 |
|
|
JAIME
PEREZ
 |
|
|
winding
up for the roundhouse
|
|
|
Greetings
Internet surfers, meet local southern California
waterman Jaime Perez. Among being a great father
of two, a spiritual man with an energetic faith
in God, Jaime at the ripe age of 42, is ripping
it up in the water better than most grommets half
his age.
Currently Jaime is living a dream. He has a clothing
sponsorship from Blue Link, a great wife, a son
age 9 & daughter age 7, a and he gets to surf
everyday. A few years ago, however, he had a serious
problem: an addiction to narcotics. "I was
screwed up for a little while, but I beat it. I
am one of the lucky ones…not everyone can
beat it." But Jaime is strong, and thanks to
the power of God, surf, and family he is back on
his feet, loving every minute of a sober life…especially
in the water.
Jaime surfs every chance he can get, regardless
of the conditions. He is fearless in triple overhead
surf, but can still enjoy 1-2ft slop. In fact I
don’t think he even cares what the report
says, he’ll surf anything. "One wave
is better than no waves", Jaime reminds me
just before he takes off on a late drop.
 |
|
|
Setting
up for another nice barrel
|
|
|
Jaime,
a Venice High grad has been surfing 20+ years and
is quick to tell you that he is "showing that
older people can do things". Absurdly enough,
one thing he cannot do is longboard. "I don’t
know how to longboard," Jaime laughs. "I’ve
tried, but I can’t. Whenever I try to, I always
try to ride it like a short board and I fall over."
Rest assured, his short boarding skills and prowess
in the water makes up for his lack of ability on
a longboard. His ripping style makes him stand out
in the thickest El Porto crowd. He has rescued friends
in 20ft Surf at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego and will
often be one of the few people out in extra extra
large El Porto surf.
His boards of choice are anything high performance
by Bermudez , or some new design from his friend
Randy Wright at Horizons West. "I’m always
coming up with new ideas, crazy things that howl,
and they shape ‘em for me. I probably go through
30 boards a year. I'm always trying something new".
Watching him surf on these boards is like watching
a pro. He catches more waves than anybody in the
lineup, he cheers everybody else on, and he controls
his board like a puppet.
Jaime is a truly inspirational person. The demons
that he has overcome have made him stronger and
wiser, and even a better surfer. He considers every
session in the water a gift…but I feel that
it is safe to say that having him in the water is
a gift to us.
INTERVIEW BY MATT VOLSKY
back
to who's hot page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
