Surf Ninja – Michael Parris

In a Cape bay flanked by solid rock lurks a local wave assassin – who’s been spotted tearing apart some Atlantic walls just for fun. They call the place Big Bay and the Surf Ninja has been identified as Michael Parris.

We swooped in to gather some intel about this week’s underground wave assassin:

NAME: Michael Parris
AGE: 22
LOCAL SPOT: Blouberg

BEST THING ABOUT SURFING?
I would say the freedom we all feel when we surf, and that constant desire for another wave.

WORST THING ABOUT SURFING?
The crowds and bad vibes that go along with them.

TO MAKE A LIVING I..?
I don’t have a job at the moment due to my studies keeping me busy – I’m currently doing photography at Ruth Prowse School of Art – but local surfers are more than welcome to hire me to shoot or film them surfing, and that may help pay the bills. Check out www.mparrisproductions.co.za

THREE TRACKS THAT HELP YOU SHRED?
We Run the Night – Chainsmoker’s Remix (too sick)

Any good Trap song is OK by me.
Alt J album – “An Awesome Wave”

BEST SURFER IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?
Jordy! John John is killing it, but I still think Jordy is better and has more style.

DAWNIE OR ARVO SESH?
The waves are usually better in the morning, but it is almost impossible to wake up early in this cold weather, so in winter it’s arvo sessions, and in summer it’s dawnies.

WHICH SURF SPOT DO YOU HAVE TO SURF BEFORE YOU DIE?
Muizenberg!  Definitely… Nah, thats a joke, I’d say Maldives or Indo

WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURFING, YOU CAN BE FOUND WHERE?
In the dark room developing film, or out shooting somewhere – probably on a beach.

BIGGEST FEAR?
Not being able to surf, or be near the ocean.

BEST SURFING MEMORY?
There are so many – I have been getting a couple of really good barrels recently, which are just sitting on my mind replaying themselves over and over – so I’ll just say any barrel ever is a great memory.