San Diego Surf Mag

Mc Air

SF: Hometown:

EM: Born in La Jolla, brought up Poway and now I live in Cardiff.

SF: Favorite surfer:

EM: Kelly Slater.

SF: Why?

EM: Because he surfs so good and he’s accomplished so much amongst so many distractions.

SF: Favorite board:

EM: Quiver…5’11…18 and 3/4

SF: Favorite local spot:

EM: Seaside

SF: Favorite contest conditions:

EM: A wave where you can get a barrels, do a turn and get an air.

SF: Travels:

EM: Mex, Costa Rica, Hawaii, South America, Europe, Central America.

SF: Favorite surf spot:

EM: Costa Rica.

SF: Where in Costa Rica?

EM: I don’t want anyone to know my spot but it’s on the Guanacasta Coast.

SF: Future goals besides surfing:

EM: Starting my own freestyle surf tour.

SF: Really? When did u think about that?

EM: I’ve been thinking about it for years.

SF: Who are you going to do that with?

EM: Jeff Simonson [Oceanside videographer]

SF: Inspiration?

EM: The young guns, Pro skater Lincoln Ueda and anyone who rides a board and flies high.

SF: How long have you been surfing?

EM: All my life.

SF:  Since how old?

EM: 2yrs old.

SF: What are some of your hobbies?

EM: Skateboarding, snowboarding, riding my dirt bike and my motorcycle.

SF: Heroes?

EM: Curren, Slater, Buttons and Sean Palmer

SF: Why them?

EM: Because they’ve been there and done that.

SF: Tell me something people don’t know about you?

EM: I just got 3 surfboards stolen and when I find out whoever did it they are going get beat to a pulp.

SF: Favorite surf trip?

EM: Hawaii, 1989

SF: What happened then?

EM: I surfed Honulua Bay perfectly.

SF: How did you get started surfing?

EM: My father… I was chasing him into the ocean.

SF: Do you work?

EM: Every day…I ride my board or motorcycle

SF: A job?

EM: I once had a job at round table pizza when I was in high school.

SF: Have you had any jobs since then?

EM: No…sometimes I give surf lessons

SF: What’s on your iPod that you keep playing?

EM: Slightly Stoopid

SF: What are some of your pet peeves?

EM: Slow drivers on the road, people who won’t get out of the way when your surfing and crooked cops.

SF: What’s coming up for you in the near future?

EM: Well, I’m going to Costa Rica, Cabo San Lucas and Hawaii

SF: Favorite food?

EM: tacos

SF: Favorite wave?

EM: Pipeline.

SF: How do you stand out?

EM: My big ears.

SF: Describe your most memorable surf trip:

EM: Costa Rica with my parents.

SF: Your first good barrel?

EM: Honalua bay trip in ‘89.

SF: Describe your first air?

EM: I found a Nestor surfboard in a trash can in Solana Beach and I paddled it out and that’s when I did my 1^st air.

SF: What was it?

EM: It was a frontside air.

SF: When was your 1^st biggest air?

EM: In Portugal, 1995…I was 6 ft. up…my brother said it was the biggest air they ever saw.

SF: What are your favorite airs to do?

EM: Passion pop’s and frontside 360’s

SF: Any airs your trying to do that your not landing yet?

EM: Frontside flips

SF: What do you like best, barrel, turn or air?

EM: I like 2 do them all in one wave but if I have to pick one, an air.

SF: What feels best, barrel turn or air?

EM: Barrel.

SF: First surf video:

EM: Getting Lucky by Brad Anderson.

SF: Most recent surf video?

EM: The Division: Simple Math by Jeff Simonson.

SF: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

EM: In 5 years I plan on doing the same things I do now surfing, snowboarding, skating half pipes, riding bikes and motor cycles and continuing to catch air! Hopefully by then I will have started my own freestyle surf tour.

SF: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

EM:  In 10 years I will be running my freestyle surf tour, Built my house in Mexico , have started my own action sports company and of course surfing and catching air on my different boards

SF: Thank you’s?

EM: I just want to thank my parents for getting me into surfing, SRH, Osiris, OG, Quiver, Kicker car stereo, gravity skateboards, FCS, Gorilla Grip, Chronic Smoothie and Strictly Boarding

SF: Anything else you want to say?

EM: If u want it, you gotta go out and get it!

Below is an interview with Doug Silva, Doug currently lives in Hawaii but grew up on Solana Beach where he made a name for himself in pro surfing.  The photos below are from a trip he made to El Salvador to coach some upcoming groms and to demonstrate to the kids how to do some man size turns with grace.

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How old were you when you turned pro?

I was 18. I finished a 4 year stint at Torrey Pines High School with many amateur and professional accolades. I grew up in Solana Beach right there on those unstable bluffs in between Cherry Hills and Pillbox. North County was the last frontier. Unspoiled beaches and incredible landscapes..There was a plethora of talent though the magazines in that day were very focused on the orange county area and their crop of peeps. It sort of bred a rebellion of sorts for us guys in North County…The only one who broke through was Rob Machado. Initially because he was a goody too shoes and in retrospect it was his remarkable talent and his genuine demeanor.

What spots did you surf around SD?

Seaside in da house…… I enjoyed the reefs in La Jolla and of course Swamis. I had a good friend who I believe still is the Billabong rep and we would frequent Baja Malibu early in the mornings. Blacks is incredible as well.

Who was the guy you looked up to back then?

Todd Martin, John Glomb, Jeff Hodges. Todd aka gluefoot has a lot of energy. He had infectious passion.. John Glomb is just a great guy and I believe is the first person to do an ariel three sixty. We rode many double wing Nectar pin tail twin fins back in the day and Glomb rode them well.. Hodges was the man. He had a Neptunias candor and speed to burn.

What was pro surfing like?

It sucked! It still sucks! At least the guys and girls are making a great living from it now though the system needs to be completely revamped.

How hard was it to break into pro surfing?

It was almost imperative to win a professional event as an amateur to really breakthrough.. Amateur contests, us and world championship titles were very important back in the day.. It is not prevalent at all now.

Who were your sponsors?

I was sponsored by Quiksilver clothing and Piping Hot wetsuits and a company in Japan called California Image.

What amature contests did you do?

Honestly, every single one you can image…I was a very successful and decorated amateur.. I think I have more U.S. titles than Kelly.. Between David Eggers and I we pretty much swept everyone and everything in sight..

What was concidered inovative?

A nice cutback into a 360 reverse off the white wash..I know it sounds like an oxymoron ( 360 reverse ) consider it innovative and Todd Martin was the best at it!

What school did you go to?

were you on the surf team, who was on the team with you? At that time Torrey Pines did not have much a surf team. I would win the contest and San Dieguito would beat our ass.. It was strange though it was consistent.

What was parting like?

Too hard and too much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What are you up to these days Mr. Silva?

I am living in Hawaii now for the past two decades..After a whirlwind professional career and international jet set party life and a number or bad decisions I have finally over the last few years been able to give back to the king of sports. I train and teach many levels of surfing. Very rewarding and satisfying.. As well I have been blessed at 40 to retain a very high level of surfing. Call me or go to dougsilva.com for rates and weekly blogs. Aloha……..

Dougs last beer in El Salvador

check out Doug Silvas website at- tickettobettersurfing.com