The Radius – Q&A with Clint Loake

Clint Loake has been at the forefront of the Jersey bodyboard scene for a number of years. I caught up with Clint for a quick Q&A session to see where his at.

When did you start bodyboarding?

I started Bodyboarding back in 1992 for fun when my parents brought me an old Waimea Pro for Xmas. The board was the same size as me so it was more like being on a floating mat when out on the water.

What do you ride now and what is your favourite board you have ever had?

Current board Is a Dave Winchester 40 inches VS with chicken wire x-flex mesh. Best board prob a VS Hardy bat-tail.

You achieved your 15 minutes of fame when you were cheered on from home and around the world during the 2017 Teahupoo Tahiti Challenge. What are your best memories from that trip?

Surfing Teahupoo, Sapinus and Taapuna. Meeting my life long heroes and being on the friendliest Island on the planet. Dropping in on a bomb at Teahupoo and being asked by Jacob Romero how my wave was.

Everyone still asks why you are called The Radius. Enlighten us?

Radius Ask Dave Hubbard or Manny Vargas.

You’ve done a lot of travelling over the years. Which wave is the best wave you have surfed, and which is your favourite?

My best waves around the planet. I’ve surfed so many great and perfect waves. If I could narrow them down I’d say Teahupoo is the best and favourite is probably Bank Vaults in the Mentawai islands.

Your pretty fluent in Norwegian, and I know you tried to move over there late 2019, but due to circumstances you needed to come back. What made you choose Norway and will you give it a go again?

Yes, I’m fluent in Bokmål Norsk. I studied it for two years in my taxi between jobs. I tried to move there because it’s the most beautiful country on the planet. If your into beautiful scenery, landscapes and love getting out doors in all kind of weather then Norway is the place.

Ben Severson has been selling off his historic boards and some memorabilia recently, with some boards going for thousands of pounds. If you were to part with your bodyboards or bodyboarding memorabilia, which item would you keep hold of and why?

I have a few Threesixty mags kicking around but all of my old boards I gave to Les Amis which is an Organization that looks after disabled and handicapped people.

You ride solid both prone and up on the knee. Which do you prefer and why?

I love both prone and drop-knee equally as each other. I love DK because of the carves and the cutbacks, and I love prone for just hitting sections, getting pitted, and doing the odd combo here and there.

We know you can charge on the big days. Where is the biggest wave you think you have surfed and any funny or scary big wave experiences you’d like to share?

The biggest waves I’ve surfed has probably been at Gland, Teahupoo, or here at home. I can’t put a size onto the biggest place I’ve been out in. I got annilated out at Money trees in G.Land one year. Basically paddled for a wave, hesitated, but went at the last second. I air-dropped about 8 foot and when I landed I didn’t dig the rail and lock in, but instead I slid out and got the full force of the wave on my back. The wave threw me about three feet forward into the air and I got pulverised for about 6 seconds under water. I thought I was going to hit the bottom, but came up minus a board and fin. After receiving this wipeout my riding changed and now if I commit on a wave I go! Hesitation can land you in trouble, so go hard or don’t go out; simples!

Jersey has no surf shops selling good gear anymore and no bodyboarders working in the shops like the good old days when we were both in Freedom. How do you think it is possible to encourage youngsters to take to the sponge in Jersey when you can’t get no gear or decent advice?

The youngsters should ask the older guys where they get there gear from and get in the websites.

Social media and YouTube clips or printed bodyboard magazine?

I’m all for all 3. I did love reading the Threesixtys and still wish one day they can release some more again, especially now that there are new dynamics in our sport like with waves machines and new types of boards and channel systems.

The floor’s yours; anything you want to say?

The last thing is I hope all the bodyboarding crew in Jersey can get together this winter to a mammoth comp at Petit Port, 8/10+foot! It would be great to see Harben, Manners, and all the rest for a day of madness out in the waves and a few beers after. Next I say keep the stoke everyone and keep getting pitted.