From Big Waves to Even Bigger Dreams: 17-year-old JoaoMarco Maffini Tells All
Interview By: Courtney Garkani
First can you give me a little bio/background on yourself. JMM: Well I was originally born in Italy in 95’; my father is Italian and my mother’s Brazilian. We moved to Maui when I was about 1 years old and I’ve lived there ever since. I still go to Italy almost every year to visit. Tell us about your daily routine. JMM: My daily routine is based on how much waves there are and if I’m home on Maui. But usually it’s surf in the morning, school, then surf again if the waves are good or go play golf, tennis or go train. I’ll usually do more schoolwork when there are fewer waves so when some big swells come I can leave and chase it. What is your favorite surf spot for massive waves? JMM: The best big wave surf spot in the world is Jaws, about 5 minutes down the road. Is it hard managing school and training? JMM: It can be at times, especially with all the traveling. When I’m home I’ll usually try to focus on school but it gets hard when there’s waves and friends around. Training can be tough, especially if the waves are good. Your go-to song on your iPod to get you pumped before you go big wave ridin. JMM: Alcohol by Gang Green and Millionaire by Queens of Stone Age. Favorite person to surf with. JMM: Ian Gentil and Albee Layer. |
How did you learn to surf? How long have you been surfing?
JMM: I learned to surf through my dad, going to the beach and just standing on a longboard. I’ve been surfing for about 13 years. Do you compete? If so where, and how have you been doing? JMM: Competing kind of just came with surfing. Started when I was 8 with some local contest and gradually moved up to national and worldwide contest. Surfing is growing and the level of good surfers is much higher than it used to be, lately I haven’t been doing as well as I planned. How you decide you wanted to become a big wave surfer? JMM: Growing up in Hawaii your always in the water, surfing is one of the main sports here, and as you know Hawaii is one of the best places for surfing. Growing up to be a professional surfer was always the dream, so I was always surfing, from two feet to eight feet. As I started getting older I started experimenting with bigger waves. It’s kind of this big process where you start when you’re young and work your way up and gain the confidence to surf 40-foot waves. Like I said I haven’t been doing as well as I planned and it seems like every kid my age is doing the same thing so I decided I am going to focus on big-waves and chasing swells which is a bit different from every other seventeen year old. What is your favorite travel destination, surfing aside? JMM: Well I love going to Italy every year, it’s a nice place and the food is great, and it’s always nice to see family. |
Do you think it requires more skills to be a big wave surfer then say pop out tricks on a short board?
JMM: I think it’s different; you need skill in both aspects but in different ways. In small contest surfing you go out practice your turns and airs and you try to become better every session, it’s definitely hard and you need skill but I think if you out the time in you can become good, I’m not saying it’s easy and anyone can do it but you can come to a point where your actually surfing the wave. Surfing big waves is whole different story, you train a lot because you have to be physically and mentally ready. I was taught by my coach that when you paddle out in big waves you only rely on yourself, don’t rely on the jet-ski to grab you or on your blow up vest to bring you up because when you’re in trouble and those things don’t come to save you or don’t work then you panic and that’s when you get hurt. Who is your inspiration as a surfer—who do you aspire to ride like? JMM: My inspirations as a surfer are Andy Irons and Kohl Christensen. What the biggest wave you've ever ridden, and where/when was it? JMM: The biggest wave I’ve ever towed in is probably a 40-45 foot face wave at Jaws, the biggest wave I’ve paddled into was about 25-30 foot face, both at Jaws. What do you aspire to do with your surfing long term? JMM: I’d like to be one of the best big wave surfers in the world and push the limits of what is surf-able. |