe, how important is this result at the start of the year?
Ja, well, this is a big year for me. I’m under quite a lot of pressure. So I’m really stoked to get a result in the first event of the year.
And what are your plans from here on?
I’ve got a couple of six stars and all the PRIMES. I have to qualify this year, so it’s big.
Well, you know that everyone back home is rooting for you. All the best!
Thanks bru.
Check out some of the highlights from Dale’s run to the quarter finals below:
Good work Dale! now focus on the year ahead and go and qualify!