 |
|
|
|
ESTHER
HAHN
Esther Hahn is the new girl ripper on the scene.
She lives on the same street Holly Beck lived on
when she was a local at EP and it looks like she
is well on her way to following in Holly’s
footsteps. She has landed some solid sponsors and
has backed them up with excellent contest results
and explosive free surfing. She has a great head
on her shoulders and I can’t wait to see her
surfing mature as she finishes out her time as a
grom.
How old are you and when is your birthday?
I’m 17 and my birthday is December 17, 1985.
Presents are always welcome — just kidding!
(laughs)
So it’s your golden year?
Yeah, Baby! (laughs)
Where do you live?
El Porto… Potty. (laughs) Just kidding, I
love it here — fun waves (most of the time),
great people… I just try to avoid surfing
here on small, summer days. I don’t need any
more stitches. By the way, super glue works great
if you want to surf with stitches.
I hear you are already making quite a name
for yourself in your neighborhood as a driver…
(Laughs) Well, it’s not my fault! The streets
are so small and everyone insists on driving a big
ole SUV…
You drive one too!
Yeah, I know. I never said I wasn’t part of
the problem.
How did you become interested in surfing?
Well, when I was in 5th grade the kid I sat next
to always talked about surfing and he would take
me out on a longboard some times. I thought it was
fun but I never really got into it until I was 14.
What kind of board are you surfing now?
Still longboarding?
Oh, um, no (laughs). Longboarding’s super
fun but I only longboard at Malibu or when it’s
like really small and crowded… I really admire
the gracefulness of longboarding but shortboards
are more my thing. Right now I’m riding a
5’10" x 17 7/8" x 2 1/16" shaped
by Matt Biolos (Lost Surfboards). I love their shapes
— they work super well for me. I’ll
go smaller and wider for summer and longer for Hawaii.
How is your contest surfing?
Um, last year I was the L.A./O.C. District Champion
in open women shortboard. This year I’m top
5 in Gold Coast Explorer and Southwest Open (NSSA).
I’m pretty on and off in contests… I
don’t know… I guess consistency will
come with more experience. I psych myself out at
smaller contests just because I expect myself to
advance easily and then I kook it and freak myself
out. I do better when I have to surf up.
What is your favorite maneuver?
Probably a clean, perfect bottom turn because it
sets up so many options. I also love cutbacks and
vertical snaps with tons of spray.
Where is your favorite wave?
Oh, geez… I have so many favorites. They change
like monthly but this month they’re Trestles
and Trails, secret spots in Baja, Velzyland in Hawaii,
and, of course, Potty (laughs).
Who are your surfing influences?
For shortboarding, definitely guys like Jared Lang,
Spencer Parker, and Matt Chernega. I look up to
them so much and they’ve helped my surfing
tons. Um… the groms I surf with: Eddie Lester,
Matty Mohagen, Anthony Palazzolo, Alex Abad, and
Kevin Craig. They’re so much fun to surf with
and always pushing it. Nick Nevarez, my ZJ team
manager and coach. He rips and he’s really
helping my contest surfing. Also Greg Browning,
Holly Beck, Ted Robinson, and Jimmy Miller when
they’re in town.
What about for longboarding?
For longboarding, Dan Cobley, Tommy Ostendorf, John
Balk, Tyler Hatzikian, MIKEY GRAY (that kid rocks)…
There are so many people — sorry if I forgot
you!!
That’s quite a list! How lucky you
are to be surrounded by so many great surfers. OK,
so tell me which one looks best in a wetsuit.
Oh man, I plead the fifth (laughs uncontrollably)…
Oh come on! Out with it!
OK, OK, I would have to say Alex has the nicest
eyes… I have no idea how that has anything
to do with him looking good in a wetsuit though.
OK, moving on… So what are your plans
for the future?
Well, I hope to do well at Nationals… Um,
I’m going back to the North Shore this spring.
I’m going to try a few small pro events and
the U.S. Open this summer just for fun… In
the long-term… Um, I’ll go to college
for sure and then try out the tour full on —
if that doesn’t work I’ll go to med
school and maybe become a doctor for Indo boat trips.
That way I could go on tons of free trips with perfect
waves and just have to sew up and super glue pros
back together every once in a while. I have tons
of experience with super glue. (laughs)
What sponsors do you have at the moment?
Lost Clothing/Surfboards/Wetsuits, ZJ Boarding House,
Creatures of Leisure, Futures Fins, and Loaded Skateboards.
Any thank-you’s or shout-outs?
My parents and my bro Tim; Matt Biolos, Mike Reola,
Ryan Divel, and Greggo @ Lost; Nick Nevarez, Todd
Roberts, and the rest @ ZJ’s; Derek Wilson
@ Creatures; Tim Milliken @ Futures; Don @ Loaded;
Jared, Spank, Matt, and everyone else who has influenced
me; Jimmy Miller for proof reading my history paper;
John Paul Taylor’s Dad for showing me the
wonders of super glue; Travis Parker, Bobby Meeks,
and John Jackson (now I want my shout-out from you
TP) for being my snowboarding inspirations; And
everyone else I forgot. Oh yes, and of course thank-you.
Thank-you too.
Interview by Katherine Kaplan
Back
to Sheila page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
