This is Part 2 of The Ryan Hardy Interview by Doc. For Part 1, click here. All photos by Reeflex/Shannon Stent. You can see more pics of Hardy in action on the Fluidzone page.
I'm going to ask some questions about two of your sponsors Reeflex and Unite. Some of the kids make the easy write-off & go "Oh, they just say good things about their sponsors cos they're employed by them" and things like that. Before I get into the questions themselves, what would you say to people who don't know Johnny Barker (Reeflex) and Joel Taylor (Unite)?
Joel and Johnny both have deep bodyboarding blood running through their veins and have been involved for a long time in their own bodyboarding scenes respectively. They each arrived to the establishment of their companies through different circumstances and in different eras but they both possess the same motivation - earn a living making quality products and giving life to the sport that possesses them! It feels good riding for both Unite and Reeflex because I relate very well with Joel and Johnny, the passion they have for the sport and the motivation they have to succeed and evolve with the sport.
Reeflex - cutting edge wetsuits from a bloke dedicated to bodyboarding. First up - is there any inferiority in these wetsuits to the better known stand-up brands they are often compared to?
I've just signed up to Reeflex at a good time, as they have just bought out their best suits to date. The material, fit, warmth and stretchiness is definitely up to standard of any Billabong suit I wore back in the day. Which is a huge achievement for a bodyboarding brand that's only a few years into its development.
The chest zip suits are making their way into the bodyboarding scene. The chest zip is relatively new to the wetsuit market and is at the cutting edge of wetsuit design. How do you find these new units and what do you see as the pros and any cons?
I've been wearing mostly the chest zip wetties lately and loving them. I was a little sceptical at first that it might be annoying to get on or that the zip/bulky chest bit might get in the way...but having used them for a coupla months now, I could definitely say any scepticism has gone out the window. They're real easy to slip into
mainly because the wetsuit material is so stretchy and then once their on, you get no water down the back of the neck or up the chest and you have no backzip pulltag annoying you. I'm a big fan.
With Winny on the team, does it push your riding even more knowing he is such a strong competitor in everything he takes on?
I've always been a big fan of riding amongst a solid team of guys that I get on well with and secondly, guys that push your own riding and Winny fits both of those categories! Being part of a solid team does mean that you have to keep up results wise and performance wise, so you have to be on your toes.
John came on early and got right behind ripper groms Finnegan, Cramsie, Blackwell and Humphries. What are your thoughts on boog companies getting behind new, lesser known riders as well as the big name pros?
I think that's a great move for companies - to have young up and coming riders and supergroms associated with a brand underneath a strong professional team. It can give the brand more appeal, especially on a local scale - and it gives hope and possibility to the younger generation that are aspiring to turn pro.
John runs Mandurah Bodyboard Club, taking it on after good mate Ralphy had to move on with a career shift. How important do you see grass roots club riding is for young riders aspiring to improving their riding and getting on the world tour?
I was able to be a part of the latest Mandurah Bodyboard Club and see where the grass roots level of bodyboarding is at. I thought it was great, all the kids get together on the weekend at their favourite local break and have a real fun time together. Surf, judge, hang out and try and ride some good waves in their heats. Meanwhile the mums and Dads do their part to keep everyone organised and things running to schedule - it's a great community feel to these club events and it is SUCH a far cry from the seriousness and intensity of the world tour. Seeing some of these kids entering the comps for their first time and judging for the first time, you can see how valuable these club comps are for the youngsters and aspiring professionals on a technical level. Beyond that, it's such a good way of bringing people together that share the love for the same sport and pumping out a fun day of hanging out at the beach and doing a bit of competing.
Unite's Joel Taylor was a legend rider in his day before breaking his back. How would you describe Joel's passion for creating quality products as a reflection of his kick arse riding back in the day?
Joel as a rider was one of the most dedicated and focussed riders I've ever hung out with. He saw very clearly where his riding was at, where he wanted to go and how to get there. He was very style conscious both in and out of the water and was a huge fan of the bodyboarding world. It's incredible to see that he has transformed the same focus, dedication and passion that he had for riding into his own clothing brand. Just as his riding improved immensely over the years, so has his business and his clothing line. And I know for sure that it's his love he developed for bodyboarding in his riding years, his constant strive for perfection and his eye for style that has bought about the success of his company.
One of the big criteria for all our products these days is durability of what we buy. Tees and other clothing can vary massively. What mad you confident to sign on with Unite originally, when potentially clothing manufacturers can easily cut corners and bring out a lesser grade product?
I've been in touch with Joel over the years since he first started Unite and we've always talked about being involved in something together in the sport. My leaving Billabong and his growth and subsequent offer from Unite was the perfect opportunity to join forces. Quality, reliability and motivation were a no brainer in joining Unite for me and I've never looked back.
Any intentions of creating some Unite designs yourself?
Possibly something down the track, keep you posted.
I noticed that the Black Dog Institute is noted as a supporter of the Box event. You've been through a lot of struggles with depression over time. Can you fill people in a little about what the Black Dog institute is?
The black dog institute is an international organisation that supports sufferers of depression and bipolar disorder. The organisation provides differing manners of support to depression and bipolar sufferers, their families and friends.
How are you travelling with that dark malady, balancing medication etc?
I've been fortunate enough to come out of my bipolar experience and lead a very normal life. I do take daily medication and focus on maintaining regular sleep, which are two of the biggest steps in reducing the risk of another bipolar episode.
On the political side of things, Professor Patrick McGorry was Australian of the year in 2010. World renowned for his work in mental health, especially in younger people, a lot of his message seemed to fall on deaf ears in the realms of political power and investment. What are your thoughts on this and how do you see that Bodyboarding could in some way get more behind the awareness of mental health and encouraging people to reach out if they or a friend are showing signs of depression?
Well the Black Dog Institute being involved in the box comp is a great start! I think just creating awareness for mental illness sufferers and for people in the community in general is doing a lot to help people cope. The worst thing is for a mentally ill person to live in denial or try to hide it from society. Awareness of the fact that its ok to be depressed or be mentally ill and that you can recover and lead a normal life is a very important message for the people affected by mental illness.
The Tension movies..... what an epic series. Can you give a quick rundown on what it was like to work with Chris White and getting these into production? How much fun were those times?
Making the Tension vids was definitely a highlight of my career and a career maker in a sense. We had a fun group of guys to travel with that were all up for a good time and Whitey held some incredible premieres that I will never forget. GREAT times.
So many things to talk about, but with the Box comp coming, you're a busy man and need the time. One quick one though - there's and rumour that there's a bet amongst the lads for the first to pull a move deep inside the Pit of the Right - any comment there? Also would you be up for another interview later in the year?
Haha - I'll wait till it's on BodyboardBet to see that one - might even lay a punt! Haha yeah always up for an interview, maybe it'll be about a spin in the pit at The Right! Come on!
Thanks for your time Ryan - see you soon on Fuel & Redbull TV - looking forward to the scenery from one of bodyboarding's biggest hearts and most spectacular showmen.
Cheers Doc! Take it easy mate - hope you and the fams are well. Yew!
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